First time going through Longview for Christmas in the park. Drive through about 1.5 hrs in the…read morelane to see all the Christmas lights. It is worthwhile, plenty of Christmas displays to see. This is their 35th year. They ask for a donation at the end.

This might have been the most discheveled, atrocious example of a lake in a 100 mile radius. There…read morewas literally trash everywhere. We drove around for the better part of 20 minutes to find a suitable place to egress into the water, only to find trash in the water and around the land abutting the water. Honestly, I think the park service tries to keep it nice, because there was a bag in each trash can, and the cans were spaced 20 feet apart to give the hint that when a person has garbage, a person should place said garbage in the receptical. But to no avail - it was like someone had purposely emptied the trash can into the wind, fall refuse where ye may. I frequent parks in the greater KC area, and I'd say Longview is the most inhospitable of the lot. Additionally, we were trying to find a spot - as we like to do - for a picnic, and nearly every shelter was locked mid-day! We called and they told us it was by reservation only. Must be something to do with vagrants. Whatever the case, this was more government facility than oasis, and the wind rips nasty off the points if you find yourself so unlucky. No thanks. I'll never need a revisit.

Lovely day to get out and about. Not too crowded for a late Sunday afternoon…read more Even for Wintertime, it's scenic enough to walk the area for some pretty views. The paved trail is clearly marked with signs to help one find bathrooms, marina, disc golf, etc. They have spaces for kids and families at the Beaver Shelt, as well as a music park section near the Eagle Landing Building. There are at least two car charging stations at the marina. There may be more around the park itself, but I did not happen to come across any.

We had a blast!! Wish I had known about this sooner. It's a fun little spot out in Olathe. Only $5…read morekayaking/entry. We truly had a blast not sure what else to say but we will be back next year

Gaea Retreat is a Rustic 168 acre camp ground. It embraces people of different backgrounds. It…read morehas tent camping, rustic cabin rentals. It has a beautiful lake with a swimming beach. It has hiking trails and several gardens. The fields are not sprayed with chemicals and wildlife and flowers abound.

Gaea Retreat Center is a special place. I visited it in July of 2025 and was amazed at how peaceful…read moreand lovely it was. It is a place where nature is protected, and people are valued. I felt safe and welcome. I visited with many people that day, including one staff member. All were fun, relaxed and so kind. I was told there is sacred ground there. In truth, all ground is sacred, but I know what they meant. I was away from my day to day troubles and felt a bit like Alice in Wonderland, the world was unique, not normal in the best of ways. Walking a trail, I came a cross a small treasure chest near a old campfire sight. I even walked the trail in the buff, loving the breeze and enjoying the peace. I left reinvigorated and ready for what life has next. I will be back and am glad to recommend this wonderful place.

Campsites are well taken care of! Love the lake. Wish that there were more covered areas or at…read moreleast wooden picnic benches. The bathrooms are usually pretty clean but the women's restroom only had one soap dispenser when I went and it was completely broken. Otherwise great experience, cheap day pass for $5 and plenty of walking trails, the beach, fishing areas, and camp sites for everyone.

Nice park. Lots of camp spots across the park. Beautiful lake and grounds. Plenty of…read moreopportunities to hike, bike, fish, disc golf and even an archery and shooting range.

Awesome place to visit! Cool riders!…read moreGreat ambiance and very friendly staff! Gave me almost an hour free riding!

Called a week in advance and they said they were open on Saturday's just like the websites says…read more Drove all the way down there to find the gate locked and no one there. Day ruined.

Great and beautiful lake. Just be careful here, there are loss of life incidents each year. Be…read morecareful of the mud, it can suck you down and end your fun. Always stay with a buddy, always no exceptions.

I was debating on 2 or 3 stars. The campsite was very nice. The shower house and restrooms were…read morenice and clean. My issue was the price. We usually stay at state parks that are half the price as this place and just as nice. They charge 40 dollars a night. Also, the thing that I really was unhappy with was that you are allowed 2 tents on the campsite. They charged my son 7 dollars to park and camp with us. Then they had some friends come by and just visit, they did not stay the night and they charged them 7 dollars. I probably will never go back to this place again and stick to Missouri DNR sites because of the price and not because it wasn't a nice campground.

This dog park gets 5 stars for my dog and his needs, your dog might have different needs. I think…read morethis is my dog's favorite place in the world, he a Labrador retriever and loves swimming and playing fetch. The parking lot is spacious but I have seen it so busy it's full depending on when you go. For my dog it's a spring, summer, fall park. We don't go in the winter because he will want to swim and would freeze if we let him. It has a paved sidewalk all the way down to the rocky beach. There is one part by the water that is pretty steep, so I don't think I wouldn't say it's wheel chair accessible or stroller accessible, if you go all the way. There are a couple little dirt trails around for hiking. We've set up hammocks before. It's fenced in, but if you have a small dog that likes to escape, watch for holes. There is a spot for dogs to get a drink. You have to clean up after your dog, and there is only one poop-shoot to discard it. There are bathrooms now at the front entrance. TIPS FOR FIRST-TIMERS: If you bring a bag to the beach and set it down just know it might get peed on. I've seen this happen to many unsuspecting guests. The dogs are roaming free, so anything is fair game. Be ready to share toys with other dogs and play with other dogs. Dogs get separated from their owner easily because it's a big park. Prepare for a long walk down to the beach. Bring water for yourself. You don't want to be stuck carrying a huge bag, pack light.

Took my pup Jack to this park for the first time as we are new to Missouri. The park was a large…read morearea of trees, trails, and a small section of lake for dogs to swim. Jack is used to hiking back home in California so he loved the open space and trails within the forest. Jack also liked the small section of lake that the dogs can swim at, however the only downside is that there is no division for small and large dogs. I noticed the large dogs would gather around the smaller ones a lot causing some unwanted behavior and crowding. If the lake was sectioned into 2 areas it would be perfect. Overall a good experience and place to go in low traffic days if you have a small dog like me.