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Kansas | Northeast Kansas
Kansas RiverLecompton / Rising Sun to Lawrence Riverfront Park
Lower-Kaw day from the Lecompton / Rising Sun access to Lawrence Riverfront Park above Bowersock Dam. Friends of the Kaw documents both public ramps, the 10.2-mile spacing, and the mandatory Lawrence take-out before the dam; the downstream De Soto USGS gauge is used only as a conservative proxy.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Lecompton / Rising Sun and take out at Lawrence Riverfront Park above Bowersock Dam for a 10.2-mile lower-Kaw day. USGS De Soto is downstream of this reach, so use it as a broad proxy and compare its level and trend with conditions at Lecompton.
Access map
Put-in
Lecompton / Rising Sun Access RampLawrence Riverfront Park is above Bowersock Dam. Take out here before the dam unless your group has a separate expert plan with current local guide support.
Take-out
Lawrence Riverfront Park Access RampFriends of the Kaw says only highly skilled paddlers with Kaw River Guides should consider continuing through the Bowersock chute; this route does not include that chute or the downstream 8th Street access.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Lawrence Riverfront Park above Bowersock Dam, then drive back to the Lecompton / Rising Sun access. Inspect Lawrence first because this is the required exit before the dam; do not assume you can continue downstream through Lawrence.
Additional access notes
- Lecompton / Rising Sun has a dirt or gravel parking area, no restrooms or lighting, and a ramp that can collect mud after rain or during summer low-water periods.
- The De Soto gauge is downstream of this reach and downstream of Lawrence. Treat it as a broad lower-Kaw proxy and make a same-day visual call at Lecompton before committing.
- All access and parking are subject to same-day city, county, and ramp conditions. Mud, silt, events, high-water cleanup, and shifted sand can change ramp usability.
More route and safety guidance
- Continuing below Riverfront Park requires dam-portage planning and is not appropriate for novice paddlers.
- Wind, rising water, floating wood, and private banks make bailout planning important.
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Conditions
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Kansas River at De Soto, KS. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Public put-inLecompton / Rising Sun, RM 64.3
Friends of the Kaw lists the Lecompton / Rising Sun access with GPS 39.05057, -95.38764, river-left concrete ramp, gravel parking, kiosk, no restrooms or lighting, and rain/mud caveats.
- Public take-outLawrence Riverfront Park, RM 54.1
Friends of the Kaw lists Lawrence Riverfront Park above Bowersock Dam with GPS 38.97474, -95.23522 and warns that paddlers should take out here before continuing downstream toward the dam.
- Route distanceAbout 10.2 river miles
The Lecompton access page says the next access is Lawrence Riverfront Park 10.2 miles downstream at river mile 54.1.
- Public river and rampsKansas, Arkansas, and Missouri Rivers public in Kansas
Friends of the Kaw says the Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri Rivers are public rivers in Kansas and that all Kansas River boat ramps are open to the public.
- Flow safety bandsNovices under 5,000 cfs; all paddlers under 8,000 cfs
Friends of the Kaw recommends novice paddlers stay below 5,000 cfs and more experienced paddlers stay below 8,000 cfs; at 8,000 cfs and higher, few sandbars remain for rest stops.
- Low-flow recreation impacts<1,000 / 1,500-5,000 / 8,000+ cfs
USACE Kansas River recreation material identifies difficult paddling below 1,000 cfs, no recreation impacts from 1,500 to 5,000 cfs, novice impacts from 5,000 to 8,000 cfs, and extremely difficult paddling from 8,000 to 11,000 cfs.
- Proxy gaugeUSGS 06892350 at De Soto
USGS operates Kansas River at De Soto downstream of Lawrence. Use it as a lower-Kaw proxy rather than a precise Lecompton-to-Lawrence reading.
- Gauge check during route review · May 23, 2026USGS 06891000 stale during review
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Dam exitTake out before Bowersock Dam
Friends of the Kaw says Lawrence Riverfront Park is the take-out above Bowersock Dam and that only highly skilled paddlers with Kaw River Guides should continue through the chute.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- Friends of the Kaw Kansas River access map
- Friends of the Kaw Lecompton / Rising Sun access
- Friends of the Kaw Lawrence Riverfront Park access
- Friends of the Kaw Paddle FAQ
- Friends of the Kaw river and sandbar safety
- USACE Kansas River recreation appendix
- USGS 06892350 Kansas River at De Soto
- USGS 06891000 Kansas River at Lecompton legacy current page
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