Elephant Rocks State Park - Missouri

Address:Pilot Knob, Missouri

One of the oldest State Parks in the system, Sam A. Baker is truly a classic. The St. Francois River and Big Creek offer park-goers plenty of opportunity for amazing water-based recreation, including canoeing, rafting, and kayaking. Fishermen will bask in the glory of waters filled with bluegill, bass, crappie, and sunfish, to name just a few. Those visitors who want to stay overnight at the park are sure to enjoy either the rustic cabins or one of two large campgrounds, which are complete with hot showers and laundry facilities.

Visitors who come to Lake Maria State Park will enjoy one of the few remaining stands of the "Big Woods," a maple, oak and basswood forest that once covered part of southern Minnesota. The park is perfect for hikers, backpackers, horseback riders, and cross-country skiers who enjoy the challenge of the rolling terrain. Take a stroll on the boardwalk which winds through a marsh. Backpack sites, located on remote lakes and ponds throughout the park, are just two miles from the trailhead parking lot. New log camper cabins, located near lakes and ponds, provide bunk beds for six people and a table and benches for campers who want more of the creature comforts. Lake Maria State Park is home to the Blandings turtle, easily identified by bright yellow spots on its shell. It is one of Minnesota's threatened species.