Visitors Guide to Attractions
Lincoln County, Missouri
Lincoln County is home to Cuivre River State Park, one of Missouri's largest and rugged state parks. Other attractions include the bottomlands that are billed as the "Duck Hunting Capitol of the Midwest," several conservation areas, and historical sites.
The Old Calaboose
Elsberry, MO
Calabooses were the jails of the 19th and early 20th century. The Old Calaboose is one of 4 or 5 of these structures left in Missouri.
Cuivre River State Park
Troy, MO
Cuivre River State Park is one of the state’s largest and most rugged parks. Located at the southern end of the Lincoln Hills region, its Ozark-like terrain is a contrast to the rolling plains of northern Missouri. Features include swimming, boating, fishing, equestrian trails, and interpretive programs. The park’s wild areas provide hiking, backpacking, photography and wildlife observation activities. Both basic and electric campsites are available.
Prairie Slough Conservation Area
Elsberry, MO
This natural area consists of 584 acres, including 463 acres of wet-mesic bottomland forest and 121 acres of open land and backwater sloughs of the Mississippi River. Activities include fishing, hunting, and bird and wildlife viewing. Wintering bald eagles use the area and ospreys and Mississippi kites have been observed here during their migrations.
Shapley Ross House
Moscow Mills, MO
This circa 1820 two-story native limestone house is a rare example of fine stonework masonry and Georgian-styled architecture in Missouri. The house has been restored and is the home of the Lincoln County Genealogical Society.
Winfield Ferry
Lincoln County, MO & Calhoun County, IL
This ferry crossed the Mississippi River near the small town of Batchtown into Lincoln County, Missouri connecting with Route 79. The ferry runs right next to the Sandy Island Bald Eagle Sanctuary & Lock and Dam #25 making it an ideal spot to look for Bald Eagles in the winter.
Woods' Fort Site
Troy, MO
A small park is located on the site of Woods Fort, a War of 1812 stockade that was built to defend settlers from hostile tribes that allied themselves with the British. The park features two reassembled log cabins that can be rented and a memorial marker describing the historical background of Troy.
Sun Valley Golf Course
Elsberry, MO
Sun Valley Golf Course, designed by noted Architect Gary Kern, has been a golf favorite since opening in 1988. Sun Valley rolls out over 200 acres of gentle elevation changes on the front 9 to unbelievable heights and views on the back 9.
Nearby Attractions
Marion and Ralls Counties, Missouri
Hannibal is the hometown of Mark Twain and offers a wide variety of museums, homes, and tours. Palmyra has been called the Handsomest City in Northern Missouri and features a number of historical sites. Mark Twain Lake in western Ralls County features a wide variety of activities including boating, swimming, camping, hiking, and horseback riding.
Pike County, Missouri
Pike County is home to one of America's newer Scenic Byways - the Little Dixie Highway of the Great River Road. Visitors to Pike County will find spectacular river views, the river cities of Clarksville and Louisiana, a wide variety of places to interact with nature, and a number of historical sites. The area is considered one of the prime bald eagle watching spots in the Midwest.
For Travelers Heading Up River
The Tri-State Region - Iowa, Illinois, & Missouri
Six counties in three states make up this region that marks the upper reaches of the Middle Mississippi River Valley. Large communities with plenty of attractions in the region include Quincy, Keokuk, and Fort Madison. The historic town of Nauvoo is located in this region. A drive along the Great River Road from Nauvoo to Hamilton runs right along the river and is particularly scenic during the fall. Three locks and dams make this prime Bald Eagle watching country during the winter.
For Travelers Heading Down River
Meeting the Missouri
The two longest rivers of the United States, the Missouri and the Mississippi, meet at St. Charles County, Missouri. The Historic St. Charles downtown area offers visitors a variety of attractions including the Lewis and Clark Boat House and Nature Center, The Foundry Art Centre, and Missouri’s First State Capitol. Nearby is Confluence State Park and the Daniel Boone Home.
Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway
The Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway area is one of America’s newer scenic byways. With over 20,000 acres of forest and wetlands at the heart of the Mississippi Flyway, it is a nature lovers paradise. Visitors will find spectacular colors in the fall and bald eagles in the winter. History abounds in the region ranging from the prehistoric Cahokia Mounds to sites on the National Register of Historic Places.
