Whether it's hanging out in a quiet lake cove, exploring one of Missouris pristine Ozark rivers or plopping in a pool, state parks offer swimming experiences that the entirefamily can enjoy.

Four parks Bennett Spring, Big Lake, Roaring River and Washington have public swimming pools, while others have sand beaches.

The parks located on big impounded lakes offer some of the Midwests top water recreation. Lake of the Ozarks, Lake Wappapello, Long Branch, Pomme de Terre, Stockton, Harry S Truman, Table Rockand Mark Twain state parks all have large lakes perfect for swimming, boating and fishing.

Crowder State Park has swimming in its 18-acre lake and Cuivre River State Park offers swimming in Lake Lincoln. Finger Lakes, Lewis and Clark, St. Joe, Trail of Tears, Thousand Hills, Wakonda and Watkins Mill also are state parks with smaller lakes for swimming. Several of the lakes have sand beaches.

Clear, spring-fed Ozark rivers are great for cooling off in the hot summer months.

Big Creek is a lovely little stream that runs through Sam A. Baker State Park and thecampground is next to a gravel bar along the creek.

Meramec and Onondaga Cave state parks are located along the Meramec River. St. Francois and Washington state parks are on Big River.

One of the states premier swimming holes is at Johnsons Shut-Ins State Park, where the Black River has carved out chutes and pools in the ancient rock of the namesake shut-ins area.

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swimming - Missouri State Parks