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About 500,000 years ago
during a stage of the Pleistocene Ice Age, a continental glacier of depths
ranging from 1 to 2 miles thick covered most of northern Missouri. The great pressures caused by the glacier created
the gentle rolling hills predominate north of the Missouri River. The Lincoln Hills of northeastern Missouri
were not as affected as much leaving a rugged landscape with forested hills
that more closely resembles the Ozarks.
Located
at the southern end of the Lincoln Hills near Troy in Lincoln County is
Cuivre River State Park. The park is one of Missouri's largest and most
rugged parks with 6,394 acres of upland woods, riparian forests, limestone
glades, tall grass prairie, savannas, and bluffs. These diverse habitats
allow the park to support a vast array of native plant and animal life.
Land in the Cuivre River area was acquired in the
early 1930s for use as a federal recreation demonstration area. Local businessmen
and civic leaders who wanted to bring a conservation project and jobs to the
area convinced the National Park Service and the Civilian Conservation Corps
to work on projects on the property. From 1936 to 1942 members of CCC Co.
3771 began building roads, small bridges, a rock picnic shelter, and several
group camps. Many of these structures are still in use and have been placed
on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1946 the property was
transferred to Missouri's state park system.
 Cuivre
River State Park offers its visitors a wide range of activities. A staffed
Visitor Center is located at the entrance to the park and includes
interactive exhibits (photo left) on the area's geology, wildlife, and how the park was
formed. Cuivre River State Park offers basic, electric and electric, water
and sewer campsites, an equestrian campground, and a
special-use camping area. Three group camps constructed during the CCC era
are available for group rental and include cabins, a dining lodge and
recreation areas.
Lake
Lincoln, a 55-acre reservoir built in 1965 (photo
right,) is located near the campground
and features a swimming beach and a boat ramp for non-motorized boats. The 55-acre lake
is stocked with largemouth bass, sunfish, and channel catfish. Three
picnic areas, including a historic CCC rock picnic shelter, are located
throughout the park. From May through September park naturalists conduct
nature hikes, a variety of interpretive programs, and
evening programs at the campground amphitheater.
 The
park has two wild areas and three natural areas that provide hiking,
backpacking, photography, and wildlife observation opportunities. Habitats
in these areas feature native prairie (photo left,) sinkhole ponds, and
woodlands. Big Sugar Creek is one of the finest undisturbed streams left in
northeastern Missouri. This creek, which resembles an Ozark streams, runs
through a bottomland forest of sycamore, bur oak, black walnut and hackberry
and is home to several species of fish rarely found in northern Missouri.
Cuivre River State Park has an extensive trail system, consisting of 18
miles of trails open to equestrian use and 20 miles of hiking-only trails.
Visiting Cuivre River State Park
Visiting Hours:
Day-use areas are open daily from 6 am to 10 pm,
beach closes at 8 pm.
Visitor center and park office hours vary
depending on season and day of week.
Check the official site for details.
There is no charge to visit Cuivre
River State Park.
Directions:
Cuivre
River State Park is located off of MO-47 3 miles east of Troy off of US 61
or 10 1/2 miles west of Winfield Missouri off of MO-79 (the Great River
Road.)
 Learn more about the
Troy, Moscow Mills, and Elsberry
areas.
www.mostateparks.com
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Official site of the Cuivre River State Park provided by the Missouri
Department of Natural Resources.
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