Summary
It covers an area of 5,000 acres along the Missouri River and offers a variety of recreational activities such as hiking, fishing, camping, and wildlife viewing.
One of the top reasons to visit Cross Ranch State Park is its beautiful scenery, which includes river bottom forests, open prairies, and rugged badlands. The park is also home to several different species of wildlife, including bison, elk, deer, and coyotes.
There are several points of interest within the park, including the historic Von Hoffman House, a restored homestead from the 1800s that provides visitors with a glimpse into the lives of early settlers. Additionally, the park offers several miles of hiking trails that wind through the park's diverse landscape, and fishing is available in the Missouri River.
Interesting facts about the park include its designation as an Important Bird Area, due to its importance as a migratory stopover for birds traveling along the Missouri River. The park also serves as a natural laboratory for scientific research, thanks to its diverse plant and animal communities.
The best time of year to visit Cross Ranch State Park is during the summer months, when the weather is warm and sunny, and the park's facilities are fully operational. However, visitors should be aware that the park is prone to flooding, and some areas may be closed during periods of high water.
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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