Sailboat Cove Campground

Sailboat Cove Campground: The Heart of Sailing on Cheney Reservoir

For Kansas adventurers drawn to the wind and the water, Sailboat Cove Campground at Cheney State Park represents a unique and highly desirable destination. Situated on the West Shore of the vast Cheney Reservoir, this campground is intrinsically linked to the Ninnescah Sailing Center, positioning it as the ultimate basecamp for sailors, windsurfers, and anyone who appreciates the dynamic energy of this famously windy lake. Cheney Lake is renowned across the Midwest for its dependable breezes, making it a spectacular sight with colorful sails dotting the horizon.

The campground offers a vital mix of utility and primitive camping, designed to accommodate everyone from self-contained RVs to tent campers seeking a more rustic experience. Its location within a protected cove provides a special benefit, offering calmer waters near the shore compared to the open reservoir. This tranquility, combined with its accessibility to some of the best water-based recreational facilities in the park, makes it a favored spot. As one satisfied visitor noted, the area features a "great swimming hole and prime fishing", particularly during the fish spawn. While one review humorously referenced a "cryptoscam" due to a coordinates mishap, the core truth remains: this place is real, beautiful, and deeply rooted in the Kansas outdoor experience.

Choosing Sailboat Cove means embracing the area's strong maritime culture while enjoying the rugged beauty of the surrounding prairie. It provides essential amenities in proximity to a thriving sailing community, offering a recreational experience distinct from other loops in the State Park.

Location and Accessibility

Sailboat Cove Campground is located on the West Shore of Cheney State Park, which sits near the town of Cheney, Kansas. The park is highly accessible, being only about 17 miles west of Wichita and 20 miles south of Hutchinson, making it a quick trip for residents of Central Kansas. The general address is listed as: Cheney, KS 67025, USA.

Specifically, Sailboat Cove is situated in the heart of the sailing community, adjacent to the Ninnescah Sailing Center (NSA). Access is straightforward via the park's well-maintained asphalt roads on the West Shore, with signage directing visitors toward the sailing center and the adjacent camping area. This proximity ensures that boat owners and sailing enthusiasts have minimal travel time from their campsite to their boat, a major convenience. The West Shore is also home to the Park Office and key facilities like major boat ramps and the West Dumpstation, ensuring that necessary services are always close by.

Services Offered

Sailboat Cove Campground provides a range of services, catering primarily to the convenience of sailors and general campers, leveraging the broader facilities of the West Shore area:

• Campsite Utility Options: The area surrounding the cove offers a mix of sites. Cheney State Park as a whole features over 200 reservable electrical sites with water hookups. Sailboat Cove offers a dedicated section, sometimes through the Ninnescah Sailing Association (NSA), with a limited number of campsites (often around 12) on or near the shoreline, six of which have electrical hookups (likely 30 amp, though 50 amp is available in other West Shore loops like Smarsh Creek).
• Sanitary Facilities: Campers have access to modern, ADA-accessible shower houses and restrooms nearby, notably the NSA Showerhouse which is specifically located near the cove. Less modern pit toilets are also dispersed throughout the area.
• Water & Sewage Disposal: Potable water access is available at the utility sites and through hydrants. A large, well-maintained dump station (often 2 or 4 lanes) is available in the West Shore area for convenient RV waste disposal before departure.
• Recreational Amenities: Sites are furnished with standard picnic tables and fire rings/grills.
• Boating Conveniences: The area provides a sailboat-only dock and ramp in a protected cove, along with access to the NSA’s larger boat dock and ramp for motorboats and general launching. Boat pump-out stations are also available nearby.

Features / Highlights

The highlights of Sailboat Cove are deeply intertwined with its unique relationship with the Ninnescah Sailing Center and the lake's distinct qualities:

• Sailing Mecca: The campground is the premier destination for sailing in Kansas, located adjacent to the NSA facilities, which often hosts national and regional regattas. Campers can witness the breathtaking sight of hundreds of multicolored sails on the water.
• Protected Swimming and Fishing: The location within a protected cove creates a quieter swimming area and excellent, accessible fishing opportunities, particularly for species known to congregate in calmer waters during the spawning season.
• Wind Protection and Scenery: While the lake is windy, the cove itself and the surrounding terrain offer a measure of protection for the campsites. The views of the lake, especially with sailboats, are highly scenic.
• Dedicated Sailing Facilities: Guests can utilize the NSA’s public boat dock, ramp, and potentially the mast raising tower for easy boat rigging (access details should be confirmed with the park or NSA).
• Community Amenities: Nearby are the NSA Afterdeck Activity Center (available for rental) and a large picnic shelter, providing excellent spots for large gatherings and events with commanding views of the lake.
• Trail Access: The West Shore is home to the West Side Trail (up to 9 miles long), offering opportunities for hiking, running, and mountain biking through varied terrain.

Contact Information

For questions regarding reservations, permits, or the specific use of NSA facilities near the campground, please contact the main Cheney State Park office:

Address: Located on the West Shore of Cheney State Park, near Cheney, KS 67025, USA

Phone: (316) 542-3664

Mobile Phone: +1 316-542-3664 (This is the primary park office number)

What is Worth Choosing Sailboat Cove Campground

Sailboat Cove Campground is the definitive choice for Kansas locals who are serious about sailing, boating, or fishing and value being at the center of the lake's recreational community. Its central location on the West Shore provides unbeatable access to the Ninnescah Sailing Center's amenities, a protected swimming area, and a dedicated sailboat launch.

What makes it particularly attractive is the availability of reservable electric and water utility sites directly adjacent to this premium waterfront zone, offering a level of convenience unmatched by other primitive areas near the water. While not every site is utility-equipped, the trade-off for the proximity to the "great swimming hole" and the vibrant sailing community is well worth it. If your ideal Kansas camping trip revolves around a mast, a line, or a paddle, and you appreciate the social atmosphere of a thriving water sports community, Sailboat Cove Campground is the premier choice on Cheney Reservoir.