Old Town Access: public river-bottom land on the Marais des Cygnes in Bates County

In Bates County, the Missouri Department of Conservation manages Old Town Access along the Marais des Cygnes River and the Bates County Drainage Ditch. The ditch came from straightening and rerouting the Marais des Cygnes River back in the early 1900s. Today the area is open to the public for fishing, hunting, trapping, and watching wildlife. The key thing to know is that MDC sets the rules here, not the county. MDC decides what you can do, when each season runs, and what permits you need, so check MDC’s page for Old Town Access for current rules and any closures before you go. This spot also sits near the larger Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge, just over the Kansas line. That refuge was set up in 1992 and is run by the federal government, so it has its own separate rules. For people who live in Bates County, Old Town Access is a close river-bottom option to keep in mind.