Big Oak Tree State Park: Some Really Big Trees Here!
by Ironcladd - Written: Apr 30 '01
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Pros: Record Sized Trees, Boardwalk, Fishing, Hiking.
Cons: None.
The Bottom Line: Big Trees, Wildlife, Fishing, and a good time here in the bootheel of Missouri.
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| Ironcladd's Full Review: Big Oak Tree State Park |
Big Oak Tree State Park is located in Mississippi County, Missouri, in the so-called "Bootheel". It is a glimpse into the past of how the Bootheel region looked before white man came, a vast and forested wilderness situated on the alluvial floodplains of the Mississippi River. I visited this park for the first time in February of 2000, and again just this past weekend. What a contrast! To see the forest in a winter condition and to see it in the height of spring. Big Oak Tree State Park has several record-sized trees, both state records for Missouri, and national records for the country. There are many activities one can pursue in this remote state park in Missouri: hiking, fishing, picnic areas, nature walking, wildlife and bird watching, a little visitor center, and just plain old relaxing. What follows is a description and information/statistics on this cool state park of Missouri.
Information/Statistics.
Location: Southeast Missouri/Bootheel Region.
Size: 1,007 acres
Camping: no(except by special permission)
Hiking: Yes
Picnic Areas: Yes
Fishing: Yes
Bird Watching: Yes(146 species at least)
After finding this rather remote park, some 35 miles outside East Prarie, Missouri, you are struck by how much of an "island" it is in the middle of the agricultural areas. It is astounding that the entire area used to be like this, and was all cut down and cleared for agriculture.
Agriculture today seems to have a tough time in this area, as there are numerous irrigation devices strewn about the region. The entrance to the park is unassuming, and you pass a picnic area before reaching the visitor area and boardwalk. There is a little parking area in front of the even smaller visitor center/information center. Helpful park officials are here to answer your questions, and there is a bevy of free information, as well as a small gift shop(I bought a nice $6 extra large t-shirt with the park logo on it). Get a park map, and head out to the boardwalk!
The boardwalk takes you into the 80 acre section of the park that is pure virgin forest. There are various stations to stop at that are points of interest. One such point of interest is the State Champion Bur Oak Tree, Quercus borealus. This huge tree is 17 feet 7 inches in circumference at chest height, and is 140 feet high, with a spread of over 130 feet. This is a truly awesome tree, and is one of the biggest trees you will see in the midwestern United States. In the loftly limbs of this behemoth, you can spy epiphyte fern plants, ferns that don't require soil to grow, and only live high up in the canopy of a climax forest. The forest also has abundant wildlife, from skinks and snake and turtles, to songbirds, warblers, hawks, and more. Other trees to see in the park are the baldcypress, silver maple, pumpkin ash, and the champion slippery elm tree. Three unique life forms are also found in the park are the giant cane, a kind of native bamboo, the swamp rabbit, and the hooded warbler. These are all unique to this area. There is also a 22 acre lake in the middle of this park, and the water is pretty clear. You can see the fish from the shore or the dock. Bluegill, bass, pumpkinseed, carp, and catfish are among the fish you can catch here. They have a boat launch as well in the parking lot area.
All in all, Big Oak Tree State Park is a great little state park in the state of Missouri. It offers much for the visitor, from hiking to fishing, wildlife watching, big tree admiring, picnicking, and is also a great place to relax and just enjoy.
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: Anytime
Recommended for: Anybody
Review Topic: Overview
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