Watkins Mill State Park

Watkins Mill State Park offers opportunities for camping, hiking, picnicking, fishing and swimming. The most rugged portion of the land was created by the cutting action of Williams Creek. A 100-acre lake features an accessible fishing dock and a boat-launching area. Bass, catfish, crappie and sunfish are plentiful in the blue waters. The sandy swimming beach is a popular spot on a warm, sunny day, and a change house is available nearby.

The park is home to an abundance of plant and animal life. Visitors regularly see white-tailed deer, wild turkeys and other native animals, including birds that are found only in northwestern Missouri.

The park contains Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site, which features a three-story woolen mill, the only 19th century textile mill in North America with its original machinery still in place. The site is a National Historic Landmark, as well as a National Mechanical Engineering Historic Landmark.

The park is located 7 miles east of Interstate 35 on Route 92, then 1 mile north on Route RA.