Weston Bend State Park

Introduction of Weston Bend State Park

At Weston Bend State Park, you can see the Missouri River and experience nature’s sights and sounds just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the Kansas City metropolitan region.

Weston, Missouri, a once-thriving town on the Missouri River, owes its early success to tobacco production and trading. Tobacco production is still important to the local economy today. Five tobacco barns exist in Weston Bend State Park, one of which has been transformed into a reservable enclosed shelter, to interpret the crucial role this industry played in the area’s history.

Visitors with disabilities can enjoy a picturesque overlook with views of the Missouri River, Fort Leavenworth, and beyond. A hiking track that winds through the trees and along the bluff’s edge affords excellent views of the river. Hikers and bikers will appreciate the tranquil setting of the three-mile asphalt circular track that winds through a hilly wooded region.

It is great for family gatherings because it has secluded picnic areas, a playground, and an open shelter that can be reserved. A campground with basic and electric campsites, modern restrooms, hot showers, and laundry facilities is offered for tourists who want to go away for more than a day.

Weston Bend State Park is a great place to spend a day getting away from it all and enjoying the calm pace of nature.

Weston Bend State Park Camping

The Weston Bend State Park Campground is available all year and contains 35 campsites. The pads range in length from 40 to 74 feet, so if you reserve your site early, you won’t have to worry about whether your RV can fit. Except for sites 001, 003, and 026, all of them have electricity. There is, however, potable water near campsites 12, 23, 27, and 31. Showers with hot water and flushable toilets with running water are located in the centre of the campground, and an RV dumpsite is close. From November to mid-April, the water and showers are turned off, so you’ll have to supply your own water.

However, there is a frost-free water tap at the campground’s entrance for your convenience. Two of the campsites are family-friendly, with an extra pad, picnic table, and fire pit. There is a wood lot near the host campsite at site number seven if you need wood for your fire. There are also three ADA-accessible campsites. Dogs are permitted as long as they are confined or on a leash at all times.

Weston Bend State Park Activities

Picnicking

Picnic areas are dispersed throughout the park for people to enjoy. The enclosed Bee Creek Shelter, a converted tobacco barn, can sleep up to 100 visitors. It is an excellent site for a huge gathering or picnic. The park office must be contacted in advance to rent this shelter for $100 per day.

A children’s playground and an open shelter that can accommodate up to 50 people are located in the day-use area. For $35 per day, the open shelter can be reserved in advance. If not reserved, the open shelter is free and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Playing

You should absolutely bring your dog, so get them settled in the rig before departing for the park. You’ll need a leash or kennel for the majority of your stay, but there’s a 1.75-acre dog park where Fido may run free. There are three sections: one for huge dogs, one for small puppies, and one for all dogs. You can sit on the bench and rest while your dog plays, and there is a doggie water fountain if your dog becomes thirsty while playing.

Hiking

There are several great trails in the park, so get out of the camper and go for a stroll while you’re there. The Missouri River Hike, which meanders down the riverbed and through bottomland forest, is the shortest and easiest trail. Because there are numerous wild species in the region, you will almost certainly see some wildlife no matter what time of year you trek it. The three-mile Weston Bluffs Trail is more strenuous and follows the park’s western boundary parallel to the river. It is also an equestrian and bicycle trail, so please be cautious and courteous to other users.

Biking

There is a three-mile-long bicycle trail nearby, so don’t forget to pack the bikes in the RV or camper. This paved path is popular with both cyclists and hikers, so be cautious as you ride through the sycamores, oaks, and pawpaws. You will drop quite a distance before returning to the starting site, passing through plains brimming with wildflowers and native Missouri grasses. Take a picnic lunch with you to enjoy in one of the peaceful picnic sites.

Floating

The Missouri River is popular with both floaters and boaters, so don’t forget to pack your raft or inner tubes before setting out. If you like, you can also utilise a kayak or canoe. Grab whatever floating object you want to utilise and begin your voyage upriver. Get in the water and float downstream as long as you can, or stop at one of the numerous gravel bars for a tasty meal or to try your hand at fishing.

Nature Programs

During the main season, which runs from mid-April to November, the park hosts a variety of interpretive programmes, including Prowl at the Park, Adventure to the Overlook, Hike On!!, and Spring into Action. There are also special live animal displays, informative hikes, and summer evening outdoor movies. Some of these take place at the park’s office or day-use area, while others take place around the park. More information is available at the park office. So don’t just sit by the camper for the duration of your visit. Get outside and learn something new about the park’s surroundings or the nature that surrounds it.

Weston Bend State Park Trails

Every path is open daily from 7 a.m. till dusk. Pets must be kept on a leash at all times. Bicycles are restricted to paved areas, and bicycles must observe the same traffic laws as motorists. Hiking is allowed on all trails. Horses, rollerblades, and skateboards are not permitted in any place. Stay on the approved trails for your safety and the protection of our resources.

• Hiking/Bicycling Trail: A three-mile asphalt trail runs up and down the loess hills that characterise Weston Bend State Park. In the winter, the trail crosses a brook twice and intersects a paved hiking/bicycling track. Harpst Pass is located on the yellow bench, and the west ridge section of Harpst Trail is located on the white bench. Mile markers are stencilled on the trail to help walkers who want to enhance their distance and time. Hikers are free to walk in either direction. Bicyclists must ride on the right. The trail in summer and winter is seen on the right.
• Mowed Area (only for hiking): The Campground Trail is a half-mile loop that connects the campground and the office. It gives hikers a peek of the distillery’s warehouses. This route also includes a popular bedding area for some of the park’s fauna.
• North Ridge Trail is a two-mile (one up/one down) trail that follows the c. 1900 roadbed that previously stretched from the farm (where you park to access the trail) to the barn and finally Weston. The trail now ascends to the top of the loess bluffs, providing a panoramic view of the Missouri River’s Weston bend. Pensineau, a French Canadian, ran a trading store in this area around 1830.
• The Missouri River Trail is a half-mile trail that leads hikers right to the Missouri River’s brink.
• Bear Creek Trail is a half-mile journey that leads hikers to the Missouri River’s pre-1858 course. Sloughing of the bank alters the vista and direction of this trail as it meanders along the creek to the Missouri River.
• Those following the Lewis and Clark Trail (July 1804) will be able to experience firsthand the “dirt, filth, mire, and mosquitoes” that the Corps of Discovery encountered as they travel down Bear Creek Trail.
• The Harpst Valley trail is a one-mile circle that starts on the ridge to the left of the overlook path. The trail follows the loess Missouri River bluffs until it reaches the manmade pass that previously connected the globally renowned Harpst Orchards (about 1900) to a farm-to-market road between the bluffs and the Missouri River. Take the left-hand pass (east). Harpst Valley may be seen to the left towards the bottom of the hill (north). The valley originally hosted a vast warehouse for the orchards. Peaches cultivated here were imported to English nobility, according to newspaper stories from the time. Return to the overlook parking lot by following the valley. A yellow bench is offered for resting. Loop trail on West Ridge.
• West Ridge is a two-and-a-half mile circle that continues straight (south) past Harpst Pass and winds along the forested bluff, paralleling the remains of an old road that originally led to a homestead. The hiker enters the Bee Creek bottoms after they begin their descent. Potawatomis were tented here during a forced relocation in the late 1850s. You’ll soon arrive at a white bench on the asphalt trail. Take the first left onto the paved trail. Follow the walk up Harpst Valley to the overlook parking area once you see the yellow bench.

Weston Bend State Park Location

The historic and rocky Weston Bend State Park is only one-half hour from Kansas City and four hours from St. Louis. Take Interstate 70 to MO-371 until you reach 29 north, then take MO-273, which is a bit tight and winds around a bit, so drive slowly. If you are towing a trailer or have a huge RV, you must proceed slowly and cautiously. You should also keep an eye out for any animals that may wander onto the road. Just keep your camera or phone nearby to snap a few photos as you drive through the woods.

When you enter the park, you’ll have to go even slower because the roads are rather rocky and rough. During the spring, there are usually low-hanging branches, especially after a big rain. It is preferable if you park your RV at the campsite and walk or bike wherever you wish to go, or bring another vehicle to use around the park. While there are a few parking areas near the office, showers, and the day-use area, they are small and may be challenging to park a large rig.

Public Transport

Public transport is not available for the Weston Bend State Park.