Big Oak Tree Points of Interest: • See big trees that once
covered large areas of the Bootheel. • See and hear interesting
and colorful wetland birds like the prothonotary warbler. • See
plants and animals of the Deep South like bald cypress right
here in Missouri. • Enjoy the cacophony of frogs and toads on
warm spring evenings. Natural History: Big Oak Tree Natural Area
is a remnant of the vast bottomland forests and swamps that once
covered the Mississippi Lowlands region of Missouri. Today the
natural area and state park stand out in stark contrast to the
miles of drained row crop lands surrounding them. The park,
often called “The Park of Champions,” has a tree canopy
averaging 120 feet tall with several trees more than 140 feet
tall. This natural area is home to big trees! The state park has
one national champion and two state champion trees. An 80-acre
section of the natural area contains an old-growth bottomland
hardwood forest that is also a designated National Natural
Landmark. In floodplains, the t