Fishing and Hunting
Fall River Lake enjoys a moderate climate. Sun washed summers and mild winters provide for many high quality recreational days.
Fishing is productive through the year with the greatest activity in the spring. Species of sport fish include crappie and large mouth and white bass. Channel and flathead catfishing is quite good and often spectacular.
Most lands at Fall River are open for public hunting with the exception of the Kansas State Park lands, developed camping areas, picnic areas, dam and project operation sites, as well as refuge areas. Game species managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are primarily bobwhite quail, mourning dove, greater prairie chicken, cottontail rabbit, squirrel, white-tailed deer, and turkey.
Hunting and fishing is regulated by Kansas law and federal regulation. Courtesy and safety is to be practiced at all times. Good sportsmanship is expected and, when observed, provides for a pleasant experience for everyone.
Camping and Picnicking
Opportunities for outdoor family fun and recreation at the park areas surrounding Fall River include swimming, boating, water skiing, picnicking, and sightseeing. Facilities available at these areas include picnic and camping sites, boat ramps, and sanitary facilities, etc.
Day use by the general public on all lands is free of charge with the exception of the Kansas State Parks. Visitors should contact Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks personnel for complete details.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages Whitehall Bay and Dam Site campgrounds. These campgrounds require a reservation to be made through Recreation.gov. Cell phone service is poor within the campgrounds, so it is best to make reservations before arriving.
Boating
Boating on the lake is in accordance with the Kansas boating laws and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' regulations. Operate your boat in a controlled, safe manner at all times.
Sightseeing
The vicinity in which Fall River Lake is located has long been prized for its rolling prairie and tree-dotted valleys, sheltered by limestone-capped ridges. The lake is about a mile wide at the damsite and stretches up the picturesque Fall River for 15 miles. The scenic beauty of the area with its profusion of native wildlife and vegetation beckons all nature enthusiasts.
For bird watchers, there are more than 400 species of birds in the area, including migratory waterfowl and other species that spend the summer in Kansas, as well those that are inhabiting the area year round. In the spring and again in the fall, there are wildflowers in the open pastures, along fence rows and in the wooded areas. Hedgerows and former farmsteads produce persimmon, Osage orange, redbud, and dogwood.
Swimming
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers swimming beach is located in the Whitehall Bay Campground which is located on the northeast side of Fall River Lake.
Trails
Various scenic hiking and bicycling trails are located around the shoreline of Fall River Lake.