Driving along the rural highways in southeast Missouri, travelers may notice an abundance of farmland. Amid this farmland, near East Prairie, 1,029 acres of the area’s original landscape has been preserved and stands out above the rest.
This island of trees in a sea of agriculture is known as Big Oak Tree State Park. A boardwalk allows visitors to walk alongside champion trees and through wetlands. Hiking trails, picnic sites and a playground are available. The park is managed by Trail of Tears State Park.