Hiking, Biking & Beaches
Beaches & swimming
No ocean here — Missouri swims at lake beaches and river holes, and almost none of them have a lifeguard. Here's where to find them, the few rules that keep them open, and how to be the lifeguard for your own group.
Start here
Missouri is landlocked, so 'beaches' means lake swim beaches and river swimming holes — and almost none have a lifeguard, so you swim at your own risk.
Lake beaches
Lake beaches: Lake of the Ozarks State Park has two sandy public beaches, and you'll find swim beaches at Stockton, Truman, Pomme de Terre, Lake Wappapello, Long Branch, and Mark Twain, plus smaller-lake beaches at parks like Cuivre River, Finger Lakes, St. Joe, Trail of Tears, Thousand Hills, Wakonda, and Watkins Mill. Corps of Engineers lakes have swim areas, too.
River swimming holes
River swimming holes: Johnson's Shut-Ins (the Black River chutes and pools), Big Creek at Sam A. Baker, the Meramec near Meramec and Onondaga Cave, and the Big River at St. Francois and Washington state parks. (To float those rivers, see the Rivers & Tubing hub.)
Floating one of those rivers is its own trip — the Rivers & Tubing hub covers outfitters, water levels, and float-stream safety.
The rules that keep a beach open
Beach rules: swim at your own risk — don't assume a lifeguard is on duty (Missouri state-park beaches and natural swim areas have none; private beaches, city pools, and events differ, so you're the lifeguard for your group); no pets on swim beaches; swim in the designated area, away from marinas and ramps; no glass; and check the posted water-quality information.
Loaner life jackets
Some beaches, ramps, and Corps areas have free life-jacket loaner stations. Treat them as a backup, not your plan — bring properly fitted jackets, especially for kids, and check the specific beach.
Check before you swim
Before you swim, check the posted beach status, the weather, any algae or scum, the water's clarity, recent heavy rain, drop-offs, boat traffic, and whether everyone has a properly fitted life jacket. The DNR's beach data is a snapshot for designated beaches — not a guarantee for every cove or swimming hole.
Knowing where to swim is half of it — the other half is staying safe once you're in. Because there's no lifeguard, the water & swimming safety page is the one to read before you go: water watchers, never diving into unknown water, drop-offs and cold, and Reach-Throw-Don't-Go.
Before you go
Missouri Porch explains; the agency that runs the trail or beach decides.
Last checked: 2026-06-18. Trail rules, e-bike access, and beach conditions change with the season and the manager — and out here, no one is watching out for you. Check before you go, carry water, and watch the kids.
This is a plain-English summary — not the law, a medical authority, or a guarantee of safety. Trail rules, e-bike access, and beach conditions change — check the managing agency before you go. In an emergency, call 911.
Heads up: Swim at your own risk — don't assume a lifeguard is on duty, and don't treat a clean-looking swimming hole as tested water. DNR tests designated state-park beaches only; bring your own properly fitted life jackets, and call 911 in an emergency.
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