Cedar Park

Overview Tucked away on the scenic northern shoreline of Pomona Lake, Cedar Park offers a rustic escape just 35 minutes southeast of Topeka, Kansas. This primitive haven features 17 non-utility campsites and two vault toilets, making it the perfect destination for campers looking to unplug and experience the golden age of traditional camping. Equestrian enthusiasts will find tailored accommodations with eight dedicated horse campsites complete with secure horse pens and spacious trailer parking. The park also serves as a vital trailhead for the scenic Blackhawk Horse Trails, making it a premier regional hub for horseback riding and group trail events.

Beyond the campgrounds, Cedar Park is a vibrant sanctuary for outdoor adventure and wildlife viewing. The park's untouched woodlands and sweeping lakeside vistas provide a front-row seat to spectacular views of Pomona Lake's shoreline . Visitors frequently spot an abundance of local wildlife, including white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and dozens of migratory bird species. For water enthusiasts, the park features an unimproved boat launch, offering direct access to the water . Whether you are setting up camp, exploring the trails on horseback, hunting in season, fishing the calm waters, or bird watching, Cedar Park provides a peaceful, primitive getaway with something for everyone .

Recreation Cedar Park serves as a premier destination for primitive and adventure-based recreation, anchored by its direct access to Pomona Lake and local trail systems. The park is a major hub for equestrian activities, offering eight dedicated horse campsites with pens, trailer parking, and immediate access to the scenic Blackhawk Horse Trails for long-distance riding. Water enthusiasts can utilize the park's unimproved boat ramp for quick access to fishing, kayaking, and boating, while the surrounding natural landscape provides excellent seasonal opportunities for hunting, wildlife photography, and shoreline bird watching. With 17 primitive campsites designed for those looking to unplug, the park seamlessly blends rugged overnight camping with active daytime exploration.

Facilities Cedar Park offers rustic, low-impact facilities designed for a true primitive experience, featuring 17 non-utility campsites and two basic vault toilets without electric or water hookups. For equestrian visitors, the park provides eight dedicated horse campsites equipped with horse pens and a spacious gravel parking lot for truck and trailer maneuvering. A simple, unimproved boat ramp is also available on-site, providing an easy launch point for kayaks, canoes, and small fishing boats directly into Pomona Lake.

Natural Features Cedar Park is characterized by its dense deciduous woodlands, consisting of native Kansas hardwoods like oak, hickory, and walnut that frame the scenic northern shoreline of Pomona Lake. This quiet forest canopy and the adjacent lakeside wetlands create a highly active corridor for local wildlife, where visitors frequently spot white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and a rich variety of migratory birds—including bald eagles roosting in the tall shoreline trees during the winter months. The intersection of these mature lakeside timbers with the calm, fish-rich waters of the lake makes the park a thriving, undisturbed natural habitat perfect for wildlife viewing and quiet outdoor recreation.

To reach Cedar Park from Topeka (about 35 minutes), head south on US-75 S for 24 miles, exit east onto K-268 E toward Pomona Lake, turn north onto K-368 N at Vassar, and then take an immediate right onto 257th Street to enter the park.

From Ottawa (about 25 minutes), take K-68 W west for approximately 16 miles past the town of Pomona, head south toward the lake on K-368 S, and turn east onto 257th Street just before the highway crosses the lake bridge to arrive at the campground.