Winter Walk at Washington State Park Dec. 13

Visitors are invited to join a guide for an outdoor experience at Washington State Park. The winter hike will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13 and will begin at the park’s interpretive center.

The 1.5 mile guided interpretive hike will follow parts of the rugged Rockywood Trail and travel along a section of park road to the Civilian Conservation Corps shelter. The petroglyph site and upland plant communities will also be highlighted during this walk. The hike will last approximately 2 hours.

Participants should wear weather-appropriate hiking attire and bringing water is recommended. Vault toilet restrooms are available at the shelter. In case of inclement weather, the hike will be rescheduled for Sunday, Dec. 20. This event is free and open to the public.

Washington State Park is located 10 miles south of De Soto on State Highway 21. For more information about the event, call the park office at 636-586-5768. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visitmostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Get Out and Play! May 14 at Washington State Park

Image via WikipediaJEFFERSON CITY, MO., APRIL 21, 2011 -- Take the opportunity May 14 to "Get Out and Play!" at Washington State Park near De Soto. Sponsored by Missouri State Parks, this free event is open to visitors of all ages, and will include family-friendly games, activities and crafts.

During this second annual event, special booths will be set up around the Thunderbird Lodge and in the Big River day-use area from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. Each booth will feature an activity or subject for visitors to explore and learn more about, including nature crafts, guided petroglyph tours, kite flying, native plants, bird watching, games and much more. Visitors are also encouraged to hike the park's trails, explore the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the park, and even wade in the Big River.

Washington State Park is located on State Highway 104 off Highway 21 between De Soto and Potosi. The park offers many amenities, including a campground with basic and electric sites; a showerhouse with laundry facilities; campground programs; a modern pool; cabins with full kitchens; canoe and raft rentals; a camp store and gift shop; 10 miles of hiking trails; and several picnic sites throughout the park.

Missouri state parks and historic sites provide many ways to reconnect with nature and explore the outdoors. For more information, contact Washington State Park at 636-586-2995 or the Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device or the Deaf). For information on state parks and historic sites, go to mostateparks.com.