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Missouri State Parks Designated Natural Areas

purple coneflowers amid the prairie grasses at Prairie State ParkMissouri 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. 

Below are the publicly accessible natural areas located in Missouri State Parks properties. Please note that some of these areas extend beyond the boundaries of the state park.

Public Natural Areas in Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites
Natural Area Location Total Acreage of Natural Area Notes
Bennett Spring Hanging Fen Bennett Spring State Park 5 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 Long Branch State Park 426 acres  
Coakley Hollow Fen Lake of the Ozarks State Park 1,776 acres  
Coonville Creek St. Francois State Park 49 acres  
Des Moines River Ravines Battle of Athens State Historic Site 40 acres  
Elephant Rocks Elephant Rocks State Park 7 acres  
Elk River Breaks Woodland Big Sugar Creek State Park 1,600 acres  
George A. Hamilton Forest Cuivre River State Park 40 acres  
Graham Cave Glades Graham Cave State Park 82 acres  
Grand Gulf Grand Gulf State Park 60 acres Owned by the L-A-D Foundation; managed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Ha Ha Tonka Karst Ha Ha Tonka State Park 70 acres  
Ha Ha Tonka Oak Woodland Ha Ha Tonka State Park 2,995 acres  
Johnson's Shut-Ins Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park 180 acres  
Johnson's Shut-Ins Dolomite Glades Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park 18 acres  
Johnson's Shut-Ins Fens Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park 8 acres  
LaBarque Creek Don Robinson State Park 1,966 acres Jointly owned and managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources
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  
Oumessourit  Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park 300 acres
Pickle Creek Hawn State Park 58 acres  
Pin Oak Slough Knob Noster State Park 4 acres  
Regal Tallgrass Prairie Prairie State Park 3,646 acres  
Roaring River Cove Hardwoods Roaring River State Park 120 acres  
St. Francois Mountains Taum Sauk Mountain State Park 7,028 acres Jointly owned and managed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Missouri Department of Conservation
Stellata Natural Area St. Joe State Park 2,077 acres  
Vancill Hollow Trail of Tears State Park 300 acres  
Vilander Bluff Onondaga Cave State Park 206 acres  
Washington State Park Hardwood Washington State Park 68 acres  
SUMMARY 36 Publicly Accessible MSP Natural Areas 29,140 total acres