Ozarks (Rural)
Bear Creek Conservation Area is four Laclede County tracts
MDC describes Bear Creek Conservation Area northeast of Lebanon as 720 acres split among four separate tracts with oak forest, openings, and old fields.
Bear Creek Conservation Area gives Laclede County a public-land note that is more specific than “woods near Lebanon.” The Missouri Department of Conservation says the area is northeast of Lebanon and was purchased from the University of Missouri in 1965.
MDC describes 720 acres divided among four tracts: Harrill Ford, Squatter, Bear Creek, and Hermit. The page describes mostly mixed oak forest with small openings and old fields.
That layout matters for visitors and landowners. A conservation area may not be one single block with one obvious entrance. Use MDC’s official area page and map before picking a parking spot, hunting plan, or wildlife-viewing route.
It is a small detail, but it keeps people from treating four separate tracts like one simple park entrance.
Where to see it
- Bear Creek Conservation Area
Use MDC for tract maps, allowed uses, and current area rules.
References
More from Laclede County: browse every local note for the county.
Last checked against the sources above: July 16, 2026.