Mark Twain State Park

Mark Twain State Park is a nature reserve spanning about 2,800 acres of forested terrain where oak, hickory, and maple trees create a quiet setting overlooking Mark Twain Lake. The park includes boat ramps for water access, hiking trails through the woods, and scattered picnic areas for outdoor activities.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources created this recreational area in 1924 to serve the public. This establishment marked an early step in protecting natural lands and making them available for community recreation.

The park carries the name of Samuel Clemens, the writer who used the pen name Mark Twain and was born in a cabin near these grounds. His literary legacy helps shape how people understand and experience this place.

Visitors can park at designated areas and find trails suited to different activity levels, from casual walks to longer hikes. Spring and fall offer the most pleasant visiting conditions, with comfortable temperatures and active wildlife throughout the grounds.

A stone picnic shelter at Buzzard's Roost was built in 1941 by an African-American crew from the Civilian Conservation Corps and is now listed in the National Register. This structure stands as a reminder of work done by this group that often goes unrecognized in park history.