Best Trails in Mark Twain State Park

Mark Twain State Park takes its name from the famous Missouri author-humorist whose real name was Samuel L. Clemens. Established in the 1920s through the efforts of the Mark Twain Memorial Park Association, it was transferred to the state in 1924 and is the third oldest state park in Missouri. The 2,775-acre park is located in the Salt River Hills, an area created when the Salt River system carved through the glaciated plains in northeast Missouri. Here, the terrain is reminiscent of southern parts of the state with limestone bluffs overlooking woodlands of oak, hickory and maple. The park serves as a refuge for white-tailed deer, turkey, raccoons, squirrels and a multitude of other wildlife. Bordering the park is the 18,000-acre Mark Twain Lake, offering excellent boating, fishing and swimming opportunities. The park features a heavily wooded campground with basic and electric campsites. Numerous picnic areas, two four-lane boat ramps and more than six miles of hiking trails with scenic views of the lake offer something for everyone. Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site, located adjacent to the park, contains the author's cabin and detailed accounts of Samuel Clemens' life and times.