Clay County ParksRecreation & Historic Sites 816-407-3400
Kayaks on the ramp at Smithville Lake, with the lake and the far shore behind.

Clay County, Missouri

Lake days, trail miles, and frontier history

Smithville Lake’s 7,200 acres, more than 80 miles of trail, two campgrounds, three marinas, and the farm where Jesse James was born. Check lake conditions and closures, then plan your day.

Plan a visit Reserve a campsite

Today at Smithville Lake

Sample readings Posted by park staff
Lake level Normal pool Open Multi-purpose pool
Boat ramps All five open Open Five ramps lake-wide
Swim beaches Open Open Camp Branch and Little Platte
Camp Branch Sites available Open Book online anytime
Crows Creek Filling for the weekend Caution Reserve ahead
Equestrian trails Soft after rain Caution Ride with care

Start here

What do you want to do today?

Plan a visit Hours, fees, maps, and what to bring Reserve a site Camping, shelters, and the marina slip waitlist Find a trail 80.5 miles of hiking, horse, and bike trails Camping & marinas Two campgrounds, three marinas What's on Programs at the parks and historic sites Lake conditions Ramps, closures, and advisories Historic sites Jesse James, an 1866 bank, an 1870s school Parks & places Browse every park and site
4,000 acres
of county recreation land at Smithville Lake
8 parks & sites
from a 7,200-acre lake to frontier history
80.5 trail miles
37 hiking · 32 equestrian · 11.5 mountain bike
752 campsites
across Camp Branch & Crows Creek
542 boat slips
at three Smithville Lake marinas

Parks & places

Four outdoor parks, from the lake to the falls

Browse all parks & places →
A lakeside campsite at Crows Creek, with Smithville Lake beyond the grass. Lake · Smithville Smithville Lake A 7,200-acre lake for boating, camping, trails, and summer swim beaches Water spilling over a limestone ledge at Tryst Falls, with a stone bridge behind. Day-use park · Kearney Tryst Falls A day-use park built around one of the only natural waterfalls in the area A paddler on the small fishing lake at Rocky Hollow Park, with anglers on the far bank. Day-use park · Kearney Rocky Hollow Fishing, paddling, and a primitive trail at a former quarry east of Kearney Day-use park · Kearney Claybrook Park An 18-acre day-use park in Kearney with a picnic shelter

On the trail

More than 80 miles of trail

See all trails →

Hiking trails

Primitive & paved paths around Smithville Lake

37 miles

Equestrian trails

Horse trails with a dedicated equestrian camping area and stalls

32 miles

Mountain bike trails

Singletrack for mountain biking

11.5 miles
Riders on horseback crossing a prairie trail through goldenrod near Smithville Lake.
Riders have 32 miles of trail, plus an equestrian camping area with stalls.

What’s on

Programs at the parks

Students at wooden desks during a living-history lesson.

History By advance reservation

One-room school field trip

Mt. Gilead School

The Nature Center building behind a bed of native wildflowers.

Nature Weekdays, by appointment

Nature programs for groups

Smithville Lake Nature Center

A rental pontoon boat with passengers on the lake.

Recreation May 1 to October 1

Boat rental season

Camp Branch Marina

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Never miss a closure

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Where the legend began

Clay County’s historic sites

Explore the history →
A family pointing out details of the Jesse James Birthplace farmhouse. Historic site · Kearney Jesse James Birthplace The farm where the legend began, with the world's largest collection of James family artifacts The two-story brick Jesse James Bank Museum on the Liberty square. Historic site · Liberty Jesse James Bank Museum Site of the nation's first successful daylight peacetime bank robbery, restored to 1866 The white frame Mt. Gilead one-room schoolhouse with a flag by the door. Historic site · Kearney Mt. Gilead School & Church An 1870s church and one-room school for field trips, weddings, and gatherings The two-story brick Pharis Farm house and its lawn. Historic site · Liberty Pharis Farm A 1927 conservation farm east of Liberty, open during special events

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Open every season

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