Kanopolis Recreation Area
Nature preserve
16,459 acres17.4 mi of trail
Prairie TrailsAvenue NNHorsethief Canyon Trails
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
–Not graded
Outdoors in Empire Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in Empire Township
The biggest trail networks: Kanopolis Recreation Area (17.4 mi), Kanopolis State Park (14.3 mi). 41% of Empire Township’s land is conserved, about 17,452 acres. 1,327 acres are parks and preserves, 4,879 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
41%
17,452 acres · of 66.0 sq mi of land
Trails
37 mi
0.6 per sq mi of land
Park land
1,327 ac
4,879 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
31%
of residents within ½ mile
Lakes & rivers
2
1 beach · 4 boat launches
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Kanopolis Recreation Area, with 17.4 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Kanopolis State Park
Managed by Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks
1,237 acres14.3 mi of trail
Horsethief Canyon TrailsRockin’ K TrailSplit Boulder TrailBuffalo Track Canyon Nature Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailheadWebsite ↗
Who protects it
17,452 conserved acres
41% of Empire Township’s land. Water is left out: Empire Township has 66.0 square miles of land and 5.8 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages Empire Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Army Corps of Engineers16,484 ac
State parks1,375 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)884 ac
Recreation Management Area · 16,484 acState Park · 1,375 acAgricultural Easement · 884 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 884 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanopolis Recreation Area Recreation Management Area | Army Corps of Engineers | 16,484 | Open |
| Kanopolis State Park State Park | State parks | 1,375 | Open |
Things to do
17 places to go in Empire Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Empire Township
1 beach without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Swimming spots in Empire Township
1 swimming spot without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Empire Township
4 boat launches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Campgrounds in Empire Township
Kanopolis State Park Buzzard Bay CampgroundIn Kanopolis State Park
DirectionsKanopolis State Park Eagle Point CampgroundIn Kanopolis State Park
DirectionsKanopolis State Park Rockin' K CampgroundIn Kanopolis State Park
DirectionsKanopolis State Park Rockwall CampgroundIn Kanopolis State Park
DirectionsKanopolis State Park Sandyshore CampgroundIn Kanopolis State Park
DirectionsPlus 6 campgrounds without a name on the map.
Trails & water
7 named trails and 2 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 18.9 miHorses · 16.7 miUnpaved · 20.6 mi
Horsethief Canyon Trails7.0 mi
Prairie Trails5.7 mi
Rockin’ K Trail3.9 mi
Split Boulder Trail1.3 mi
Buffalo Track Canyon Nature Trail0.9 mi
Avenue NN0.5 mi
Wildlife Viewing Area Trail0.5 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
When to get out
April is the best month for walking in Empire Township
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.7 | 10.7 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 14.3 | 14.9 | 14.6 | 13.7 | 12.4 | 11.1 | 10.0 | 9.5 |
| High (°F) | 42 | 47 | 58 | 67 | 77 | 88 | 93 | 90 | 83 | 70 | 56 | 44 |
| Rain (in) | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 4.9 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 1.1 |
January is the driest month (0.7 in) and July the warmest (highs of 93 °F). 4.9 inches fall in May, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 93 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Empire Township →
Next door
Empire Township and its neighbors
Empire Township has the most mapped trails of the 8 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Empire Township37 miSpring Creek Township8.3 miLangley Township6.5 miClear Creek Township5.3 miCarneiro Township4.6 miTrivoli Township2.9 miAsh Creek Township2.1 miFalun Township1.3 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empire Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Trivoli Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Carneiro Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Ash Creek Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Clear Creek Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Langley Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Falun Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Spring Creek Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Empire Township
Where can I hike in Empire Township?
The longest trail networks: Kanopolis Recreation Area, 17.4 miles; Kanopolis State Park, 14.3 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Empire Township’s trails?
Kanopolis Recreation Area and Kanopolis State Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Empire Township?
17,494 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Empire Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 13,087 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Empire Township neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →