Watkins Mill State Park offers opportunities for camping, hiking, picnicking, fishing and swimming. The most rugged portion of the land was created by the cutting action of Williams Creek. A 100-acre lake features an accessible fishing dock and a boat-launching area. Bass, catfish, crappie and sunfish are plentiful in the blue waters. The sandy swimming beach is a popular spot on a warm, sunny day, and a change house is available nearby.
The park is home to an abundance of plant and animal life. Visitors regularly see white-tailed deer, wild turkeys and other native animals, including birds that are found only in northwestern Missouri.
The park contains Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site, which features a three-story woolen mill, the only 19th century textile mill in North America with its original machinery still in place. The site is a National Historic Landmark, as well as a National Mechanical Engineering Historic Landmark.
The park is located 7 miles east of Interstate 35 on Route 92, then 1 mile north on Route RA.
