Wilson Island State Recreation Area

About Wilson Island State Recreation Area

The water in the park is safe to drink and should have a high iron content, but campers should fill water tanks as soon as possible after filling.

Wilson Island, named after former governor George Wilson, was founded in 1900 by his son William Wilson as a sandbar on the island. Today, Wilson Island State Recreation Area covers 544 acres of dense cotton and hosts more than 2,000 visitors a day.

Seclusion is one of the area's greatest assets, and the hiking trails that lead through the dense cotton forest, along the creek, in the woods and on the beach provide a welcome retreat. The wildlife of the park is rich; visitors can see deer grazing on the park meadows and in autumn be woken by huge flocks of snow geese flying low over the park. Bald eagles often sit high above the cotton forests in winter and mushroom hunters cannot find a better place in spring.

On the way to Wilson Island, visitors will see the rugged hills in the Missouri River Valley between Iowa and Missouri. The early story tells the story of Lewis and Clark, who camped on the island during their journey across the Mississippi and into the Great Plains.

The non-modern cottages are available year-round and each cottage has its own amenities such as a fireplace, picnic tables, picnic table and fireplace.

Cabins are located near campsites with shower and toilet buildings, but there is no water or sanitation. Camping is very popular at the well-equipped campsite in Wilson Island State Park, and camping is also very common in many other parks in the area.

Reservations for campsites can be made online at the Wilson Island State Park website or by calling 1-888-743-4357. Half of the campsite is still open for reservations according to the "first come, first served" principle, but reservations for all campsites are made by post or e-mail.

Firewood can be purchased from the park office, and a picnic area and shelter is located near the Missouri River. The shelter can be reserved either for a fee or free of charge by contacting the park manager. There is a playground at the campsite and next to the shelter there is also a playground.

In the summer months, about five kilometers of hiking trails can be used, in autumn and winter about five kilometers.

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is located north of Wilson Island and is open to the public. For more information about the refuge, please contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (Missouri DNR) or the National Park Service. On July 1, the steamship Bertrand sank off the west coast of St. Louis County, Missouri. The De Soto Visitor Center will open Thursday, July 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for an audiovisual program that will showcase the history of the Missouri River Conservation.