Milford State Park

Visited on: Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Cost: $18.00 per night

After another night at the outstanding free park in Marysville, Kansas, I stopped here for a quick night. 

As the sun began to set, I wandered around, trying to capture pictures of the sunset, features around the lake, and the lake itself. As you can see from the next pictures, I generally hang a bag on the side of my trailer to keep my trash. The overwhelming majority of the time I put the trash in the sink and close the kitchen up.

A silhouette of a parked jeep and teardrop trailer at Milford State Park during sunset. A bicycle is mounted on the trailer's roof. Leafless trees frame the scene, and the sky is a gradient of orange and blue. The calm lake reflects the warm colors of the sunset.
A jeep with a teardrop trailer and bikes on the roof is parked beside a serene lake at sunset. Bare trees frame the scene, and the vibrant sky transitions from orange to deep blue over the calm water. The foreground is dimly lit, highlighting the silhouettes against the colorful horizon.

That night, I forgot put the trash in the sink. After I curled into bed and began heading to sleep, I heard an animal pulling the trash bag off the trailer.

I pulled on some shoes and a shirt and came out of the trailer with my flashlight, trying to find who was stealing the trash. Of course, it was a cute raccoon. I wasn’t gonna go close to him, but I really didn’t want him to have the trash, especially as he would probably ingest just some plastic.

So I spent about 20 minutes tossing rocks in his direction as he moved around with the trash until he pulled an old hamburger bun out of the trash and ran into the darkness. I then collected the garbage, put it in a new bag, stuck it in the sink, and sealed up the trailer for the night.

I know better than to leave trash out for wildlife, and I felt a bit of a fool.

Photos

Here’s one of my favorite pictures of the evening.

A serene landscape at sunset with a rocky shoreline in the foreground. Tall plants with soft, fluffy flowers stretch upwards, silhouetted by the colorful hues of the setting sun. The sky is a gradient of deep blue to orange and pink, reflecting subtly on the calm water.

And the rest…

A black off-road vehicle is parked on a gravel path beside a small silver teardrop camper, set near a tranquil lake. The roof of the vehicle holds bicycles. The area is surrounded by trees under a clear blue sky, with a picnic table visible nearby.
A calm blue lake bordered by rocky terrain and dry, red shrubs on a sunny day. In the foreground, rocks and sparse grass are visible, while bare branches extend from the top right corner. The background features a line of trees under a clear blue sky.
A serene sunset over a calm lake with the sun partially visible on the horizon. Wispy clouds in orange and yellow hues fill the sky. The foreground features rocky terrain with sparse vegetation, while the distant shoreline is silhouetted against the glowing sky.
Rocky shoreline with red shrubs stretches alongside a calm river under a clear blue sky. On the right, a cluster of evergreen trees stands on a slight hill. The horizon shows hints of sunset with soft pink and purple hues.
Rocky shoreline with dense, red shrubs leading to a calm lake on the left. The sky is a gradient of pale blue and soft pink hues, suggesting dawn or dusk. In the background, a line of sparse, leafless trees transitions into a dense forest of evergreens.
Sunset over a tranquil lake with an orange and yellow glow on the horizon. The sky features scattered clouds, reflecting hues on the water. The rocky shoreline in the foreground is lined with sparse, leafless shrubs, creating a peaceful, natural setting.
A serene lakeside scene at sunset at Milford State Park. The sky is painted with hues of orange and yellow as the sun dips below the horizon. Wispy clouds and contrails stretch across the sky. The foreground features a rocky shoreline with sparse vegetation along the edge of the calm water.
Rocky shoreline at sunset with calm waters and an orange glow on the horizon. Sparse vegetation lines the left side, with silhouettes of distant buildings visible. The sky is clear with a few contrails, transitioning from blue to warm hues near the horizon.
Sunset over a calm lake with a rocky shoreline in the foreground. The sky displays hues of orange and blue, with sparse clouds. The silhouette of distant land is visible on the horizon, and plants with round seed heads are visible near the shore.
Rocky lakeshore at sunset, with dried wildflowers in the foreground. The sky transitions from vibrant orange near the horizon to calm blue above, reflecting on the water's surface. Sparse vegetation and rocks line the shoreline, adding texture to the tranquil scene.
Rocky shoreline at sunset with calm waters stretching to the horizon. The sky features vibrant orange, yellow, and blue hues as the sun sets. Sparse vegetation and rocks are visible in the foreground, with a distant, darkened shoreline and a few buildings on the left.
Two bare trees silhouetted against a sunset sky by a tranquil lake. The sky is a blend of orange, pink, and blue hues. A gravel path runs alongside the grassy shore, with rocks forming a small breakwater along the water's edge. Bushes and sparse grass are visible in the foreground.

Of course, my friendly little trash panda had bolted off into the woods, but I still pulled out my camera when I saw the lights across the lake, hoping to get an interesting picture.

A dark night scene with distant bright lights reflecting off the water. The lights create a shimmering effect across the surface. On the left side, part of a structure or possibly a Jeep is dimly visible, adding depth to the image.
Journal Entry filed under:
Camping, Public Lands, State Park
Kansas
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

Copyright @ 2025 Shea Oliver. All Rights Reserved

Be Excellent to Each Other