Outdoor Activities | Visit Macon County MO

Atlanta/Long Branch Conservation Area

From Macon, take Highway 63 north for 5 miles, then turn onto Route AX and head west for 2 miles.

Phone: (660) 785-2420

Website: https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/atlanta-conservation-area

The Atlanta/Long Branch Conservation Area, on the eastern side of Long Branch Lake, offers a single-lane boat launch, shady picnic sites, and paved parking with concrete ramps (closed at 10 p.m. except for anglers). Managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation and the U.S. Corps of Engineers, this 4,500-acre area combines the 2,454-acre Long Branch Conservation Area with the adjacent Atlanta Conservation Area. It features gently rolling oak-hickory uplands, mixed hardwood lowlands, wetlands, and oxbow lakes. Visitors can enjoy activities such as hunting, fishing, frogging, hiking, nature study, and photography, while bald eagles and giant Canada geese are commonly seen in the winter.

Long Branch State Park

28615 Visitor Center Road

Macon, MO 63552

Phone: (660) 773-5229 (office) or (660) 773-5132 (marina and store)

Website: https://mostateparks.com/park/long-branch-state-park

Managed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Corps of Engineers, this 1,828-acre park includes the Bloomington, Bee Trace, and Macon areas.

The Bloomington Area on the western shore features 83 shaded campsites (closed for construction in 2026) —including accessible sites—boating with a marina and boat rentals, a two-lane launch, a large sand beach with a change house, picnic sites, two reservable shelters with grills, and a 1.1-mile hiking trail along the lake’s shoreline.

Bee Trace Park & Trail

Website: https://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations/District-Lakes/Long-Branch-Lake/Trails-at-Long-Branch/

Located at the special use area off Axtell Road on the north side of the park. Access is from Jupiter Road. Take US-63 North 5.5 miles to Axtell Road, make a left onto Axtell Road, and follow for 2 miles. Turn left onto Jupiter Avenue to the trailhead.

Named for an early honey-harvesting trail, Bee Trace features a 640-acre natural area with a nine-mile hiking and backpacking trail through savannas, prairies, and timber, plus a single-lane boat ramp at the lake’s northern end.

La Plata Golf Course - La Plata, MO

301 S Hastings St

La Plata, MO 63549

Phone: (660) 332-4584

Website: https://www.facebook.com/people/La-Plata-Golf-Course/100057095184833/

The La Plata Golf Course was established in 1932 when the George Hastings family donated land, and local volunteers constructed the first six holes. By 1933, a 9-hole course was complete, with early golfers including many of the town’s residents.

Over the decades, the course grew and improved: new layouts in 1967 and 1990 added length, safety, and landscaping, and a second 9-hole course opened in 2000 with ponds, sand traps, and scenic fairways.

Today, the course is a proud product of community effort, offering golfers a beautiful and challenging experience in the heart of La Plata.

Macon County Outfitters

21256 St. Hwy. V V

Ethel, MO 63539

Phone: (660) 216-4431

Email: matt@maconcountyoutfitters.com

Website: https://maconcountyoutfitters.com/

Born from a lifelong passion for the outdoors, Macon County Outfitters is run by hunters for hunters. Every detail—from stand placement to stories by the fire—is guided by real field experience. Our 9,000-sq-ft lodge blends rustic charm with modern comforts, featuring a spacious great room, a fully staffed kitchen, and cozy guest rooms for an unforgettable stay.

Shelmadine Outfitters & Event Center

24467 Old Highway 36

Bevier, MO 63532

Phone: (660) 349-8568

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shelmadineoutfitters/

Shelmadine Outfitters LLC is a family owned business that offers whitetail deer, turkey, predator and small game hunts in Macon County. We are located minutes from Long Branch and Thomas Hill Lakes. We offer semi-guided hunts as well as fishing. Our land includes, timber, creeks, CRP, brush, draws, food plots, fields, and ponds. Whether you enjoy hunting in a blind or out of a stand, we have the perfect spot for you! Our hunts are 100% free chase hunts. We want you to have the best possible hunt, therefore, we charge no trophy fees or penalties for your kill. Our only requirement is that your kill is a legal kill. Our goal is to make your hunting experience a positive one. Ask us about our lodging!

Thomas Hill Reservoir Conservation Area

Route T, Moberly, MO 65270

Phone: (660) 785-2420

Website: https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/thomas-hill-reservoir-conservation-area

Directions: From Macon, take Highway 36 west 5.25 miles, then Route C south 10 miles to College Mound, then Route T west 2.40 miles to the main entrance.

Covering more than 9,300 acres, the Thomas Hill Reservoir Conservation Area — managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation — features a 4,950-acre lake surrounded by a mix of open land and forest. The reservoir was built to cool a nearby power plant, creating a year-round fishery with species like largemouth bass, crappie, hybrid striped bass, and catfish. In winter, warm water discharge keeps part of the lake ice-free, making it a popular spot for anglers. The area also offers camping, boating, and wildlife viewing; beaver-maintained wetlands attract nesting and migrating birds, and bald eagles often appear in winter.

Young's Lodge on the Chariton

25331 Echo Avenue

Callao, MO 63534

Phone: (660) 768-5654

Website: https://www.youngslodge.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Youngs.Lodge

Young’s Lodge in Callao, Missouri is a quaint historical resort and event center with all the amenities of a larger B&B nestled right upon the Chariton River in northeast Missouri. In addition to being a quiet and secluded place to spend your getaway, we offer turkey and deer hunting, fishing, billiards, foosball, volleyball, ATV rides, boating, winery tours, live music for special occasions, private photography, massages, bike riding, horse trails, backpacking, bird watching, camping, mushroom hunting, picnic areas, seasonal beach activities, swimming, sunbathing and campfires on over 300 acres of trails with a lake, 3 ponds and numerous historic and scenic opportunities.

Outdoors

Outdoors