Sam A. Baker State Park
With the ancient St. Francois Mountains, the unspoiled natural landscape and the cool waters of the St. Francis River and Big Creek, Sam A. Baker State Park has something for everyone. Sam A. Baker State Park is located at 5580 MO-143, in Patterson, Missouri. For more information, click here. Access to both the river and creek gives anglers the opportunity to hook many varieties of fish and kayakers the chance to float year-round. Several miles of hiking, backpacking, bicycling and equestrian trails provide glimpses of the area as the earlier settlers found it. Exhibits in the park’s nature center interpret the natural and cultural history of the park. Sam A. Baker State Park has five named multi use trails throughout the park. One paved bicycle trail, and an equestrian trail as well.
Pickle Springs Natural Area
Pickle Springs is a 180-acre natural area that is registered as a National Natural Landmark. This hidden gem is one of Missouri’s best kept secrets. The park is known for its unusual rock formations, wet weather waterfalls, spectacular canyons, and wide range of plant species. Pickle Springs is without a doubt one of the most diverse natural areas in Missouri. Some of the interesting geological features include a natural double bridge that holds up a shelf of sandstone, narrow slot canyons, giant sandstone blocks, (known as Hoodoo’s) and of course Pickle Springs flowing out of a sandstone wall. Not only is the park known for its unique geology found throughout. Pickle Springs is located on Dorlac Rd, in New Offenburg, Missouri. For more information, click here.
Elephant Rocks State Park
The southeastern corner of Missouri, is a perfect destination for outdoor lovers and nature enthusiasts alike. Nowhere is this more true than at Elephant Rocks State Park in Belleview, Missouri. For more information, click here. Elephant Rocks is a fairly small State Park with only about 150 acres to explore. However, there is so much to see and do you could spend an entire day hiking, climbing, and playing within the park. Visitors to Elephant Rocks State Park can easily view granite boulders from the one-mile Braille Trail, designed to accommodate people with visual or physical disabilities. The trail passes by a quarry pond, which supports a variety of animal life and offers breathtaking views. With so much to see and do it’s easy to see why Elephant Rocks State Park is considered one of the most unique parks in the entire Midwest.
Hawn State Park
It’s no secret that some of the best hiking trails in the Midwest can be found in the Missouri Ozarks, and Hawn State Park is certainly near the top of that list! Hawn State Park is located at 12096 Park Drive in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. For more information, click here. Rolling hills of pine, massive oak trees, sandy bottom streams, sandstone canyons and cliffs all come together at Hawn State Park, to create one of the most scenic landscapes in Missouri. This amazing park offers visitors a scenic and peaceful setting where they can hike, camp, picnic, and enjoy the great outdoors.
Maramec Springs
Whether its learning about the the Park’s deep history, fishing for trout, or exploring the spring, Maramec Spring Park has something for everyone to enjoy. The park is located at 21880 Maramec Spring Dr, St James, MO. For more information, click here. The Park contains the fifth largest spring in the state. An average of 100 million gallons of water flows from the Spring daily. The 200 acre public use area of the Park provides many amenities and activities for visitors such as a cafe, store, camping, wildlife viewing, fish feeding, picnicking, shelters, playgrounds and fishing. The beautiful spring is filled with rainbow trout, stocked daily by the Missouri Department of Conservation.