Big Oak Tree State Park is a state-owned nature preserve with recreational features encompassing in East Prairie, Missouri, United States. The state park was established in a large expanse of drained cropland in 1938 to protect some of the largest trees in the state and in the nation. The park was declared a National Natural Landmark in May 1986, recognized as a rare, untouched wet-mesic bottomland hardwood forest in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain portion of the Gulf Coastal Plain.
List of champion trees Big Oak Tree State Park is the home of many current and past state and national champion trees—trees that are, for their species, the largest in the state or in the nation.
Champion TreesCircumferenceHeightSpreadPointsStatus Pumpkin ash 118" 150' 77' 357 Alive Rusty blackhaw 48" 29' 25' 83 Alive Eastern cottonwood 288" 114' 76' 421 Died 1976 Slippery elm 264" 115' 60' 394 Died 1979 Shumard oak 205" 134' 86' 361 Died 1997 Bur oak 229" 154' 92' 406 Alive Swamp chestnut oak 272" 156' 104' 454 Alive Pawpaw 24" 39' 26' 70 Died 1980 Persimmon 97" 133' 45' 241 Alive Possumhaw 14" 21' 30' 42 Alive Swamp privet 26" 28' 31' 62 Died 1959 Black willow 148" 113' 69' 278 Alive
Activities and amenities The park has two trails for hiking through the forest, including an accessible boardwalk trail, plus an interpretive center along the boardwalk and picnicking facilities.
References
External links
Big Oak Tree State Park Missouri Department of Natural Resources Big Oak Tree State Park Map Missouri Department of Natural Resources