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Lakewood Park, Indian Rock
Park &
Kansas Fishes Exhibit
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Lakewood Park Discovery Center
- All photos on this page by Jim Mason
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Lakewood Park in Salina provides an opportunity to explore an urban nature
area. Hiking trails weave through an area containing prairie, woodlands, and water. The
entire site is developed around an old sandpit, which is now dedicated to nature
interpretation and recreation, Many species of wildlife typical of urban woodlands are
found here, including white-tailed deer, fox squirrels, and raccoons. |
| This unique bird viewing blind is located in the woodland area behind the
Discovery Center. |
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Several nest boxes and houses have been erected to attract bats, screech-owls, purple
martins, eastern bluebirds, and wrens. Visitors to the Headquarters Lodge can enjoy the
activity around the bird feeders, check out the various interior displays or search for
insects in the butterfly garden. Plant enthusiasts can find over 35 species, and a small
native prairie blooms with butterfly milkweed, purple prairie clover, leadplant, and
coneflower.
A short distance south of Lakewood Park is Indian Rock Park. Perched on the bank
of the Smoky Hill River, this site has a unique blend of human and natural history.
Park at the south end of the large hill and get a trail brochure at the interpretive
kiosk. The brochure has a list of the wildflowers in the park on the back page with
over 100 species on it! The best wildlife habitat is on the top and west sides of
the hill. The steep hillside just north of the kiosk has a good diversity of
wildflowers including blue wild indigo, puccoon and yucca. Just north of there, look
for northern orioles, ducks and kingfishers around the small pond. Be sure to hike
up to the top of the hill, and take the trail loop to the river overlook for a view of the
Smoky Hill river gorge created in the 1950's by the Corps of Engineers. Black
locust is a common tree species here, and its fragrant clusters of white blossoms make a
May visit even more pleasant.
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While in Salina, visit the Kansas Fishes Exhibit in
Central Mall. The 15,OOO-gallon aquarium (25 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 6.5 feet deep)
recreates a typical Kansas river habitat complete with native fishes, including channel
catfish, bluegill, crappie, bass, and walleye. The fish are fed daily at 4 PM. |
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 Lakewood Park Trails
(Old Forest Lane;
Meadow Loop; Willow Walk; Cottonwood Trail - total 2.25 miles)
Discover what to see, eat and do in Kansas.
Plan your trip today, at TravelKS.com!
Click the icon to find a birding list for Saline County.
Click the icon to locate nearby Geocaches
For more Wildlife Watching sites in the Flint Hills, click
here
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Directions:
Lakewood Park, in northeast Salina, is east of Ohio Street between North Street and
Iron Street. The red dot marks the site of the Discovery Center.
Indian Rock Park is just two blocks south of the entrance to Lakewood Park on
Indiana Street.
The Kansas Fishes Exhibit is in the southeast corner of the Central Mall at 2259
South 9th Street. From I-135, take the Magnolia exit and go east to 9th street.
The mall is at the northeast corner of that intersection.
The Google Map for Lakewood Park and Indian Rock Park is
here.
The Kansas Fishes Exhibit Google Map is
here. |
Ownership:
The City of Salina
manages Lakewood and Indian Rock Parks.
Contact
Bill Gaskill or
Brian Underwood
(785) 826-7335
if you have specific questions about use or management of these sites.
99 acres (Lakewood Park),
35 acres (Indian Rock Park)
Contact the Central Mall Merchants Association
at (785) 825-7733
regarding the Kansas Fishes Exhibit.
Click here to visit the web site for the
mall. Click on the "Aquarium" link to learn more about it.
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Funded by the
Chickadee Checkoff Program
Click here for a brochure! |
The Natural
Kansas web site
© 2011
by
the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks
& Tourism.
Re-publication of site content in any form other than for personal use
requires written permission. If you are a Kansas resident, please
assist with this and other wildlife viewing and conservation programs
by contributing to the Chickadee Checkoff on your state tax form. |
Questions or comments about Natural Kansas may be directed to
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
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