Wandering Missouri

Arrow Rock State Historic Site

Located in Arrow Rock, Missouri, Arrow Rock State Historic Site is one of the most unique features of the state park system as it is an entire village filled with several buildings of historical significance. You can tour the village on foot or by tram. Then, when you are done, you can have lunch/dinner at the oldest restuarant west of the Mississippi.

Park Features

Visitor Center
The Village
J. Huston Tavern
Picnic Shelter
Big Soldier Lake
Trails:
- Pierre A Fleche Trail
- River Landing Trail
Campground:
- 59 campsites that are reservable April through October, and FCFS during the off-season (Basic, Electric, and FHU)

Off-Season Information

Starting in November, Missouri State Parks will begin off-season operations. Park Offices, Visitor Centers, and Historic Site Tours will have alternate hours. Most water will be shut off and showerhouses/restrooms closed (see lists below for exceptions). However, do not let the off-season keep you from visiting the parks. Trails are always open (well, almost always – sometimes they are closed for maintenance or prescribed burns), and the fish are still biting. AND, they are usually less crowded! To be honest… it is our favorite time to explore the parks.

Year-Round Reservable Campgrounds

Babler State Park
Bennett Spring State Park
Cuivre River State Park
Finger Lakes State Park
Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park
Long Branch State Park
Pershing State Park
St. Francois State Park
St. Joe State Park
Trail of Tears State Park
Washington State Park

The rest are FCFS (First Come, First Served).

Year-Round Shower/Bath Houses

Bennett Spring State Park (Campground 1)
Echo Bluff State Park
Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park (Loop 3)
Roaring River State Park (Campground 1)
Robertsville State Park (Comfort Station)
Table Rock State Park (#1 Showerhouse/#2 modern restrooms)

Frost-Free Water

Babler State Park (Site 36)
Sam A. Baker State Park (visitor/nature center)
Battle of Athens State Historic Site (between Sites 4 & 5)
Bennett Spring State Park (all Loops)
Big Lake State Park (Dump Station)
Crowder State Park (Site 10)
Cuivre River State Park (Site 69)
Echo Bluff State Park (Dump Station)
Finger Lakes State Park (Park Office)
Hawn State Park (Site 41)
Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park (Loop 3 Showerhouse, Special Use Showerhouse, and Camper Cabin Showerhouse)
Knob Noster State Park (Site 3)*
Lake of the Ozarks State Park (Check-in Stations)
Lake Wappapello State Park (Ridge Campground)
Lewis and Clark State Park (Park Maintenance Building)
Long Branch State Park (Site 12)
Meramec State Park (Dump Station)
Montauk State Park (all Loops)
Onondaga Cave State Park (Shelter Dump Station, Day-Use and Launch Areas, and Visitor Center Garden)
Pershing State Park (Sites 14 & 39)
Pomme de Terre State Park (Pittsburg Campground)
Roaring River State Park (all Loops)
Robertsville State Park (all spigots)
St. Joe State Park (Dump Station and Sites 42 & 118)
Stockton State Park (Park Office)
Table Rock State Park (Dump Stations)
Thousand Hills State Park (Campground 2)
Trail of Tears State Park (Dump Station)
Mark Twain State Park (Site 1)
Wallace State Park (Dump Station)
Watkins Mill State Park (Fill Station)
Weston Bend State Park (Dump Station)

Knob Noster State Park Campground

The campground is currently closed for upgrades.

The campground at Knob Noster State Park is a moderate sized campground with decent sized sites and clean facilities. With the parks proximity to Whiteman Air Force Base, it is common to see and hear the B-2 bombers. The roads within the campground were nice wide roads great for biking and scootering. The campground is also within walking distance of Lake Buteo and the WPA picnic area. Only warning, the raccoons. So many raccoons. And, they are pretty bold. Make sure you have all of your food out away and fishing tackle secured.

Campsites

69 reservable (on-season only) sites including 3 ADA sites
Basic, Electric (30 amp service), and Family
Back-in gravel pads
Picnic table and fire pit
Special-Use Area for nonprofit organizations
Two Organized Group Camps
Two Trailside Sites

Amenities

Check-in Station
Water*
Showerhouse/Bathhouse**
Vault Toilets
Dump Station
Woodlot
Trash/Recycling
Playground (posted picture is the old playground. A new playground was being installed.)
Amphitheater

*During the off-season water is available at spigot 3.

**Only available during the on-season (April through October).

Cell Coverage/Wi-Fi

Currently, we have Cricket Unlimited with Hotspots. We had decent service in the campground.

Knob Noster State Park

Located in Knob Noster, Missouri, Knob Noster State Park is a large divided park right across the road from Whiteman AFB. Bomber flyovers are a VERY common occurrence at the park and you can hear them taxiing on the tarmac. If load noises are bothersome, this is definitely not the park to visit. The sections of the park are spread out along Highway DD requiring you to exit to section to travel to the next. There are three sections to the park. The first section is where you will find the Visitor Center, Campgrounds, Lake Buteo Area, and WPA Picnic Area. The next section is the Clearfork Lake Area with the last section being where the Organized Group Camps are located.

Park Features

Visitor Center
Lake Buteo
- Kayak Rental
Clearfork Lake
Picnic Sites:
- Lake Buteo Shelter
- WPA Shelter
- Clearfork Lake Shelter
Trails:
- Buteo Trail: 1 mile (Loop), Natural, Moderate
- Clearfork Woodland Trail: 0.6 miles (Loop), Natural, Moderate
- Discovery Trail: 0.9 miles (Loop), Natural, Moderate
- Hawk Nest Trail: 1.6 miles (Loop), Natural, Moderate
- McAdoo Trail System: 4.9 miles (Loop), Natural, Rugged
- North Loop Trail: 1.8 miles (Loop), Natural, Moderate
- Opossum Hollow Trail: 5.75 miles (Loop), Natural, Moderate
Orienteering Courses:
- Clearfork
- Snipe Hunt
Camping:
- 69 reservable (on-season only) campsites (basic, electric, family)
- Special-Use Area
- 2 Organized Group Camps
- 2 Trailside Sites

Beach at Cuivre River State Park

Re-constructed in 2021, the beach has an updated bathhouse, new sidewalks, and sand. It was still under construction when we visited the first time in 2021 but was “open” when we visited again in March of 2022. I say “open” because Missouri State Park beaches don’t officially open until Memorial Weekend.

It is important to know that all Missouri State Park Beaches are tested weekly for bacteria levels. Before planning a visit, it is important to check the beach status on the Missouri State Park website. If the levels are too high, they will close the beach.

There is no lifeguard on duty so swim at your own risk.

Dogs, glass, and fires are prohibited.

Swimming at Onondaga Cave State Park

While there is no actual “advertised” swimming area in the park, there is access to the Meramec River via a trail in the basic camping loop. There is a small parking area right at the trailhead or in a small parking lot just before exiting the loop. We recommend packing a wagon and a source of shade. A few things to keep in mind: 1. It will be busy on Saturdays, and 2. The water level varies on the Meramec River so make sure you have the proper water safety devices. The water is also pretty fast flowing, so we had string attached to the tubes.

Onondaga Cave Mining Company

The “mining company” can be found on the visitor center parking lot at Onondaga Cave State Park. Bags of gemstones and fossils for panning can be purchased inside the visitor center at the store. While it is not one of the park’s big features, it certainly is a fun one. The girls really enjoyed doing something that we have yet to do at any of the other parks.

Cathedral Cave

Located at Onondaga Cave State in Leasburg, Missouri, Cathedral Cave was discovered around 1919. During the summer, visitors can explore Cathedral Cave on a flashlight led tour (or with a spelunking helmet). The tour is fantastic! We saw a Grotto Salamander, SLU’s CCM Seismic Station, and the Cathedral Bell. And, we got to experience total darkness.

Cave Tours

Memorial Day through Labor Day, Weekends Only
Two times available
Tickets can be purchased at the visitor center.
Admission:
- 18 & Older: $10
- 13 – 17: $8
- 6 – 12: $6
- Under 6: free
Tour leaves from the campground woodlot, takes approximately 2 hours, and requires a short hike to the entrance.

Onondaga Cave

Located at Onondaga Cave State Park in Leasburg, Missouri, Onondaga Cave was first discovered in 1886 by a local resident working at the Davis Mill. It wasn’t until 1904 when it was named Onondaga, meaning “people of the mountain”. After a bit of a controversial history, it became a state park in 1981 and recognized as a National Natural Landmark in 1982. Inside the cave, the tour will take you along a lighted path passed geological wonders such as the “twins” and their “ugly cousin”, the ballroom, the lily pad room, the kings canopy, and the bride.

Cave Tours

April through October
Every hour on the hour, starting at 10 a.m.
Tickets can be purchased at the visitor center or online.
Admission:
- 13 & Older: $15
- 6 – 12: $9
- Under 6: free
Tour leaves from Visitor Center and takes approximately an hour and a half. A jacket and comfortable shoes recommended.

Onondaga Cave State Park Visitor Center

The visitor center at Onondaga Cave State Park serves several functions for visitors. One, there is a small store to purchase park souvenirs and supplies, and buy tour tickets. Two, it is the entrance to Onondaga Cave and the meeting location for tours. Three, there are several exhibits explaining the caves as well as a room filled with smaller displays of Missouri’s wildlife. The visitor center is also where you will find the seismograph for the seismic station in Cathedral Cave.