Meramec State Park, State park and cave system in Sullivan, Missouri.
Meramec State Park is a natural area with limestone formations, dense forests, and five developed caves that run along the Meramec River. The park spans about 6,900 acres (2,800 hectares) and features natural rock outcrops and a complex cave system with multiple passages.
Missouri protected this natural space in 1927 to preserve a cave network used by indigenous peoples and early settlers for shelter. The cave systems served for centuries as dwellings and refuges for different cultures.
The name Meramec comes from a Native American language and refers to the catfish that populate the river. This connection to the land remains visible in how the waterway shapes the area today.
The park is accessible through guided tours of five caves, including Fisher Cave, with provided lighting and safety equipment. Over 13 miles (21 kilometers) of hiking trails allow you to explore the forests and river without entering caves.
The cave system spans three Missouri counties, showing how underground limestone structures shape the landscape across county lines. This geological continuity makes the area compelling for those studying how natural features connect across administrative borders.
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