Big Eleven Lake Park
Rate this placeNearby: Waterway Park Northrup Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Big Eleven Lake Park is a scenic park in Missouri that comprises 600 acres of wooded hills and water.
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Summary
The park offers visitors a range of activities, including hiking, fishing, boating, and camping. The park's campground features over 40 campsites, many with electric and water hookups.
One of the primary reasons to visit Big Eleven Lake Park is to enjoy the park's natural beauty. The park offers visitors stunning views of the surrounding hills, forests, and lake. The lake is a popular spot for fishing, with species such as largemouth bass, channel catfish, and bluegill. Visitors can also rent a boat or kayak to explore the lake's many bays and coves.
In addition to its natural attractions, Big Eleven Lake Park features several points of interest that visitors should check out. The park is home to the Big Eleven Lake Dam, which was built in 1959 and provides flood control for the surrounding area. Visitors can also explore the park's many hiking trails, which offer scenic views of the lake and surrounding forests.
The best time of year to visit Big Eleven Lake Park is during the spring and fall months, when the weather is mild and the park is less crowded. Summer months can be hot and humid, but are still popular for camping and fishing.
Overall, Big Eleven Lake Park is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to explore Missouri's natural beauty. With its stunning views, range of outdoor activities, and interesting points of interest, the park offers something for everyone.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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