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Paddleboarding is an activity that blends surfing with kayaking and allows you to enjoy many types of waterways. If you are just starting out or looking for places to work on your skills, the scenic lakes of Missouri will make great spots to stop during your travels. Here are five great spots to dip your paddle in the water in Missouri.
Take a ride on your board around any of the three lakes at Wakonda State Park and enjoy the view of the surrounding shorelines. You can easily make your way into the water from the 20,000-square-foot beach or use the boat launch area at the Wakonda or Agate Lakes. After your day out on water, you can relax in any of the two campgrounds that have basic, electric, and sewer/electric/water campsites. Check out their website for more information on directions and park hours.
If you are looking for a place to improve your paddleboarding skills, then try Big Lake at Big Lake State Park. With its shallow waters, you can work on your balance and strength as you stand on your board. Enjoy watching the sunset as you make your way around the lake and keep your eyes open for all the amazing wildlife around the banks. If you want to stay at the park, there are basic and electric campsites available or try out one of their eight premium cabins. Visit their website for more information on park hours and how to reserve a campsite or cabin.
Take a ride down the 4.5-mile long Peabody Lake water trail in Finger Lakes State Park with your paddleboard and enjoy the scenery of a once active mining area. Once filled with rich coal deposits, the waterways were created when the coal was removed and filled with water. You will be able to see high rock walls and the timberline of the surrounding forest as you make your way through the park. If you need a place to rest, the campground has basic and electric campsites that you can reserve during the season. For more information, check out their website.
Located close to Mark Twain National Forest, Echo Bluff State Park is a beautiful and secluded area, with a perfect place to practice your paddleboarding skills. Sinking Creek is a tributary of the Current River and allows for a calm waterway for you to see the bluffs and the forest around the area. With campsites, a lodge, and cabins, you will be able to get some rest after you take a trip around the creek. Visit their website for more information for directions and reserving a place to stay.
You will have plenty of opportunity to explore the waterways of Stockton State Park by paddleboard. One unique feature is the water trail that is decorated with limestone bluffs and wildlife, like bald eagles and beavers. You can stop off for lunch at one of the coves or check out an island on the way down the 6.65-mile trail. If you would like to stay in the park, you can reserve a campsite or rent a cabin for the weekend. For more information on directions and the park, check out their website.
