My Corner Online
Trail of Tears State Park, Museum and Overlook
This page focuses on the overlook boardwalk at the Trail of Tears State Park. To see the trails, view this page. To see campgrounds and campsites and the water's edge, view this page. The park is located in Cape Girardeau County at 429 Moccasin Springs Rd, Jackson, MO 63755.
Trail of Tears State Park, Mississippi River Scenic Overlook (April 23, 2022)
Trail of Tears State Park, Mississippi River Overlook ice, January 6, 2018
On April 23, 2022, as shown in the above video, we visited the overlook boardwalk as shown in the below photos. These are not great photos as they are just cell phone photos, so be sure to scroll down for some earlier better photos.
These are all cell phone photos and this one almost looks painterly! I do try to spy the Bald Knob Cross of Peace every time I am here and I found it in the distance. It is very far away as the crow flies.
As seen in the above video, we visited the overlook on January 6, 2018. This sure does make a great place to visit in all seasons to see how it changes and it is such a short walk on the boardwalk.
Looking up river.
Looking down river.
In 2018 I mapped the distance as a crow flies from the park to Bald Knob Cross which is 11 miles. That is a long distance to see that far!
On October 29, 2017, we took an Autumn trip through Trail of Tears State Park and the below are the photos.
It is a gorgeous Autumn drive through the park.
This is a view from the overlook boardwalk. There seems to be some sort of levy out in the middle and a buoy to protect the barges from it.
Each time I go to the overlook the trees seem to be different. In this case, they were overgrown obscuring the view of the northern river, but they were in beautiful Autumn color.
The short boardwalk is full of Autumn color.
I circled the Bald Knob Cross of Peace so that when you go out to visit you might know what you are looking for.
Up river.
Down river.
As you drive through the park there are several pull-offs with scenic views. I just love this one! I look for it every time. The trees makes a HEART shape and you can see the Bald Knob Cross of Peace in the distance too. This is one of my favorite places in the park.
In the conservation center there is a museum with this diorama.
My husband's family owned the land for the park which was taken away from them. Here he is pointing to the entrance of the park where his family's home was located. You can read more about this on this website page. There is a photo of the home on the website too.
There is a story as found on this website page about hubby's ancestors finding two indians and taking them in.
There is a mural in the museum which I love to see when I go in there. I remember it being long and all along a wall having to walk to each section to see the description of the mural. This was when it was first painted. However, when we visited to look for it in 2017, all we found was this painting.
2014
This is a memorable photo as the view across to Illinois is embraced in a heart-shape. I remember I shared this with the employee at the Visitor's Center and allowed her to use it and she used it often as she loved it too. We had a good relationship working together.
This is the bench that sits in front of the heart shaped overlook.
This is a close up view inside the heart-shaped view. You can see the bald knob cross in the distance.
This is the beach at the lake.
The boardwalk to the overlook.
I was trying to get some Autumn colors in the photo.
