the Visit Neighboring States Series
Wallace State Park is about an hour south of Lamoni, two miles off exit 48 on I35. It’s easy to miss from the interstate but should definitely be a stop on your way to KC!
Place/Event: Wallace State Park
Location: 10621 MO-121, Cameron, MO 64429
Cost: Free
Grade/age range: All ages
Group size: unlimited
Hands-on: Yes
Stroller friendly: Only playground/parking lot areas. The trails are not hard surfaced and are uneven narrow terrain. Bring a carrier.
Bathrooms: Yes
Water: Yes
We stopped for about an hour on a late fall evening as we were traveling down to Kansas City. The park is beautiful,serene and peaceful!
This was just what our kids needed to stretch their legs after a couple hours of traveling. We hiked the .60 mile Rocky Ford Trail in about 30 minutes, which included lots of exploring and play.
I would LOVE to come back here in the summer when there is more water flowing in the creek. The water level doesn’t look too deep and would be a great place for kids to wade. Next time we are bringing water shoes!
The water goes back about a foot or so under the rocky ledge.
The trail along the creek can be narrow and uneven at times. Several places had large tree roots growing across the trail. The smooth rock creek bed is unique and different from anything I have seen in Iowa.
The pictures don’t do the landscape justice. I am sure this would be an amazing photograph had we been there two weeks earlier but I find the bare late fall emptiness intriguing. There is something nostalgic about late fall, a feeling of timelessness…and I just love it.
The park isn’t large, but there are lots of fun surprises! Old Quarry trail was a huge hit and we could hardly keep up with the children as they raced along the edges of Lake Allaman.
We would highly recommend a stop at Wallace State Park! There is also a nice lodge and a large parking area. It would make a great meeting place for a family reunion.