Jonathan McIntosh

Review of Sam A. Baker State Park

Very family friendly campground. The sites are wel...

Very family friendly campground. The sites are well maintained and the campground host was fantastic. The bike trail between the two camp sites was a good daily ride for the kids and they made a few new friends.

There are several hiking trails to explore that are well maintained and the camps are right on the Big Creek and the St Francois River. Lots of fish, wading/swimming/floating. This is a beautiful part of Missouri you should visit!

We did a float on the St Francois River-you put in from the campsite and enjoy the ride. It is an easy, family friendly float with many generations of people seen along the way.

The general store has some cool trinkets, firewood available for purchase and a small short-order food stand with ice cream, burgers, pizza, chicken fingers; etc. The stand gets busy (with a long wait) starting about 530-6) and closes at 8.

There is no cell signal for ATT in the camp sites, but if you walk up to the store or the cabins, you should have a signal to make calls. The hike (2 miles each way) up Mudlick Mountain gave me 5 bars though!

Beware, you cannot climb the fire tower and there is not much of a view in the summer, although it is the highest point in the area. The tower is not staffed, there are no facilities/water at the top, but the hike is pretty easy.

The kids have been asking to go back since this trip, so you can bet we will do it again!