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State Parks |
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Central Region |
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The 1,132 acre park shows how reclaimed strip mines can be used |
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for recreational purposes. The strip pits provide several swimming |
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lakes, including one with a sand beach, that is used for fishing |
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and canoeing. This park is one of two State Parks that allows off |
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road motorcycling, approved all terrain vehicles and races are |
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scheduled throughout the summer. It offers picnic areas, |
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campgrounds and Boating is limited to trolling motors only. |
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573.443.5315 10 mile North of Columbia off Hwy 63 |
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One of nature's geologic and scenic masterpieces, this park overlooks |
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the Lake of the Ozarks from atop towering limestone bluffs. The |
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park land in the Osage River hills is a classic example of a topography |
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known as karst, characterized by caves, sinkholes, springs and |
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natural bridges. The park also contains one of the state's best |
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remaining examples of a savanna. A new backpacking trail winds |
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through seven miles of this scenic natural area. The remains of a |
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huge stone castle add an air of mystery to the richly wooded setting. |
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The 2,993 acre park, equipped with two courtesy docks for visitors |
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who arrive by boat, is designed for day use activities such as |
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picnicking and hiking. |
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573.346.2986 5 miles South West of Camdenton on Hwy D |
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The Katy Trail makes use of the former Missouri-Kansas Texas (MKT) |
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Railroad corridor. Headquartered at the Missouri River District |
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Office in Boonville, Katy Trail State Park is now open for |
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approximately 185 continuous miles from St. Charles to Sedalia. |
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Other sections of the walking and bicycling trail are under |
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construction. Trail heads are located in various towns along the |
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trail. Visitors to the trail will enjoy a variety of natural and man |
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made landscapes, from towering bluffs to the mighty Missouri |
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River; from overhanging forest canopies to open farm fields. |
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River towns and railroad towns with the charm of rural 19th |
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century America will make a Katy Trail ride or walk an experience |
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to remember. |
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P.O. Box 166 Boonville, MO 65233 660.882.8196 |
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The 17,302 acres of wooded hills and many miles of shoreline in |
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Missouri's largest state park provide a restful alternative to the |
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surrounding highly developed tourist attractions. The park's |
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recreational facilities include campsites that overlook the lake, boat |
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rentals, swimming beaches, and horseback riding and hiking trails. |
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The park features four group camps available for rental to organized |
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groups, rustic log camping cabins for individuals and families and a |
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general aviation airport. And located on the south side of the park |
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you'll find the Ozark Caverns offering a unique opportunity to view |
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what lies beneath the Ozark hills. Bat, salamanders and interesting |
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cave formations like the Angel Showers are featured during a tour of |
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conducted with hand held lanterns. Guided tours for a fee are |
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offered daily during June, July and August and on Saturdays and |
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Sundays April, May, September and October. The cave is closed |
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November through March. |
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573.348.2694(park)573.346.2500(Cave) Off Hwy 42 |
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Fascinating geologic formations are the principal features of this |
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2,238 acre day use park. Devil's Icebox Cave, the sixth longest in |
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Missouri, underlies the park. A boardwalk and other trails lead |
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visitors to the natural rock bridge. With numerous sinkholes and |
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thorough prairies and woods. Gans Creek and its surrounding |
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bluffs and wooded hill are part of the 750 acre Gans Creek Wild |
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Area. When conditions allow, the park's 15 mile of hiking trails are |
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open to bicycling ant the Gans Creek Wild Area is open to horseback |
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riding between June 1 and October 31. Call to check trail |
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conditions. |
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573.449.7402 7 miles South of Columbia on Hwy 163 |
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This park was once the homeland of the Missouri Indians, who gave |
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their name to the state and the river. The Missouri inhabited the |
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area through the early 1700's. Predating the Missouri were Pre- |
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historic Indian tribes, whose burial mounds remain in the park. A |
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feature of interest is the "Old Fort" a six acre Missouri Indian |
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