Finger Lakes State Park sits on 1,128 acres of reclaimed strip-mining land in Boone County, Missouri, just north of Columbia. What makes this park remarkable is its origin story: decades of lead and coal mining left behind a scarred landscape of ridges, hollows, and water-filled pits that the state transformed into a recreational haven. The result is a terrain unlike anything else in Missouri’s park system, with dozens of narrow, finger-shaped lakes carved into rolling hills that now teem with bluegill, bass, and catfish.

The park is one of the few places in the state where off-road vehicle enthusiasts can ride legally, with a dedicated motocross track and miles of OHV trails winding through the rugged former mining terrain. If motors aren’t your thing, the park also offers excellent mountain biking on singletrack trails, canoeing and kayaking on the quiet lakes, swimming at a designated beach, and several miles of hiking trails that wind past remnant mining features and regenerating forest.

Anglers will find the fishing surprisingly productive, especially in the smaller, less-visited lakes where bank access is easy and competition is light. The park’s campground provides basic electric and non-electric sites tucked among the trees, making it a convenient base camp for a weekend of riding or paddling.

Spring and fall deliver the best conditions, with mild temperatures and manageable crowds. Summer weekends draw heavy OHV traffic, so plan accordingly if you’re seeking solitude. Winter visits reward hikers with stark, beautiful views of the exposed geological layers left behind by the mining era.

Explore Nearby

• Finger Lakes National Forest — National Forest in New York
• McAuley Road Scenic Byway — Scenic Byway in North Carolina
• Knapp’s Covered Bridge — Covered Bridge in Pennsylvania
• Sodus Point Light — Lighthouse in New York
• Sodus Outer Light — Lighthouse in New York