St. Joe State Park Campground 1 (ORV Area)

I visited this Park solely for the purpose of hiking the Lakeview Trail by Monsanto Lake and found that a quiet commune with nature this is NOT. But I was half expecting that since the park is primarily for ORVs. It's an okay trail with views of the lake for the first about 3/4 mile. Beware that there's one section with large pieces of broken rock underfoot that's not at all comfortable even with... I visited this Park solely for the purpose of hiking the Lakeview Trail by Monsanto Lake and found that a quiet commune with nature this is NOT. But I was half expecting that since the park is primarily for ORVs. It's an okay trail with views of the lake for the first about 3/4 mile. Beware that there's one section with large pieces of broken rock underfoot that's not at all comfortable even with good hiking shoes. Being August in Missouri, it was also extremely buggy. I wouldn't go out of my way for this one, but if you're staying at the park, might as well.

This was a much larger Park than I expected. I also had no idea that it was a very popular place for off-road vehicles. We selected the campground closer to the off-road vehicle area which includes 54 mi of off-road trails. The campground was large and spacious. I had one of the cleanest bathrooms I think I've seen in a Missouri State Park. Even the 2 vault toilets next to our campsite were kept... This was a much larger Park than I expected. I also had no idea that it was a very popular place for off-road vehicles. We selected the campground closer to the off-road vehicle area which includes 54 mi of off-road trails. The campground was large and spacious. I had one of the cleanest bathrooms I think I've seen in a Missouri State Park. Even the 2 vault toilets next to our campsite were kept clean. While you could hear sometimes the dirt bikes or four-wheelers off in the distance from the campground and people would drive around the campground on them. They were respectful of the area and didn't go speeding through. And everybody was respectful of quiet hours, not revving up their engines all night. The campground locked at night and you needed a code to get in and out at night. Probably to deter thieves I did not get to check out the Horace centric campground because it was gated shuts and I think you needed a code to get in and out.