Echo Cliff Park

Written by Evelyn Peat

One of my favorite places to spend the afternoon in the Topeka/Manhattan area is Echo Cliff Park in Dover, Kansas. Echo Cliff Park is privately maintained and owned, but is free access to the public. This area is a perfect place for a late spring, summer, or early fall partial day trip. There’s a picnic area, excellent place for hammocking, and a creek that runs about three feet deep with a beach area that works well for cooling off. There is also a short 0.1 mile trail that will take you further down the creek to a deeper area that is often used for swimming. However, the main attraction is a 75 foot cliff on the far side of the creek as pictured below which feels a bit abrupt surrounded by miles of flat farmland.

Because this Park is near my house, I have noticed through the years the area has changed. About six years ago my scouting group rappelled off the top and there was a well-maintained trail that led to the top. The view from the top of the cliff is gorgeous and you can see miles of farmland, but when I visited a few weeks ago the trail was blocked off with barbed wire and signs saying “private property keep out” forbidding entry to the top. As I explored around the creek, I noticed a few bootleg trails to the top, but of course I cannot recommend these steep, erosion-prone trails for the sake of preserving the landscape and possible legal consequences. Though this aspect was disappointing, the rest of the park was still publicly accessible and the view of the cliff from the bottom is still pleasant.

When I went to visit towards the end of October, I stayed for about an hour and a half exploring around the creek and reading a book in my hammock. For a successful day trip, I recommend bringing snacks and a refreshment, sunscreen/bugspray, a set of clothes and pair of shoes that you don’t mind getting wet, a comfortable chair, a book, a frisbee or soccer ball, and a small shovel and toilet paper(there is not a restroom so be sure to dispose of solid human waste 200 feet from the creek and 6-8 inches deep). If you’re interested in setting up a hammock, I recommend finding straps or strap extensions that are two inches thick to help preserve the health of the trees. Using thin straps for extended periods of time on trees will crush the tree’s circulation system and can kill it after a few years. If you do not have two-inch straps, just make sure you are keeping one person per hammock to minimize the impact.

Overall, I would recommend visiting the park for a relaxing afternoon and for some solitude. Echo Cliff Park is a bit of a local secret and does not get much traffic, but I do not recommend going at night because it is often used for parties and other mischief. I have felt satisfied in all of the trip I have taken to this Park and recommend it to you if you are ever in the area on a warm day.