Things To Do
Sinking Creek
Take a short walk around the Echo Bluff Lodge area to Sinking Creek, historic Camp Zoe Lodge, the barn and Timbucktu campground. Kids will have fun playing in the relatively shallow Sinking Creek building dams, skipping rocks etc. There is a regular playground with water feature near one of the pavilions.
Bird Watching
Echo Bluff State Park offers a rich tapestry of bird and wildlife experiences, particularly in spring and early summer. Birdwatchers can observe a variety of species, including Barn Swallows, Eastern Phoebes, Eastern Kingbirds, and Red-winged Blackbirds. The park's diverse habitats support these and other birds, such as hawks, vultures, and even the occasional Bald Eagle.
Echo Bluff Painter Ridge Trail
Hike the Echo Bluff Painter Ridge Trail (2.0-mile loop), or sections of it, that overlooks the Lodge and creek.
Round Spring Cave
Tours are given by the park rangers who discuss topics including geology, hydrology, karst topography, cave wildlife, history and more. This is a 60 to 90-minute lantern tour and involves stairs, mud, gravel, slopes ad stooping in certain areas. Ages 4 and up. A light jacket is recommended as year-round temperatures hover at 60 degrees. Tours are offered several times per day with 15-20 people per tour. Adults-$10., Seniors & children under 12- $5. Contact the National Park Service at Round Spring for more info. 573-323-4236.
Look for the Wild Horses
There are 4 herds (about 50 horses total) that roam the Shannon County area. Most of the horses are dappled gray or white. Sometimes they are seen roaming the E.B park area. Other places might be Broadfoot fields-North of Eminence, Shawnee Creek-East of Eminence (HWY 106, turn left, follow signs for Shawnee Creek campgrounds) or the field above Two Rivers on HWY V East of Eminence. Check with the Lodge front desk for daily sightings or suggestions of where to find them. During the depression horses were turned loose to graze on their own and these are the descendants. The herds are managed today by the park system.