2010/04/07 - Tallgrass Prairie, Melvern Lake, Army Corps of Engineers, Melvern, KS

Day 143, Camp 53 (2 nights @ $10 per night)
Tallgrass Prairie, Melvern Lake
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Melvern, KS

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Drove 220 miles, following some back roads, looking for the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. (See map for routes and roads). Got close in Cottonwood Falls, but the little fishing lake campground was kinda cold and lonely, so we headed east for the U.S> Army Corps of Engineers Camps around Melvern Lake. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is 500 MILLION acres! The biggest remaining prairie in the country. It was a bit early in the year for 'tall grass'. The Corps of Engineers have five campgrounds around Melvern Lake, which is a huge reservoir created by a dam on the Marais des Cygnes River. Plus there is Eisenhower State Park, also on the lake, nice area. The COE always have very 'well-developed' campgrounds... well-built, organized and full of utilities. Some campgrounds had more primitive, non-electric sites as well. Very nice toilet and shower building. We spent a day relaxing, nice weather, hiked all the trails around the park and lake... about 3 miles. Saw TONS of turtles, (Red-eared sliders), Blue Heron, Meadow Lark, Red-tailed Hawk. Back in Pratt I saw my first Northern Shoveler (duck). Spring is full-on here in the prairies.