Missouri State Park Designated Natural Areas

Missouri has been blessed with an unusual diversity of native plants, animals and scenic areas. The state has some of the largest springs in North America and the second greatest number of caves in the United States. There are tallgrass prairies, deep rich forests, barren glades and numerous crystal clear streams. All these make for an unusually varied, beautiful and interesting natural history that has shaped Missouri’s cultural history as well.

As you tour Missouri’s state parks and historic sites, you will learn about our state’s natural and cultural heritage. To ensure that special recognition and protection is afforded to some of the significant natural elements, certain areas have been designated as Missouri Natural Areas. Natural areas are managed and protected for their scientific, educational and historic values. They are formally recognized as the least disturbed and highest-quality biological and geological sites across the state.

Missouri Natural Areas Newsletter

Natural Area	Location	Acreage
Babler Southwoods Hollow	Babler State Park	17 acres
Bennett Spring Hanging Fen	Bennett Spring State Park	5.35 acres
Big Oak Tree	Big Oak Tree State Park	940 acres
Big Sugar Creek	Cuivre River State Park	56 acres
Botkins Pine Woods	Hawn State Park	30 acres
Chariton River Hills (Bee Trace)	Long Branch State Park	384.4 acres
Chariton River Hills (West Char.)	Long Branch State Park	44.4 acres
Coakley Hollow Fen	Lake Ozark State Park	4 acres
Coonville Creek	St. Francois State Park	49 acres
Cordgrass Bottoms	Pershing State Park	80 acres
Des Moines River Ravines	Battle of Athens State Historic Site	40 acres
East Drywood Creek	Prairie State Park	50 acres
Elephant Rocks	Elephant Rocks State Park	7 acres
Elk River Breaks Woodland	Big Sugar Creek State Park	1,613 acres
George A. Hamilton Forest	Cuivre River State Park	40 acres
Graham Cave Glades	Graham Cave State Park	81.5 acres
Grand Gulf	Grand Gulf State Park	60 acres
Ha Ha Tonka Karst	Ha Ha Tonka State Park	70 acres
Ha Ha Tonka Savanna	Ha Ha Tonka State Park	953 acres
Hunkah Prairie	Prairie State Park	160 acres
Johnson's Shut-Ins	Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park	180 acres
JSI Dolomite Glade	Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park	18 acres
JSI Fen	Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park	8 acres
LaMotte Sandstone Barrens	Hawn State Park	81 acres
Lincoln Hills	Cuivre River State Park	1,872 acres
Locust Creek	Pershing State Park	330 acres
Meramec Mosaic	Meramec State Park	831 acres
Meramec Upland Forest	Meramec State Park	461 acres
Montauk Upland Forest	Montauk State Park	40 acres
Mudlick Mountain	Sam A. Baker State Park	1,370 acres
Orchid Valley	Hawn State Park	120 acres
Oumessourit	Van Meter State Park	300 acres
Pickle Creek	Hawn State Park	58 acres
Pin Oak Slough	Knob Noster State Park	4 acres
Regal Prairie	Prairie State Park	240 acres
Roaring River Cove Hardwoods	Roaring River State Park	120 acres
St. Francois Mountains	Taum Sauk Mountain State Park	5,428 acres
Tzi-Sho Prairie	Prairie State Park	240 acres
Vancill Hollow	Trail of Tears State Park	300 acres
Vilander Bluff	Onondaga Cave State Park	206 acres
Washington State Park Hardwoods	Washington State Park	68 acres

TOTALS	40 Natural Areas	16,959.65 acres
L-A-D Foundation	1 Natural Area	60.00 acres

	Total	17,019.65 acres

Note: L-A-D Foundation owns Grand Gulf Natural Area, DNR manages the site.

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