Big Oak Tree State Park


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 ash118"150'77'357Alive
Rusty blackhaw48"29"25'83Alive
Eastern cottonwood288"114'76'421Died 1976
Slippery elm264"115'60'394Died 1979
Shumard oak205"134'86'361Died 1997
Bur oak229"154'92'406Alive
Swamp chestnut oak272"156'104'454Alive
Pawpaw24"39'26'70Died 1980
Persimmon97"133'45'241Alive
Possumhaw14"21'30'42Alive
Swamp privet26"28'31'62Died 1959
Black willow148"113'69'278Alive

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.