Home > Travel > State Parks > Missouri > Cuivre River State Park

Acreage: 6,393.94
Year Acquired: 1946
Activities: camping, fishing, picnicking, swimming, hiking - equestrian - backpacking trails


Cuivre River State Park lends a wilder, Ozarkian flavor to the otherwise predominately agricultural landscape of northern Missouri. Although not far from St. Louis, the park is a nature lover’s paradise. A stroll through the park in the spring when many woodland wildflowers are in bloom or in the fall when the prairie grasses tower over your head is an outdoor delight.

Spend a few days at the park. Both primitive and modern campsites are available, and Lake Lincoln offers swimming, boating and fishing. The park’s two wild areas provide hiking, backpacking, photography and wildlife observation activities. There are also equestrian trails and a campground for overnight stays.

Three natural areas – areas noted for their high-quality ecosystems – feature native prairie, sinkhole ponds, woodlands and a clear, rock-bottomed stream. Big Sugar Creek is one of the finest undisturbed streams left in northeastern Missouri. Several trails lead through the Lincoln Hills Natural Area and its many unique natural features.

Whether for a few hours or a few days, come visit one of the state’s largest and most rugged parks. You will find Cuivre River State Park to be an Ozarklike island in north Missouri’s rolling plains.