Boons Lick Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Boons Lick Park is a popular destination located in Howard County, Missouri.


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Summary

The park covers 100 acres and is a great spot for outdoor activities like fishing, camping, hiking, and picnicking. The park is named after the Boons Lick Trail, which was used by early settlers and the famous frontiersman Daniel Boone.

One of the main attractions in the park is the 50-acre lake, which is stocked with fish like bass, catfish, and bluegill. Visitors can rent boats and canoes to explore the lake or fish from the shore. There are also several hiking trails that lead through wooded areas and around the lake.

Other points of interest in the park include a playground, picnic shelters, and a campground with both RV and tent sites. The park also hosts events like fishing tournaments, music concerts, and outdoor movie screenings throughout the year.

Interesting facts about the area include that Boons Lick Park is part of the Katy Trail State Park, a 240-mile trail that stretches across most of Missouri. The area is also known for its historic significance as part of the Boonslick region, where salt was harvested and traded during the early days of settlement.

The best time of year to visit Boons Lick Park is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its peak. Summer is also a popular time to visit for water activities, but it can get hot and humid. Winter is generally not recommended for outdoor activities due to colder temperatures and potential snow and ice.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
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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