MISSOURI STATE PARKS

Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park features remnants of the Missouria Indian village that sat at the Great Bend of the Missouri River, marked on a map by Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet in 1673. A hand-dug earthwork -- Old Fort -- and several burial mounds lie within the park’s boundaries. The state’s Indian history is interpreted in displays and exhibits at the park’s Missouri’s American Indian Cultural Center. For outdoor enthusiasts, the park features hiking trails and an 18-acre fishing lake. Trails lead visitors through the Oumessourit Natural Area with views of the freshwater marsh and through bottomland and upland forests. The park’s lofty trees shade picnic sites, picnic shelters and a campground.

Crowder State Park provides 1,912 acres in the rolling green hills of northern Missouri. Visitors can enjoy more than 17 miles of hiking, bicycling, backpacking and equestrian trails in a forested, rugged terrain. The park also offers fishing and boating opportunities on 18-acre Crowder Lake. The family-oriented campground includes modern restrooms and shady picnic sites are scattered throughout the park.  

Nestled near one of the hottest tourist towns in the United States, Table Rock State Park serves as Branson’s natural getaway and an outdoor recreation base camp for those wanting to take in the area’s abundant attractions.

The park is also handy if you are seeking outdoor adventures. If water recreation is what you desire, State Park Marina rents everything from ski boats to paddle boards and offers all the supplies you will need for a day on the water, whether it is a relaxing day of fishing or an exciting day of skiing. For land-based activities, take a hike or go for a bicycle ride on a paved trail or a challenging mountain biking trail.

The park is also a popular resting spot for those wanting to take in the area attractions. Located among oak and hickory trees, basic, electric and sewer/electric/water campsites wind along the shoreline of the lake. Visitors can also stay in the premium yurt.

Just coming for the day? Numerous picnic sites are scattered near the lakeshore. An open picnic shelter, perfect for family reunions and get-togethers, can be reserved by contacting the park office. Although there is not a designated beach, you can swim in several areas of the park.

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.