MISSOURI STATE PARKS

Trail of Tears State Park is currently in need of volunteers to assist with maintenance activities.   Work may include cleaning restrooms, mowing grass and collecting litter.  One dedicated day a week is requested (for example volunteering every Monday).  Staff will work with you on the schedule. 

For additional information you can call the park office and ask for Denise Dowling or Danny Counts.  573-290-5284.  If you get the answering machine please leave a number.  We do not have caller id. 

Gain a better understanding of one of the saddest chapters in American history at Trail of Tears State Park, where nine of the 13 Cherokee Indian groups being relocated to Oklahoma crossed the Mississippi River during harsh winter conditions in 1838 and 1839. The park’s visitor center tells the tale of the thousands who died on the forced march, as well as the park’s many natural features. The park also has a cheerier side: shaded picnic sites, hiking and horse trails, opportunities to fish in both the Mississippi River and Lake Boutin, and majestic views of the Mississippi River and beyond. Its location right on the river makes the park one of the best places in Missouri for viewing migratory waterfowl.