Imagine 2,000 acres of riding nirvana in Missouri with more than 50 miles of trails.
Welcome to the St. Joe State Park near Park Hills in southeastern Missouri.
St. Joe State Park offers some unique riding opportunities. Wooded trails twist and turn and wind their way up and down hills and valleys. The trails wind through trees and brush, with small hill climb areas and wide open flat areas, alike. The mixture of wooded trails and sand flats makes for very enjoyable and diverse riding.
There are special vegetative management areas in the off-road vehicle riding area meant to allow the regrowth of vegetation to stop erosion. Those areas are to be avoided. Officials say riding on large grass-covered areas on the “flats” and on extremely steep, eroded trails in the wooded areas kills grass and jeopardizes stability. Some areas are identified by an 8-inch red octagonal sign.
St. Joe State Park provides more amenities than most of the riding areas in the country. The campground has basic camp sites and electric sites. The campground has bathrooms with hot showers, a real plus to help you relax before an evening cookout.
All riders must wear helmets, and riders under 16 must be under adult supervision. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited on the trails and in OHV areas.
Every creature comfort you could ask for is available in the nearby towns of Farmington and Park Hills, along with most major motels and restaurants, gas stations and ATV dealerships.
A permit isn’t required to enter the park but is required for off-road vehicles in the ORV area. ORV permits are sold online.
To get to the park from Park Hills, Mo., take state Route 32 west 1.8 miles then turn left (south) on Pimville Road. Go another 2.5 miles. The park entrance is on the left (north).
For more info, contact St. Joe State Park, 2800 Pimville Road, Park Hills, MO 63601. Phone: (573) 431-1069. Website: https://mostateparks.com/park/st-joe-state-park.