Montana’s Giant Springs State Park

Giant Springs State Park in Montana was one of the stops on Louis and Clark’s month-long portage through the area. Getting to it was an adventure in itself for these historic explorers; they were told by natives to expect a journey of only half a day, but ended up needing several weeks thanks to the amount of heavy equipment they needed to drag with them.

Once there, they found themselves standing at the largest freshwater springs in the United States. The Giant Springs put out 156 million gallons of water every day. The state of Montana has taken advantage of this massive amount of fresh water to run a fish hatchery, and every year, 200,000 people visit the park to see both the springs and the hatchery. The park has been managed by Montana’s Fish, Wildlife, and Parks division since 1972.

Lake Elmo State Park

Lake Elmo State Park is located near Billing, Montana. The park is open all year with numerous activities available to its visitors. Activities include bird watching, walking, hiking, running, boating, canoeing, wind surfing, fishing, lake fishing, ice fishing, cross country skiing, ice skating, nature area, picnicking, sailing, swimming, and wildlife viewing.

Lake Elmo State Park includes a 64 acre reservoir for swimming and nonmotorized boating as well as fishing through all seasons. The boat launch allows easy access for the boats. The park itself covers 123 acres of land at an elevation of nearly 3200 feet above sea level. Also offered is disable fishing from a specialized pier.

Ackley State Park

Ackley Lake State Park was named after one of the earliest settlers in the area. It is located in a wide-open area of Montana - about 17 miles west of Lewsitown. This part of Montana reflects the reason why the state is often referred to as “Big Sky Country,” with the open views and endless span of sky. The park is located fairly close to the Rocky Mountains, providing a scenic backdrop for visitors. This park does not have an endless list of amenities and is classified as a primitive campground. Camping and fishing are the main activities that visitors to the park come for.

Ackley Lake State Park covers 160 acres, a good portion of which the lake covers. Visitors who fish in the lake may bring boats. The main type of fish caught in the lake are rainbow trout. Fishermen from all over the region come to this lake because of the enormous size of the fish. It is unknown why the fish are so large on average, but it is not uncommon to catch a trout between 10 and 15 inches long. Compared to the trout in the mountain streams and some other lakes in the region, these are considerably larger. Fishing prospects are good, as the lake is frequently stocked. The best times of day to fish here are early in the morning and in the early evening before sunset. Some fishermen in the area swear that the best bait is canned corn and worms - and that seems to prove true a good portion of the time.

Discover The True History Behind The Trail of Tears State Park

The Trail of Tears State Park is located in Jackson Missouri. This beautiful, yet solemn vast of woodlands conceals a tragic tale of history that occurred in the 1830’s. Take a journey into the life of the Cherokee Indians. Walk the same route they once did, when a total of thirteen tribes were forced to relocate from their homelands.

History
During the nineteenth century, Thomas Jefferson proposed a plan that would allow for the westward expansion from the original colonies to the Mississippi River. This would provide more land for American settlers. In 1830, the Congress of the United States passed the “Indian Removal Act.” While many Americans were against this proposal, President Jackson swiftly signed the bill into law. This would force the remaining tribes to move west of the Mississippi River. Nearly 100,000 American Indians who lived between Michigan, Florida, and Louisiana were forced to move west. During this time, many Indians died due to brutal conditions.

St. Joe State Park in Missouri

St. Joe Park is a beautiful park that is located in southeastern Missouri. The park was originally a mining area for the St. Joe Minerals Corporation, up until 1972 when they discontinued operations. In 1976, the land was donated to the state of Missouri and it was redesignated as St. Joe State Park. The park is currently the third largest state park in the state of Missouri and covers an area of approximately 8,237 acres. Over 2,000 acres of the park is designated for off-road vehicles. St. Joe State Park contains two campgrounds, equestrian trails, bicycle trails, picnic sites and lakes suitable for fishing and swimming. The park also contains thousands of acres of woodland that is suitable for hiking.

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