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Lewis and Clark State Park

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Park Information

The Lewis and Clark Expedition headed west in 1804 and encountered a lake that William Clark described as “full of Geese & Goslings.” Today, that lake is Lewis and Clark Lake, which is bordered by Lewis and Clark State Park. The park’s broad open spaces and easy water access make it a favorite for families who take advantage of the boat ramp and swimming beach. Bird watchers come to Lewis and Clark to watch geese, great blue herons and snowy egrets flock to the oxbow lake.

Park Hours

Park Grounds:
7 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily

Park Office hours

Staff are usually in the park daily. The office telephone is monitored for messages during daytime hours, as well as on evenings and weekends. 

Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites
May 23, 2013
Fifty years ago, if you had arrived at the natural tunnel in Bennett Spring State Park, you would have seen a lake. Around 1964, a dam created from gravel and silt and reinforced with rebar and concrete blocked the upstream entrance of the natural tunnel. There is no record of how long the resulting lake lasted, but historical accounts state the dam failed after heavy rains, leaving only the portion of the structure seen today at the end of the trail. Walk the Natural Tunnel Trail today and imagine what it would have been like 50 years ago. For more information about this trail, other trails at the park, and all the other things you can do at Bennett Spring State Park, visit mostateparks.com.