River Hills Visitor Center

at Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park

Get a glimpse of a healthy Ozark border forest landscape and its wildlife inside the River Hills Visitor Center. A large diorama portrays native mammals, birds, reptiles and plants in spring and summer seasons. Take a closer look at some of the smaller features such as algae and leaf structure through the available microscopes. From the viewing area, you may use binoculars to observe and perhaps identify birds and other wildlife. To learn about the varied natural and cultural history of the park, ask to watch one of our variety of videos that are available during visitor center hours.

Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park maps and brochures, books and souvenir items, and restrooms are available at the River Hills Visitor Center. Contact the park office at 636-458-3813 for additional information.

Guests at the visitor center's viewing area use binoculars to look into the woods through large windows

T-shirts and other items on display in the gift shop

A room of interpretive displays, including animal furs, a diorama of Missouri streams and rivers, and reptile enclosures

Hours

November and March

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Closed Monday through Friday

April through October

9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday

Closed Monday and Tuesday

December through February

Closed

Weather

Check Weather

Coordinates

38.617367, -90.689959

Park Hours

For temporary closures related to weather, stewardship activities and maintenance, as well as temporary trail closures, click here to visit our Park and Site Status Map.

On the following days (actual or observed), staff will not be available and park buildings will be closed: Thanksgiving Day; Nov. 29, 2024; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day; New Year’s Eve; New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Lincoln’s Birthday; and Presidents Day.

Park Grounds:

Entrance gates open and close at these times.

Summer Hours (On-Season)
April through October
7 a.m. to 9 p.m., daily
Winter Hours (Off-Season)
November through March
7 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily

Park Office hours

8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, year-round