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Big Oak Tree State Park

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Park Information

A visit to Big Oak Tree State Park is a visit to Missouri as the first explorers saw it. Towering hickory trees and oaks form a canopy that averages more than 120 feet in height and the soaring trees and marshy terrain translates visitors back to when southeast Missouri was dubbed “Swampeast Missouri.” The trees and wetlands make the park a prime place for wildlife as well as picnic sites and shelters that are shaded by trees that have seen centuries of history. A self-guided boardwalk trail and an interpretive center tell the story of this rich landscape.

Park Hours

Park Grounds:

6 a.m. to 10 p.m., year-round.

Nature Center hours

  • Summer Hours (On-Season)
    April through September
    10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday
  • Winter Hours (Off-Season)
    October through March
    The nature center is accessible by prior appointment.
    Please note you may need to contact staff at the park office before going to the nature center.

Park Office hours

  • Summer Hours (On-Season)
    April through September
    10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday
Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites
May 20, 2013
The Old Tavern in Arrow Rock was the first historic building in Missouri to be set aside for public preservation. What year did this occur?