Fans of the famed comic strip "Beetle Bailey" should include this 2,212-acre Missouri Department of Conservation area on their travel schedule. This site was the location of Camp Crowder Army Base during World War II and it was this site that gave cartoonist Mort Walker the inspiration for "Camp Swampy," the mythical military base that figures prominently in the cartoon strip. This link to the comic strip is honored in the Crowder Area's "Mort Walker Trail," an 11-mile hiking/bicycling/horse trail. Hunting for all major game species is permitted in season. Primitive camping (no amenities provided) is permitted on the area, except for seasonal closures for some hunting activities (call 417-451-4158 for details). Dogs must be leashed or confined when not being used for training or hunting purposes. There are no fishable streams or ponds on the area. There is an unmanned shooting range and an archery range on the area.

This 4,360-acre Missouri Department of Conservation Area, which is on Historic Route 66, provides a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities. More than half of the area consists of managed grasslands and overgrown farm fields, a landscape that provides good viewing of songbirds and other grassland wildlife species. The area has more than 10 miles of hiking trails, a portion of which provides viewing of a large great blue heron rookery on the Spring River. (The rookery is most visible in early spring before trees leaf out.) Horseback riding is permitted on designated trails and bicycling opportunities exist on gravel service roads and paved roads on the area. The area is a good spot for dove hunting and quail hunting in the fall. Deer and turkey hunting opportunities also exist on the area. A managed wetland on the area offers waterfowl hunting opportunities. Fising opportunities for black bass, catfish, crappie and sunfish can be found on the area at a seven-acre lake (featuring an asphalt parking lot and a fishing jetty), a four-acre lake and in the Spring River, which cuts through part of the area. Call the Missouri Deptartment of Conservation's Southwest Regional Office (417-895-6880) for specifics on hunting and fishing regulations. Primitive camping (no amenities provided) is permitted at one designated area. Pets must be leashed or confined, except when used for hunting.