Finger Lakes State Park
Finger Lakes State Park
4
About
The roar of ATVs and off-road motorcycles combines with the peacefulness of rolling hills at Finger Lakes State Park, one of two ATV parks in the state parks system. Built in a former coal mining area, Finger Lakes’ trails and motocross track are popular with users who come for the day, but often fall under the spell of the spacious campground, leafy trees and hilly terrain. The park is also the site of the challenging 2.75-mile Kelley Branch Mountain Bike Trail and a 4.5-mile water trail.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
82 reviews
Excellent
32
Very good
31
Average
13
Poor
5
Terrible
1
spiritwheels
Los Angeles, CA422 contributions
Jun 2020
I just stopped here for a short visit, but I was impressed with the activities that were available here. You can off road, hike, fish or camp and picnic. There is even races on the weekend for off readers. The camp host was very nice and helpful.
Written June 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ivypetals
Somerset, KY81 contributions
Sep 2020 • Family
Nice sweet day trip to this little park. Good average playground for kiddos. Was disappointed that there were no full hook up sites for rv’s/travel trailers. Only water/electric. Seems to be the theme for MO state parks. Very clean. Nice entrance/drive. Good picnic spot.
Written October 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ben L
Columbia, MO6 contributions
Mar 2012 • Family
pretty awesome, good fishing too. There are a lot of different areas and lakes to fish in, pretty well stocked.
Written May 31, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mckeerj5
Saint Louis, MO1 contribution
Jul 2018 • Couples
We arrived at the park at 4 pm with a limping RV with one blow out. The entrance has two signs, 1. campers proceed to campground the campground host will collect fees 2. Riders needing passes left lane. We proceeded to camping site, as we had made online reservation and new our camping assignment. Within a minute or so the camp host showed up to complain that we dropped our trailer along the roadway. This was an unknown rule. We explained to him that we had a flat and needed to change it and we would immediately get things moved and situated. He gave us no further information or instructions. After 45 mins we had our tire changed and moved our trailer to the overflow parking and set up camp. Also note, the host was two spots away from us and watched us. When we woke the next morning we drove our UTV to the gate to get our passes and flag. A park ranger stopped us and told us we couldn't drive on the road. We told him we needed to get passes, tried to explain that our camp host didn't tell us anything about riding passes. The ranger comment " Oh I heard about you" and then proceeded to tell us very rudely, your going to follow me to the trail and go back to your RV and then drive to gate to get passes. We complied. BUT if he would have been a little nicer and explained he couldn't let us drive to gate, but we were within a 1/2 mile we could park and walk to get our passes and flag before sending us on an unknown trail to be compliant with rules and much safer with the flag, would have been nice. It was a bad experience and we felt like we were being watched the entire time. It wasn't a good experience and I've cancelled a future trip that was already booked and paid for. There are other parks that we can visit that would be more welcoming.
Written July 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tankyuong
Columbia3 contributions
Nov 2016 • Family
watch out for rude harassing ranger and speed traps.Speed limit signs non existent until you actually get into the park and ranger follows you like a hawk waiting for you to make a single mistake.
Written November 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Edge W
Columbia, MO996 contributions
Feb 2016 • Friends
1. Despite other reviews, there is NO SHOOTING RANGE in the park. The shooting range is in the adjacent Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area, owned and administered by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
2. The partially reclaimed strip mine area was left in very bad condition by Peabody Coal. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (the parent agency for state parks) has done a very good job of cleaning it up, eliminating fish-killing overflows from the "lakes" (left from mining operations).
3. ATV noise can be deafening at times. The riders tend to sleep late, so early morning strolls can be peaceful.
4. The Kelley Branch Trail (off the picnic area) is a very good hiking trail (watch for devil-dare bikers).
5. Birding can be very rewarding, especially in spring migration, but go during a week day. The short trail to the swim beach can be very birdy.
6. The campgrounds are very well maintained.
2. The partially reclaimed strip mine area was left in very bad condition by Peabody Coal. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (the parent agency for state parks) has done a very good job of cleaning it up, eliminating fish-killing overflows from the "lakes" (left from mining operations).
3. ATV noise can be deafening at times. The riders tend to sleep late, so early morning strolls can be peaceful.
4. The Kelley Branch Trail (off the picnic area) is a very good hiking trail (watch for devil-dare bikers).
5. Birding can be very rewarding, especially in spring migration, but go during a week day. The short trail to the swim beach can be very birdy.
6. The campgrounds are very well maintained.
Written March 1, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
midmotrekker
Harrisburg, MO32 contributions
Jun 2015 • Family
one can camp. there is a small beach for swimming. moto-cross track. can be a bit noisy due to all the dirt biking. one of 4 state parks that welcome dirt bikes. watch out for the park nazi's. they are pretty strict. make sure you know the rules & follow them
Written June 26, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
addiecat2015
77 contributions
May 2014 • Friends
They have some nice BBQ areas for family and groups with decent bathrooms, We always go to hike the Kelley branch trail which is about 3 miles in the loop. Some hills make it a really good work out and it's nice to be able to hike a loop and not an out and back.
Written September 9, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Toolooze
Columbia, MO85 contributions
Jul 2014 • Family
The park was owned and used by Peabody coal, leaving huge strip pits, that are now used as lakes. There is camping for both RV and primitive, a small stadium & track for dirt bikes and ATVs, as well as trails. There is swimming, boating (with canoe rentals), a shooting range and many fishing places, including two with disabled access, and a nice pier. Wildlife is abundant.
The park is staffed with friendly people and park Rangers. Bait is now sold. Fishing is great; the shooting and skeet ranges are unsupervised, and I have observed poor safety on several occasions.
The park is staffed with friendly people and park Rangers. Bait is now sold. Fishing is great; the shooting and skeet ranges are unsupervised, and I have observed poor safety on several occasions.
Written July 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melissa S
Columbia, MO29 contributions
Jun 2013 • Friends
This park is not only a great location but has almost anything you might want to do! There is camping, places for a fire pit, shooting ranges, hiking trails, atv trails, swimming and much more!
Written July 31, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
canyou rent an atv to use here?
Written September 21, 2017
Don't think there's ATV rental. I think there were kayak/canoe rentals however. You can contact them for info at:
Park Office: (573) 443-5315
Written September 22, 2017
Planning a trip to Finger Lakes in July. We haven't been in YEARS! Any recommendations on a good campsite (#) for a 30 foot camper? treed sites? Pull-thru sites? Paved? Easy-access?
Written May 14, 2017
Hi Mendy,
I can't directly answer your question about campsite number, however, my husband and I go to Finger Lakes ALOT for the weekend. (We live only 2 hours away) I'd suggest contacting them at the front gate as the park rangers have become VERY strict. At least one that we keep encountering. (For ex: 1 weekend it's okay to park somewhere with 1 ranger and the next day we park in the same spot, only to be yelled at by the more strict ranger) Easter Day weekend we got pulled over and he checked all license plates, ran both our names through the police dept and soooo much more, just for not doing approximately 20mph.
I want to save the headache for others when going as we just go to ride ATV's. Sorry I couldn't help with more details.
Written May 16, 2017
It's very nice but usually full of people on nice days.
Written December 1, 2016
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