Cuivre River State Park

While the north and south loops of the Cuivre River trail will be closed on Sunday during the Quivering Quads trail race, park staff will keep the west parking lot at the equestrian area open so riders can ride along Cheatham Road. The trails will reopen as soon as the race has concluded. Be safe, enjoy the weekend, and good luck to all the runners!

Reminder that the Cuivre River north and south loops will be closed on Sunday for the duration of the Quivering Quads trail race. Cheatham Road will remain open for vehicles and equestrians, but please be cautious and watch for runners. The trails will reopen in the afternoon after the race has concluded.

Trails are now open for normal use.

Due to heavy rain over the weekend, trails remain closed to equestrian and mountain bike traffic. Trail conditions will be rechecked Wednesday, March 3.

As we reflect on Black History Month, we would like to take a moment to recognize and honor a group of brave and selfless men from Lincoln County-the men of the 62nd United States Colored Infantry. The 62nd USCT was composed primarily of formerly enslaved Missourians; nearly 60 of them from Lincoln County and 4 whom were enslaved on farms located within present-day Cuivre River State Park. The 62nd spent most of the war in Louisiana and Texas. While they did not see a lot... of action, during their time in service their white commander gave a unique field order-every man would be required to learn to read and write, or he would be reduced in ranks. Prior to the Civil War, it was against the law in Missouri to teach enslaved people to read or write. The men of the 62nd felt so strongly about providing the same educational opportunities to others, that they began donating some of their salary to aid in funding a school for the education of freed African Americans back home. By the end of the war, the 62nd and their officers had raised over $5,000 for the establishment of the school that would be established in Jefferson City-today we know it as Lincoln University. The soldiers from Lincoln County also sent money home to be used for the establishment of a school for the children in the community. After the war, the first school for African American children in Lincoln County was established on Rev. Lewis Overton’s farm, located just a few hundred yards off the northeast boundary of Cuivre River State Park. Other schools in the county soon followed. Sgt. Andrew Perkins, a 62nd USCT veteran, lived to see his granddaughter Viola attend Lincoln University, and she spent many years as a teacher at the school for African American children located in Troy. The incredible contributions of the veterans of the 62nd USCT are still felt today, 155 years later. Pictured are the soldiers of the 62nd at Benton Barracks in St. Louis, and Sgt. Octavius McFarland (Company B) from Lincoln County.

Trails remain closed due to continued muddy conditions. Trails will be rechecked on Monday, March 1.

Lincoln Hills Road has reopened but Cheatham Road remains closed due to slippery conditions.

Due to incoming snow, Lincoln Hills Road, the Stone Shelter road, and Cheatham Road will be closed. Campers can access the campground from the entrance off Walker Road. We also want to thank everyone who has donated their Christmas tree for use as fish habitat in Lake Lincoln. So far, 56 trees have been donated! We will accept trees through this weekend-they can be dropped on the trailer at the Visitor's Center.

The road to the Stone Shelter will be closed today and tomorrow while staff work on hazard tree removal. This closure includes the Frenchman's Bluff, Hamilton Hollow, and Blackhawk Point trailheads, as well as the playground and day use area at the shelter.

Trails are open for normal use.

Lincoln Hills Road has reopened. Cheatham road in the park boundary remains closed due to unsafe conditions. Trails are closed to equestrian and mountain bike traffic due to wet and muddy conditions. Trails will be rechecked on Wednesday, January 6.

All trails have reopened. Congratulations to all the runners who ran this morning!

The road to the Stone Shelter has reopened. Lincoln Hills Road and Cheatham Road remain closed due to unsafe conditions. Campers needing access to the campground can use the back gate off Walker Road.

Reminder: The Lakeside, Old Schoolhouse, and Blazing Star trails are closed today for the Timber N Trails run. Good luck to all the runners!

We have 4 basic campsites that opened up for this weekend. You can make a reservation today for a Saturday arrival by calling 1-877-422-6766 or going online to www.mostateparks.com. Trick or Treating starts at 5:00pm, so we ask that campers arrive before 4:30 to limit traffic in the campground during that time.

Important info to know for a safe and enjoyable weekend at the park.

We have several announcements to share with you for this weekend. Please take a look if you plan on coming to the park. NOTE the annual public meeting is this Sunday. We would love your input!

This year's Halloween Spooktacular event will be for registered campers and their guests only. The event is scaled back this year, but we hope to have our full annual public event back next year! Registered campers should see the post below or the event page for important information. The campground is fully booked for that weekend. Please click on the photo to view the whole post.

The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for tomorrow (Wednesday). Dry conditions combined with gusty winds and relative humidity in the 20s will create a high fire danger. Help us protect the park by not throwing cigarettes on the ground and using extreme caution with campfires tomorrow.

It is a beautiful fall morning at Cuivre! The fall colors are really starting to pop-it will be a beauiful weekend for a hike or a picnic in the park.

Don't forget our volunteer meeting tonight at the Lake Shelter. Current volunteers and anyone interested in volunteering are welcome. The Lake Shelter is located about 1 mile from the Visitor's Center off Lincoln Hills Road.

Current park volunteers and anyone interested in learning more about how you or your group can volunteer at Cuivre River State Park is invited to join us on Tuesday at 6:00pm for an informational meeting at the Lake Shelter. The meeting will take place outdoors in the open air shelter where participants can maintain social distancing. For more information, you can call the park office at 636-528-7247 or visit https://mostateparks.com/page/57872/volunteer-parks-program to expolore different volunteer opportunities and submit your volunteer application.

Last week, the park naturalist recorded a small colony of bats that seemed to be one of the species hard-hit by white nose fungus. After consulting with experts, it turns out that the colony of 10 bats were little brown bats (myotis lucifugus), a species that has suffered declines of 95% or more in Missouri due to the fungus. Researchers from the US Fish and Wildlife Service rushed to Cuivre for a unique opportunity to observe this rare species and take samples for white nose research and genetic studies. One biologist noted that it was the biggest colony she had seen in 2 years. The ladies from the USFWS were very excited for this opportunity, and staff at Cuivre were thrilled to be a part of this important research. See the photos for details.