Find fun activities at lake area Missouri state parks

Visit a Missouri state park or historic site while there’s a break in the winter weather. There’s plenty to do and see:

• Thursday, March 13, 5:30 p.m. – Thursday Night Hike: Fawns Ridge Trail at Lake of the Ozarks State Park.

Join the team at Lake of the Ozarks State Park for a series of guided night hikes each Thursday from March 13 to April 3. Participants will explore a different trail each week and are encouraged to bring water and snacks. This hike will begin at the trailhead by Public Beach #1 and is 1.4 miles long. Registration is required and can be submitted by visiting icampmo.com or by calling Brian Fredrick at 573-690-0450. Lake of the Ozarks State Park is located at 403 Highway 134 in Brumley.

• Thursday, March 20, 5:30 p.m. – Thursday Night Hike: Lake View Bend Trail at Lake of the Ozarks State Park.

Join the team at Lake of the Ozarks State Park for the second hike in a series of guided night hikes each Thursday from March 13 to April 3. Participants will explore a different trail each week and are encouraged to bring water and snacks. This week’s hike will begin at the trailhead and is 1.5 miles long. Registration is required and can be submitted by visiting icampmo.com or by calling Brian Fredrick at 573-690-0450. Lake of the Ozarks State Park is located at 403 Highway 134 in Brumley.

• Saturday, March 22, 3 p.m. – Backyard Birds at Bennett Spring State Park.

Join the team at the nature center to learn about the basic backyard birds that are found in Missouri year round. Afterward, test your identification skills by watching our feeders for these common birds. Bring binoculars if you wish to watch the birds at the feeders. This free program is open to the public, and no registration is needed. Bennett Spring State Park is located at 26250 Highway 64A outside of Lebanon.

• Thursday, March 27, 5:30 p.m. – Thursday Night Hike: Rocky Top Trail at Lake of the Ozarks State Park.

The third hike in a series of guided night hikes each Thursday, March 27, at 5:30 p.m. Participants will explore a different trail each week and are encouraged to bring water and snacks. This week’s hike will begin at the trailhead and is 2 miles long. Registration is required and can be submitted by visiting icampmo.com or by calling Brian Fredrick at 573-690-0450. Lake of the Ozarks State Park is located at 403 Highway 134 in Brumley.

• Saturday, March 29, 3 p.m. – Early Spring Blooms at Bennett Spring State Park.

Visit the nature center to learn about the early spring wildflowers that bloom at Bennett Spring State Park. This free event will be held at 26250 Highway 64A outside of Lebanon.

For detailed information on any of these activities, please visit mostateparks.com/events. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.