Wakonda State Park

Wakonda State Park is a 1,054-acre (427-hectare) park in Lewis County featuring six lakes created from former mining sites. The lakes provide swimming areas, boat access, and trails for hiking and biking throughout the grounds.

The land formed from glacial deposits that were mined for gravel starting in 1924 until operations eventually stopped. As mining ended, water filled the excavated areas and created the lakes that exist today.

The name comes from an Osage word meaning spiritual or sacred, connecting this place to the region's Native American past. Visitors can sense this cultural tie through the land and how the park honors that heritage.

The park is easy to reach with two campgrounds offering over 100 total sites and good facilities throughout. Visitors should know that different areas serve different activities, so checking a map at the entrance helps you find what you need.

The lakes here are not natural but were created when water filled mining pits left behind from decades of extraction work. This transformation shows how a recreational space can emerge from what was once an industrial site.

Location: Lewis County

Inception: 1960

Website: https://mostateparks.com/park/wakonda-state-park

GPS coordinates: 40.00720,-91.52280

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:03