Gainey Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Gainey Park is a popular destination in Missouri due to its natural beauty and abundance of recreational activities.
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Summary
Located in the Ozark Mountains, this park is an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors can enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, kayaking, and picnicking. The park has over 1,400 acres of land, including a lake, creek, and several hiking trails.
One of the main attractions at Gainey Park is the scenic lake, which offers fishing, boating, and swimming opportunities. The lake is stocked with a variety of fish, including bass, crappie, and catfish. The park also has a designated swimming area with a sandy beach, perfect for families with children.
Another popular activity in Gainey Park is hiking. The park has several trails that wind through the Ozark Mountains, offering stunning views of the surrounding scenery. The most popular trail is the 3.5-mile Waterfall Trail, which leads hikers to a beautiful waterfall.
In addition to its natural beauty, Gainey Park is also home to several historic sites. The park has a restored gristmill, which was built in the 19th century and is still operational. Visitors can watch as grain is ground into flour using the same techniques used over a century ago.
The best time to visit Gainey Park is during the spring and fall, when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its most vibrant. The park is open year-round, but some facilities may be closed during the winter months.
Overall, Gainey Park is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the natural beauty of Missouri. With its stunning lake, hiking trails, historic sites, and abundant wildlife, this 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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