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Kaw Point
Kansas City, KS

River Mile: 0.0     GPS:  N39.11586  W94.61142
River Left

Directions:
From I-70 in Kansas, Take James Street, Exit #423, at the stop sign at the bottom of the ramp go straight. Follow the signs to Fairfax Blvd. The route will take you over an elevated ramp and down to Fairfax Blvd. Look for the “Kaw Point” sign to your right on power pole. Turn right into a parking lot. Go east about 100 yards to the concrete seawall. Turn right and follow the seawall another 100 yards and go through breach in the floodwall to the large parking area.

Access Info:
The Historic Lewis and Clark River Front Park at Kaw Point is in the Fairfax District on the north bank of the Kaw just above the confluence with the Missouri River (river mile 367). This public access was completed by Friends of the Kaw volunteers in January 2004.

The access is concrete and lighted with a large blacktop parking lot. The park is open 24-7 and is regularly patrolled. During special events access may be blocked. The park has shaded walking paths on both the Kaw and Missouri Rivers. A historical kiosk explains Lewis and Clark’s visit in 1804. Below the kiosk is an stone amphitheater that seats 500 and overlooks the confluence. 

Visit www.lewisandclarkwyco.org for information.

The launch ramp and access road are often busy. A 10-minute launch/load time limit is in effect. You must park in the upper lot. The ramp was designed at a 14% grade, 16 feet wide and 190 ft long. The Missouri River is 200 yards downstream from the ramp.

Float Info:
The next access ramp is 4 miles downstream on the Missouri River at Missouri River Front Park at river mile 363. The Missouri River is wider than the Kaw with a faster current and generally not recommended for novice paddlers. The WaterOne dam, river mile 14.8, is the first access point upstream on the Kaw. Under normal conditions you can easily paddle up stream on the Kansas River and return back to this ramp – you can make the trip as long as desired and not have to worry about shuttling your car. This is not recommended during high water events.

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