Driving along the rural highways in southeast Missouri, travelers may notice an abundance of farmland. Amid this farmland, near East Prairie, 1,029 acres of the area’s original landscape has been preserved and stands out above the rest.
This island of trees in a sea of agriculture is known as Big Oak Tree State Park. The park’s wetlands and bottomland forests are home to several state champion trees. Amenities include an accessible boardwalk trail, two additional hiking trails, a picnic shelter and a playground.
The park is managed by Trail of Tears State Park.