Finger Lakes State Park
Columbia, Missouri · Finger Lakes State Park
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Finger Lakes State Park
Finger Lakes State Park is a 1,138-acre Missouri state park in Boone County just outside Columbia, built on a reclaimed 1960s strip coal mine whose old mine pits were connected into a chain of small lakes, giving the Columbia area an unusual lake to swim in. The park has an official sand swimming beach, a bona fide swimming hole born from mining, and is also known regionally as a freshwater scuba diving site, alongside its distinct identity as one of only two Missouri state parks built for off-road vehicle riding.
The park occupies former strip-mined land (the Mark Twain Mine, worked by Peabody Coal Company from 1964-1967) that was donated to the state in 1974 and rehabilitated with federal grants specifically to demonstrate converting mined land to recreational use. The mining left behind a series of small pit lakes that were connected into a roughly 1.5-mile water corridor, set amid hilly, gully-cut terrain now crossed by more than 70 miles of trails.
Swimming at Finger Lakes State Park
Swimming takes place at a designated sand beach on one of the park's connected mining-pit lakes. There are no lifeguards; the park's own materials describe it as swim-at-your-own-risk. The same lake system is also used for scuba diving, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing, suggesting calm, non-flowing water typical of old quarry/mine pits rather than a flowing river or creek.
How to get to this swimming hole
Address is 1505 E. Peabody Road, Columbia, MO 65202, on the edge of Columbia in Boone County; specific turn-by-turn directions were not found on the pages retrieved.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up beach: the park's own rental/boating page states parking and watercraft check-out are located directly at the beach parking lot, so no hike or trail is required to reach the swimming area - just a short walk across the lot to the sand beach. The park's 70+ miles of trails (Kelley Branch Mountain Bike Trail, ORV trail system) are separate recreational trails elsewhere in the park, not access routes to the beach.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Official sand swim beach on a calm former mine-pit lake (no current, non-flowing water typical of the connected lake system), which favors families, but the park explicitly designates the beach 'swim at your own risk' with no lifeguards on duty, so young children need close adult supervision.
Parking
Lot
The park's canoe/kayak rental page states 'Parking and watercrafts are located at the beach parking lot area,' i.e., there is a dedicated lot right at the swim beach - no hike or shuttle needed. No day-use parking fee was found in the pages retrieved (camping, shelter rental, and equipment rental fees are separate and documented).
Restrooms
Yes
Restroom facilities are listed for the day-use picnic area (which adjoins the beach/parking area) per the park's picnicking page. Separately, the campground has restrooms year-round and showers April-October, but those serve campers rather than day-use beach visitors.
Hours
Park grounds: 6 a.m.-10 p.m. daily April through October (on-season), 6 a.m.-9 p.m. daily November through March (off-season). Swim beach specifically operates sunrise to sunset during its season, May 22 - Sept. 7. Park office: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily in summer, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. daily in winter.
On the water
Restrictions: Motorboats limited to trolling motors only (no larger gas outboards). Watercraft must stay in the main lake - transporting boats/kayaks to any other lake in the connected chain is not permitted. Swimming is allowed only at the designated swim beach, not from watercraft; violators of this rule are removed from the park.
The park itself operates an on-site rental concession at the beach parking lot rather than relying on a private outfitter.
Rentals nearby
Canoes, single kayaks, tandem kayaks, and standup paddleboards; each rental includes the appropriate number of paddles and safety vests
Prices: Canoes $30 all-day / $20 half-day; single kayaks $25 all-day / $15 half-day; tandem kayaks $30 all-day / $20 half-day; paddleboards $25 all-day / $15 half-day
Beach parking lot area, Finger Lakes State Park, 1505 E. Peabody Road, Columbia, MO · Rental season April 1 - October 31; check-out daily 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., all equipment must be returned by 7 p.m.; online reservations accepted from 12 months to 24 hours in advance
Backstory
The land was strip-mined for coal by Peabody Coal Company's Mark Twain Mine between 1964 and 1967, extracting about 1.2 million short tons of coal. Peabody donated the land to Missouri in 1974, and federal grants funded its reclamation as a demonstration project for converting mined land into a state park; the park was established in 1973 and is managed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Finger Lakes State Park: FAQ
Is Finger Lakes State Park kid friendly?
Official sand swim beach on a calm former mine-pit lake (no current, non-flowing water typical of the connected lake system), which favors families, but the park explicitly designates the beach 'swim at your own risk' with no lifeguards on duty, so young children need close adult supervision.
Do I need to hike to reach Finger Lakes State Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Finger Lakes State Park?
The park's canoe/kayak rental page states 'Parking and watercrafts are located at the beach parking lot area,' i.e., there is a dedicated lot right at the swim beach - no hike or shuttle needed. No day-use parking fee was found in the pages retrieved (camping, shelter rental, and equipment rental fees are separate and documented).
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Finger Lakes State Park?
The park itself operates an on-site rental concession at the beach parking lot rather than relying on a private outfitter.
What are the rules at Finger Lakes State Park?
No alcohol, glass containers, pets, or fires are allowed in water access areas; swimming is at one's own risk with no lifeguards; ORV permits (sold online, same-day, nonrefundable/nontransferable) are required for off-road vehicle use elsewhere in the park; camping is capped at 15 days within any 30-day period, pets on-site limited to two per campsite on leashes no longer than 10 feet, and the park gate closes at 10 p.m. in season / 9 p.m. off-season.
