State Parks and National Parks

Mark Twain State Park

Samuel Clemens would have savored the irony in the creation of this lake that bears his pen name. With the completion of a dam across the Salt River in 1983, the fertile river valley that the Clemens knew in his childhood disappeared beneath the waters of Mark Twain Lake.

The lake is a big attraction at 2,800-acre Mark Twain State Park, Missouri's third-oldest. But the literati may head first for the Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site, adjoining the state park. (There is a nominal fee.)

The tiny house where Clemens was born and lived until age 4 is surrounded by a modern museum. Exhibits include furnishings from Clemens' adult home and a manuscript of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer."

Much of the outdoor recreation in the state park is centered on the lake. Boat ramps are available to campers and day users, and there's often a nice breeze for sailing. The lake supports blue gill, crappie, catfish, bass and perch, and numerous quiet coves please anglers hoping to catch some relaxation along with their fish.

There are 100-plus campsites, 79 with electricity, and there are camper cabins available for rent year-round.

Day users enjoy several shady picnic areas, including one near Buzzard's Roost, a scenic overlook on a limestone bluff. Six miles of trails offer other scenic vistas.

The birdwatching at Mark Twain State Park is excellent. Avian visitors include diverse songbirds, waterfowl, three kinds of owls and wintering bald eagles.

Photo credits in order: Courtesy of Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Photo by Nick Decker, courtesy of Missouri Department of Natural Resources.