Missouri’s assortment of rolling hills, flat plains, majestic lakes and hearty rivers provide the ideal setting for visitors to experience the great outdoors.
With over 50 state parks and wildlife areas, Missouri has nearly twice the forested land of its neighboring states of Iowa, Illinois, Kansas and Nebraska combined, and offers residents endless opportunities for outdoor activities including fishing, boating, swimming, and hiking.
Table Rock Lake - 43,100 acres of water, nearly 800 miles of shoreline
Lake of the Ozarks - 58,000-acre reservoir, more than 1,150 miles of shoreline
Ozark National Scenic Riverways - Ozark National Scenic Riverways is the first national park area to protect a river system. The Current and Jacks Fork Rivers are two of the finest floating rivers you'll find anywhere. Spring-fed, cold and clear they are a delight to canoe, swim, boat or fish. Besides these two famous rivers, the park is home to hundreds of freshwater springs, caves, trails and historic sites such as Alley Mill.
Katy Trail State Park - The 225-mile bike trail is the nation’s longest rails-to-trails project, stretching from the Machens to Clinton. There's enough variety to keep you interested with tree-shaded areas, open fields, impressive Missouri River bluffs and quaint communities along the way.
Missouri Botanical Garden - Founded in 1859, this 79-acre National Historic Landmark is the country's oldest botanical garden in continuous operation.
Missouri is also home to over 22 “Show Caves” of underground formations including: Mark Twain Cave (Hannibal), Cameron Cave (Hannibal), Meramec Caverns (Stanton), Bridal Cave (Camdenton), Fantastic Caverns (America's only drive-through cave, in Springfield).