Spooky season is upon us, so it’s the perfect time to begin scary movie marathons! The Missouri State Museum in Jefferson City has decided to join in on the fun with a showing of “House on Haunted Hill”. Employees at Missouri State Museum say they’ve “talked off and on about doing exhibits about Missouri movies, …
Boasting six lakes, Missouri’s largest natural sand beach, a rare sand prairie, and a series of hiking and biking trails, Wakonda State Park is a popular attraction for boating enthusiasts, birders, campers, and other nature lovers.
Gov. Daniel Dunklin’s Grave State Historic Site is a one-acre cemetery plot. Here visitors can reflect on Dunklin’s achievements, which include the establishment of tax-supported public school systems, and take in the view of the Mississippi.
Once the personal retreat of an unconventional entrepreneur, Don Robinson State Park—one of the newest in Missouri’s state park system—offers a unique geological diversity and is home to an array of rare and unusual plants.
At R&R Ranch, Stacy Rolfe offers a happy—and picturesque—home to miniature horses that have been abandoned or abused. Visitors are invited to tour this special sanctuary and learn about how the horses are cared for and what they’ve overcome.
“Stand-up paddling is one of the fastest-growing water sports in the world,” says Don Dutton, owner of Going Coastal, a stand-up paddleboard retailer at the Lake of the Ozarks. “A decade ago, paddleboarding was virtually nonexistent in Missouri. In 2012, Going Coastal was the first company to sell paddleboards at the Lake of the Ozarks.”
At Castlewood State Park, so named because of the rocky bluffs that give the appearance of a castle’s fortress, visitors take in stunning views from limestone glades while adventuring over some thirty miles of wooded trail.
Montauk State Park is one of the oldest in the Missouri State Park system. Visitors can see the headwaters that form the Current River, cast a line in a well-stocked trout run, explore a pre-Civil War mill, and maybe even spot a pair of bald eagles.
Think you’ve got what it takes to track down one of North America’s most famous cryptids? The third annual Weston Bigfoot Search is your chance to bring home the glory—and perhaps a special trophy. Pro tip: Start practicing your Bigfoot call now.
The richly diverse Current River State Park features almost two miles of beautiful river frontage, offering ample opportunity for swimming, floating, and fishing as well as hiking, backcountry camping, and interpretive programming.
Rock climbing devotees pride themselves on inclusivity and positivity. No one is too old, too big, or too small to try the sport, and there’s no shortage of opportunities for those seeking a fresh perspective on some of Missouri’s most-loved places.
Once referred to as the Thermopylae of the West, the Battle of Pilot Knob was one of the bloodiest in the Civil War in Missouri, and it marked the beginning of the end for the Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. Sterling Price.
It’s tulip time in Missouri. These harbingers of spring are in full bloom, and there are a number of opportunities around the state to take in their beauty—and maybe pick a bouquet or two. But don’t wait. They won’t be here much longer.
At one time, more than one-third of Missouri was covered in prairie—a landscape known for wide-open expanses of verdant grassland. Although much of this habitat has since been depleted, efforts are underway to conserve what remains.
Bennett Spring State Park is well-known among anglers for its excellent trout fishing, but visitors also enjoy its hiking trails, Niangua River access, campgrounds, cabins, and meals served in the park’s rustic 1930s dining lodge.
A favorite of conservationists and Scouts, this hilly hideaway in the St. Francois Mountains features a number of special superlatives: highest mountain peak and tallest waterfall in Missouri, and one of the rarest plants in the United States.
Now is the time to indulge in Missouri’s favorite mushroom—the morel. In Reeds Spring, this festival brings together first-time and experienced foragers alike for a mushroom hunt in an Ozark canyon bottom, followed by a night of live music.
A collection of caves and underground streams. Osage influence. Historical ties to a ring of outlaws. Crumbling castle ruins. Tales of a curse. The only thing bigger than the views at Ha Ha Tonka State Park are the stories you’ll hear.
There are thousands of mushrooms waiting to be found in Missouri.
Sam A. Baker State Park encompasses 5,323 acres of lush wilds. Whether they come for the camping, floating, fishing, hiking, or horseback riding, outdoors enthusiasts find an abundance of beauty and a nostalgic take on park hospitality.
Formed 50 millions years ago, this state park has geological treasures to share. Meander along one trail to see the flora of ten thousand years ago.
Here’s a free all-day birding camp for the entire family. Play “Guess Who” to identify our feathered friends. Pack a picnic or visit the restaurant on site. It’s a great time to see birds because of the still leafless trees and migrating birds.
Seeing the history play out in the ancient bones and other artifacts at Mastodon State Historic Site is an eye-opening experience. Stop by the visitor’s center to see a life-sized replica of a mastodon, then follow the self-guided trail to the excavations site.
Natural prairie is the headliner at this state park, but the bison, elk, birds, and flowers are also stunning. Prairie State Park is a unique place, dedicated as a living tribute to a nearly extinguished native landscape.
Stockton State Park is 2,175 acres of land leased from the corps and developed for recreation by the state of Missouri. The ultra-clear waters are great for swimming and the fishing is unmatched. Hiking and camping are also one of the many things to do at the stunning state park.
Big Sugar Creek State Parks in the corner of southwest Missouri boasts a cultural history as intriguing as its natural history, but some local legends provoke as many questions as answers. Hike on the Ozark Chinquapin Trail where you can see an array of flora and fauna.
Echo Bluff State Parks has one of the most stunning lodges of any of the Missouri State Parks. And Sinking Creek’s crystal clear waters are a perfect place to dip your toes in or enjoy a gravel bar picnic. These are only a few of the outstanding attractions at Echo Bluff State Park.
More than 1,100 Civil War battles were fought in Missouri. Our state parks system focuses on six sites. The Battle of Carthage State Historic Site is one not to be missed. There are interpretive displays and a Civil War museum near the square in Carthage, as well as the fields where the battles took place.
Osage Village State Historic Site has a unique part to play in helping Missourians understand their state and the Native people that lived at this site. Visit the Brown Site where a wealth of recovered artifacts now documents the village.
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