Bennett Spring State Park offers the best of both worlds for incoming trout fisherman – the scenic beauty of the wilderness with the trouble-free accommodations of civilization.  The 3200+ acre park offers something for everyone.  Bennett Spring State Park also includes a trout hatchery which feeds the spring daily with approximately 2 fish for every tag sold the day prior.  A daily trout tag costs $3 for adults and $2 for those 16 and under.

At Bennett Spring State Park, there a variety of different camping options including basic, electric and those with bathrooms, showers and laundry facilities available which can all be found for $15 or less.

Unlike most of the Missouri parks however, there is an abundance of alternative accommodations in and around Bennett Springs, including motels, cabins and even more luxurious lodging arrangements.  While this option doesn’t always interest the rugged outdoorsmen, it can be a welcome amenity for elders or families anxious to see and enjoy the spring who aren’t quite prepared or able for a full-fledged encounter in the wild.

One of the more unique sights found at Bennett Spring State Park is the Bennett Spring Natural Tunnel, which can be found on the Natural Tunnel hiking trail, a 7 mile loop within the park.  This, along with nearly 5 more miles of trails on the park’s premises offer a variety of things to see including caves, bluffs and rock formations making it the premier hiking destination of all the trout parks. Float trips are also available at one of the many nearby outfitters of the Niangua River.

As for the trout fishing, it doesn’t get much better than Bennett Spring State Park.  The fishing is tremendous especially just below the dam, although you might have to position yourself strategically among a handful of other anglers depending on the time of year.  Regardless, this is one place it’s worth it.  Like Montauk, there are three different areas for trout fishing the 1-1/2 miles or so of spring, depending on the type of fishing being done.  From the hatchery dam upstream to the end of the area is for fly-fishing only.

From the hatchery dam downstream to whistle bridge is for selected artifical lures or flies, but no natural baits or soft plastics.  From the whistle bridge down to where the spring meets the river, all natural and artifical baits are allowed to be used. The daily limit is four trout while the possession limit is 8 trout. There are no length limits on rainbow trout.

• Bennett Spring State Park is a little more than 3 hours southwest of St. Louis. To get there from the St. Louis area, take I-44 West to Lebanon, MO Exit 129. Turn right on Hwy 5/Hwy 32 and take that for 1.5 miles until you get to Hwy 64.  Take that for approximately 10 miles and turn left on Hwy 64A.  Go straight for one mile until you see the park.

• From Kansas City, take I-70 East to Exit 78A and then head south on Hwy 65.  You will take this for about 90 miles until you get to Hwy 64.  Take a left on 64 and take that for 17 miles until you hit Hwy 64A where you take a right and go for one more mile until you hit the park.
  

• To contact Bennett Spring State Park Office, call 417-532-4338. For camping/lodging accommodations, call 417-532-4307.  There aren't many places I'd rather spend a weekend (or three) in Missouri than Bennett Spring State Park.