Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Route 1
Patterson, Missouri
Lake of the Ozarks is Missouri's largest State Park and it is brimming with natural history. Visitors will marvel at the Ozark caverns, filled with thousand-year-old claw marks, salamanders, and bats, as well as a cave phenomenon called Angel Showers, in which water actually streams through solid rock. The Coakley Hollow Fen Natural Area, a swampy spring-fed meadow, is also intriguing to visit as are the 12 miles of trails here, which wind through forests and glades. The sandy lakeside beaches are also great for sunning and picnics, not to mention a swim in the lake. Park-goers who would like to spend the night are welcome to enjoy one of the four organized group camps available, here at the fun-filled Lake of the Ozarks State Park
From Sam A. Baker State Park - Missouri:
Come to this north-country wilderness park where waterfalls cascade through a volcanic canyon surrounded by majestic forest. The trails in the park are carved through a forest of fir, cedar, spruce, and northern hardwoods. Although the trails are steep and challenging for hikers and backpackers, they offer spectacular views. Secluded campsites are for backpackers only. Trout (brown, rainbow, and brook) and splake (a hybrid of brook and lake trout) reside in Benson Lake. Watch for moose, deer, bear, and wolves.