Public Beach

Kirksville, Missouri · Thousand Hills State Park

Verified · 4 independent sources

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: Free
SEASON: Officially open for swimming Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, seven days a week.

About Public Beach

This is the designated swimming beach on Forest Lake within Thousand Hills State Park, just outside Kirksville, Missouri. It is an official, no-fee swim beach maintained by Missouri State Parks, a no-cost swimming hole on a 573-acre reservoir set in wooded hills alongside a marina, boat ramp, and campground, and one of the easiest places to swim near Kirksville.

The beach sits on the shore of Forest Lake, a 573-acre lake described by the Missouri Department of Conservation as 'nestled in the forested hills' within the 3,215-acre Thousand Hills State Park, about 3 miles west and south of downtown Kirksville off Highways 6 and 157. The park's shoreline runs roughly 17 miles and also hosts a marina, cabins, campground, and hiking/mountain-biking trails, plus ancient petroglyphs listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Swimming at Public Beach

Swimming is at an official, sandy-shore lake beach with a sheltered cove area of blue water, described by the local tourism site as having a sheltered shoreline suited to casual lake swimming and wading rather than deep-water or current-driven swimming.

How to get to this swimming hole

From Kirksville, take Highway 6 west about 3.3 miles, then Highway 157 south about 2.7 miles to the park entrance at 20431 State Highway 157; the swim beach is on Forest Lake within the park.

The walk in

No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up, designated state park swim beach on Forest Lake next to the marina/park road system, no hike is needed to reach the water. (Thousand Hills State Park separately has hiking/mountain-biking trails elsewhere in the park, but they are not required to access the beach.)

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

OK with supervision

It's a designated, sheltered lake-cove swim beach (not a river/current spot), which favors families, but Missouri State Parks explicitly states 'no lifeguards on duty, swim at your own risk,' and no source confirms a marked shallow/kids area or a lifeguard-supervised zone, so adult supervision is advised.

Parking

Free

Park entrance and beach admission are free of charge (confirmed by mostateparks.com and visitkirksville.com), so any parking is very likely free/included, but no source explicitly describes a dedicated beach parking lot, its size, or surface type, so lot details are left null rather than assumed.

Restrooms

Yes

Dressing rooms and showers are provided at the swim beach itself (per mostateparks.com and visitkirksville.com); exact vault-toilet vs flush-toilet type not specified.

Water clarity

Mostly clear

Kirksville's official tourism description calls the beach area 'blue water and sheltered shoreline,' suggesting reasonably clear conditions for a Midwest reservoir. No independent visitor photos or trip reports were found, so this rating rests on that one official description rather than firsthand accounts.

Hours

Swim beach is officially open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, seven days a week; the park itself has no stated seasonal closure. Current beach status/closures (weather, maintenance) are posted on the park's official 'Beach Status' page rather than as fixed daily hours.

On the water

KayaksCanoesPaddleboardsMotorboatsPontoon boat

Restrictions: Personal watercraft (jet skis) are prohibited on Forest Lake; inboard/outboard motors over 90 hp are not allowed; all private boats need a city/park launch permit ($5/day or $45/year for motorized boats; no fee for non-motorized boats launched by park visitors).

Boating and rentals are centered at the Thousand Hills Marina, near but separate from the swim beach itself; Forest Lake covers 573 acres with about 17 miles of shoreline.

Rentals nearby

Thousand Hills Marina (concessionaire at Thousand Hills State Park)

Pontoon boats (20' and 24'), tandem kayaks, single kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, canoes, and bicycles; also sells fishing supplies, bait, and firewood, and rents boat dock slips (daily/weekly/monthly/annual).

Prices: 24' pontoon $285-$565; 20' pontoon $225-$540; tandem kayak $27-$90; single kayak $22-$71; stand-up paddleboard $20-$62; canoe $25-$74; bikes $19-$54 (an 8-hour bike special listed at $25), ranges reflect different rental durations (e.g. hourly vs. half-day/full-day).

At Thousand Hills State Park, 20431 State Hwy 157 S, Kirksville, MO 63501; phone (660) 202-8257. Reservations recommended via the site's online booking system.

Backstory

The park contains petroglyphs carved by inhabitants more than 1,500 years ago, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (not directly at the beach, but a notable park feature).

Public Beach: FAQ

Does Public Beach charge a fee?

Free, the swim beach is available at no charge (park entry is also free/year-round).

Is Public Beach kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Public Beach?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Public Beach?

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Public Beach?

Boating and rentals are centered at the Thousand Hills Marina, near but separate from the swim beach itself; Forest Lake covers 573 acres with about 17 miles of shoreline.

When is the best time to visit Public Beach?

Officially open for swimming Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, seven days a week.

What are the rules at Public Beach?

No lifeguards on duty (swim at own risk); no pets allowed on the beach; alcoholic beverages prohibited on the beach; beach status/closures (weather, maintenance, stewardship activities) are posted on the park's official beach-status page.