Bennett Spring State Park

Bennett Spring State Park The OFFICIAL page for Bennett Spring State Park, located in Lebanon, MO, United States

More than 100 million gallons of clear, cool water gush from Bennett Spring each day and form a spring branch stocked daily with rainbow trout waiting for lucky fishermen. Fishing may be the main draw, but the park also offers many other amenities such as a dining lodge, campgrounds, cabins and hiking trails. Whether you are a traditional fishing enthusiast or someone seeking a place to relax and refresh, Bennett Spring State Park has what you need to make every trip one to remember

05/02/2026

ROLLING ALONG:

These two dung beetles were found at Bennett Spring last week!

In diurnal species, the male beetle offers the female a ball of dung. If she accepts, she sits on top of the ball and spins around, orienting herself. The male then pushes the ball in the direction of the sun as the female guides him. They roll the ball away from the dung pile to avoid competing beetles, before burying the ball with their eggs. The young larvae eat from the ball until they emerge from the soil as adults.

Did you know that dung beetles were the first insects that were found to use the Milky Way for navigation?

Visiting Bennett Spring in May? Join us at the Nature Center for a program.
04/24/2026

Visiting Bennett Spring in May? Join us at the Nature Center for a program.

GARLIC MUSTARD:This invasive plant takes over bottomland habitats typically near springs, creeks, and streams. It produc...
04/21/2026

GARLIC MUSTARD:

This invasive plant takes over bottomland habitats typically near springs, creeks, and streams. It produces chemicals like sinigrin and other cyanic compounds which prohibits other plants and seeds from growing around it, allowing the invader to spread quickly without competition.

Each April, garlic mustard blooms and can easily be pulled out of the ground. Naturalists and volunteers have pulled over 40 large trash bags full of garlic mustard this season...and we aren't finished yet!

Learn more: https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/garlic-mustard

Join Bennett Spring in celebrating International Dark Sky Week! We will have programs on dark skies, light pollution, an...
04/15/2026

Join Bennett Spring in celebrating International Dark Sky Week! We will have programs on dark skies, light pollution, and nocturnal wildlife all summer long. More information to come.

May 24: Star Party 8:30pm
June 13: Firefly Frenzy 8:30pm
July 25: Moth Mania 8:30pm

In the meantime, turn down your lights and look up at the stars!💫

Why is Bennett Spring so blue?On clear sunny days, sunlight shines into the mineral-rich spring water. Water absorbs lon...
04/10/2026

Why is Bennett Spring so blue?

On clear sunny days, sunlight shines into the mineral-rich spring water. Water absorbs longer wavelengths (which produce warm colors like reds and yellows), and scatters shorter wavelengths that are more easily seen by humans (like blues and greens).

Thus, we see the light from short wavelengths, which we interpret as being blue. This is why spring water (and even the sky) look blue to us.

The deeper the water, the more this effect is enhanced.

WHAT'S BLOOMING AT BENNETT?Bennett has a wide range of floral diversity, from bottomland to ridgetop habitats. While you...
04/03/2026

WHAT'S BLOOMING AT BENNETT?

Bennett has a wide range of floral diversity, from bottomland to ridgetop habitats. While you're out hiking, please do not pick the flowers so that other people and pollinators may enjoy them as well.

Names of plants are in the captions.

Thank you to all who came out to our FIRST programs of 2026! We had excellent turn-out at our fly tying and Tenkara fish...
03/27/2026

Thank you to all who came out to our FIRST programs of 2026! We had excellent turn-out at our fly tying and Tenkara fishing rod demonstrations.

We are hosting Trail Trivia on April 4th, 24th, 25th, and 26th from 10AM-3PM each day. Stop by the Nature Center to grab an answer sheet before heading out on the trail to look for questions!

On April 18, we are putting on "A Tree's Life", teaching you everything you need to know about tree rings and the life events of an old growth tree. This program will begin at 2PM.

TRAIL CLOSURES:The portion of the Whistle Trail near the wooden bridge is closed as bridge construction takes place.The ...
03/24/2026

TRAIL CLOSURES:

The portion of the Whistle Trail near the wooden bridge is closed as bridge construction takes place.

The Bridge Trail is also closed due to unsafe bridge conditions.

We will post again when these trails have reopened.

Big things are happening at Bennett Spring State Park!You are sure to see active construction sites as you come through ...
03/19/2026

Big things are happening at Bennett Spring State Park!

You are sure to see active construction sites as you come through the park. For your safety, please honor posted signs and construction fencing and avoid these areas.

- The vehicular bridge and paved trail projects are underway near Campground 1! The Wooden Bridge is currently closed to fishing, as it is within the construction zone.

- The old Campground 4 showerhouse was demolished this week. As our contractors rebuild, please give them space by avoiding Campground 4. Campground 4 is currently closed but will be open April 15 to campers!

Are you a fly fisherman? The Nature Center has some events for you! Learn how to tie some flies and watch a demonstratio...
03/16/2026

Are you a fly fisherman?

The Nature Center has some events for you! Learn how to tie some flies and watch a demonstration on how to use a Tenkara fishing rod. A Tenkara is a collapsable, reel-less rod originating from Japan.

Fly tying: inside from 10am-4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Tenkara demo: outside at 2pm on Saturday.

Wildlife at Bennett Spring are starting to emerge and naturalists have gotten lots of animal calls recently. If you come...
03/11/2026

Wildlife at Bennett Spring are starting to emerge and naturalists have gotten lots of animal calls recently. If you come across an animal while you're visiting, call or stop by the Nature Center to tell us about it!

Check out these photos of our recent finds.

Address

26250 Highway 64A
Lebanon, MO
65536

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