State Parks

Archaeologists once conducted extensive excavations of an unusual sandstone cave to uncover evidence of early human activity in Missouri. Today, Graham Cave State Park protects the landforms that supported these ancient ancestors.

Missouri History Today August 7, 1852 William Jewell Dies.

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 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.

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.

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.