State Parks and National Parks

Sam A. Baker State Park

The 5,324-acre Sam A. Baker State Park, one of Missouri's oldest state parks, is distinguished by geology and by the rugged character of its landscape and wildlife.

The geological shaping of the park took place 1.5 billion years ago as the volcanic rock of the St. Francois Mountains eroded into the knobby hills visible today.

This igneous rock is so hard that these basic forms remain as they were in the Precambrian era, despite the deposit and disintegration of successive mineral layers.

The park's geological appeal is great. It contains a "shut-in," a canyonlike gorge, on Big Creek plus "rock glaciers" and Mudlick Mountain, the park's highest point.

The park's 1,370-acre Mudlick Mountain Natural Area and the adjoining 4,420-acre Mudlick Mountain Wild Area contain a wide variety of natural communities and wildlife. Of particular interest are the trees, scarred and distorted by extremes of weather, on Mudlick's summit. Prescribed fire is used to restore and maintain native communities.

Park activities cover a wide range. Nature lovers on foot or horseback explore the Mudlick Trail, a designated National Recreation Trail looping through the park for 12 miles. An Ozark Trail trailhead is located near the park's entrance. Shorter trails for hikers, totaling about eight miles, offer access to a variety of natural attractions.

An accessible wheelchair, bicycle and jogging path extends about two miles along the park's main corridor.

Big Creek and the St. Francois River are good for swimming, boating and fishing. Likely catches include bluegill, bass, crappie and catfish. Canoe rentals are available.

Backpackers may camp off the Mudlick Trail, subject to certain regulations, and there are Adirondack shelters overlooking Big Creek. There are 212 developed campsites available for a nominal fee, about half have electrical service. There are also rental cabins and an equestrian camping area.

The camping area has a full range of conveniences, and dining is available seasonally at the park lodge, one of a number of historic Great Depression-era buildings at Sam A. Baker.

Photo credits in order: Courtesy of Missouri Department of Natural Resources.