Thousand Hills State Park - Missouri Beaches

Thousand Hills State Park
20431 State Hwy. 157
Kirksville, MO 63501

660-665-6995

At a glance...

Acreage: 3,079.70
Year Acquired: 1952
Activities: boating, camping, canoeing, dining, fishing, lodging, marina, picnicking, swimming, hiking - bicycling - mountain biking - backpacking trails

As the population of Kirksville expanded in the 1950s, the city sought to increase its supply of fresh water. Thousand Hills State Park was created following the construction of the 573-acre Forest Lake to serve as the city's reservoir. Today, the 3,215-acre park offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore the best of northern Missouri.

The park's central feature is the lake, created by the damming of Big Creek. While the reservoir supplies water to the community, the park's natural features recall a time when woodlands and savannas covered northern Missouri. Visitors can experience some of these natural wonders by hiking the park's trails.

The cool waters of Forest Lake offer a wide variety of recreational opportunities, including swimming, fishing, boating and skiing. Hiking, mountain bicycling and nature study are popular on-land activities. An interpretive shelter displays the park's petroglyphs - rock carvings left behind by the area's inhabitants more than 1,500 years ago. Visitors wanting to extend their stay can sleep in one of the cabins near the dining lodge or camp in a modern campground to experience more of what Thousand Hills State Park has to offer.

Swimming
The beach at Thousand Hills State Park is open daily May 24 to Sept. 1 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Lifeguards are on duty full time. Dressing rooms and showers are also provided. A snack bar is open at the beach during these times offering soda, chips, water and candy.

The beach will be closed on days the concessionaire and the park superintendent feel the weather is inclement. Please check the boathouse for possible closing information or call the park office at 660-665-6995.