Pershing State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Pershing State Park is a popular destination in Missouri, offering visitors a variety of outdoor recreational activities and stunning natural beauty.
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Summary
Some of the key reasons to visit the park include its well-maintained camping facilities, picturesque hiking trails, and excellent fishing opportunities.
One of the main attractions within the park is Pershing Lake, a 26-acre body of water that is stocked regularly with fish including bass, catfish, and crappie. Visitors can rent boats or fish from the shore, and there are several picnic areas and playgrounds located nearby.
Other points of interest within the park include a historic one-room schoolhouse, a shooting range, and a nature center that provides educational exhibits and programming for visitors of all ages.
In terms of interesting facts about the area, Pershing State Park was named in honor of General John J. Pershing, who was born in nearby Laclede and went on to become a legendary military leader during World War I. The park also contains several unique geological features, including a large sinkhole and several natural springs.
The best time of year to visit Pershing State Park depends on what activities you are interested in. Spring and fall are typically the most comfortable seasons in terms of weather, and offer excellent opportunities for hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing. Summer is a popular time for camping and water activities, while winter visitors can enjoy snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Overall, Pershing State Park is a great choice for anyone looking to experience the natural beauty and rich history of Missouri.
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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.
Related References
Conservation Area Fountain Grove
Rusk Park
Tomey Park
Twin Parks
Yellow Creek Natural Area