Getting Oriented
St. Joe State Park covers about 8,240 acres on the south side of Park Hills, in the St. Francois County lead district southeast of St. Louis. It is Missouri's third-largest state park and one of only two in the system with a dedicated off-road area. Missouri State Parks, a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, runs it. Roughly 2,000 acres are open to ORV use, split between open sand flats and wooded trail. The ground itself is the draw: the St. Joe Lead Company mined and milled here for a century, and the pale flats are the sand tailings its mills left behind. The company donated the land in 1976 and the state opened it for recreation.
Trail Overview
The riding divides into two settings. The sand flats are wide, level expanses of tailings where lines run open and the surface stays loose, forgiving for newer riders working on throttle control and roomy enough for larger machines. The wooded trails climb into the hills around the flats and run tighter, with roots and short climbs, better suited to dirt bikes, ATVs and narrow UTVs. Motorcycles, ATVs and UTVs may use the full network; full-size 4x4 trucks and dune buggies are confined to the sand flats and are not permitted on the wooded trails. The park marks the riding boundaries rather than rating individual trails, and scattered vegetative management zones are posted off-limits to control erosion.
Points of Interest
- The sand flats, the open tailings basin at the center of the riding area
- Wooded trail loops in the surrounding hills, the more technical riding
- Missouri Mines State Historic Site next door, a mining and geology museum in the former St. Joe mill buildings
- Four stocked lakes with two swimming beaches for a break off the machines
- A paved bicycle trail plus hiking and equestrian trails elsewhere in the park
Where to Camp
The park has two campgrounds with electric and basic sites, both able to take ORV and horse trailers, plus five basic trailside sites. The campground nearest the riding area has concrete pads and serves as the main staging point for a riding weekend. Reserve through the Missouri State Parks system in busy months.
Permits and Regulations
An ORV permit is required to ride, and to use the Donnelly-LaMear Trailhead off US-67. Buy it online for up to three consecutive days through the Missouri State Parks reservation system, or in person at the ORV contact station on arrival. Permits must be purchased at least two hours before the area closes and are nonrefundable and nontransferable. Every operator and passenger on a motorcycle, ATV, UTV or dune buggy wears a helmet meeting DOT or ANSI Z90.1 standards. Machines other than motorcycles must fly a whip: a flexible mast at least 72 inches tall with an orange flag of at least 72 square inches at the top. Motorcycles and ATVs need a spark arrestor. Operators under 16 or without a license ride only under the direct supervision of a licensed adult. The area is open daily, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. April through September and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. October through March.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Buy the permit before you ride. Online sales skip the contact-station line, and same-day sales stop two hours before closing.
- Fuel and top off water in Park Hills or Farmington. There is no fuel in the riding area.
- Loose sand hides ruts and soft spots. Air down for flotation on the flats and keep speed sensible where sight lines are short.
- Summer afternoons on the open tailings get hot with no shade. Carry more water than you think you need and watch for heat in July and August.
- Keep 4x4 trucks and dune buggies on the sand flats; the wooded trails are closed to them.
- Park office: 573-431-1069, 2800 Pimville Road, Park Hills, MO 63601.
Fuel and Water
Park Hills and neighboring Farmington sit within a few miles of the entrance and have gas stations, groceries, water and lodging. There is no fuel in the riding area, so fill up in town and carry drinking water; potable water is available at the campgrounds. The nearest full-service shopping is in Farmington, about 8 miles southeast.
Nearby
Missouri Mines State Historic Site adjoins the park and preserves the former St. Joe mill complex as a mining and geology museum, a good stop on a non-riding morning. Within the park are four stocked lakes, two swimming beaches, a paved bike trail and hiking and equestrian trails. Park Hills and Farmington cover food and lodging, and St. Francois and Hawn state parks are within an hour for hiking. Missouri's other public off-road riding, the Chadwick Motorcycle and ATV Use Area, is a US Forest Service site far to the southwest near Springfield and is a separate destination.
