Montgomery Bell State Park — Attraction in White Bluff

Montgomerey Belle State Park is a wonderful place for a walk through the woods. There are a few different trails to choose from. There's even one near the visitor center that is less than 3/4 of a mile long (just in case you want a SHORT walk). A wild bird sanctuary for several that are recuperating injuries and some that can't be released again. There are plants nearby that were planted specifically to attract pollinators such as bees. We found at least ten to fifteen different types of mushrooms. Our visit was during the hottest part of the day, so we didn't see too many animals. I suggest a visit first thing in the morning if that's what you want. They DO have some gorgeous deer and wild turkey in the area. I suggest looking up the historical significance of the area with the Civilian Conservation Corp and the Army Corp of Engineers. There is an old stone church that is open to viewing. They even still have small weddings and services there. It is also historically significant. I can't do justice to what is on their website for info. There is a golf course resort. There is a restaurant with a nice little menu. They have special selections for holidays such as Valentines dinner. If you consume adult beverages, you might want to try one of several different options for flights.

There is a little swimming area (be careful as there isn't normally a lifeguard when I've been there). The swimming area is a sand bottom area and is roped separately from the canoe / kayak rental area. You ARE allowed to bring your own, or just rent theirs.

There are a couple of little lakes that are great to view the beaver and turtles or even watch deer coming for a quiet drink. No motors are allowed on the boats, so it's exquisitely quiet!

There is a camping area for tents and RV's. There's a primitive group camp. There are even cabins or a hotel to stay at.

Make sure to visit with the rangers at check in so they can tell you about the activities that are scheduled (that you may be interested in).

Enjoy yourself and...

Hiking trails are generally pretty good, and the park on the whole is very pretty. It's hilly and has a lot of hardwood. This time of year (early April) before the leaves are out, you can see a long way through the woods, and the white dogwood blossoms and pink redbuds make a beautiful contrast against the gray of the woods and the blue sky. The mountain bike trail system is very impressive, with lots of fun and picturesque trails. Usually we just go to Monty Bell for a day trip, but last night we stayed overnight in one of the cabins. The cabin it outwardly pretty attractive, a very modern style. The interior layout is very open, and many windows let in natural light. The front patio with outdoor fireplace was our favorite place to hang out. But the whole place seemed very neglected and kind of dirty. As an example, the firescreen on the fireplace was torn up very badly and was inoperable. We fortunately had well-seasoned wood that doesn't pop much, but it would have been a significant fire hazard otherwise. The refrigerator door handle was missing, the upper windows look like they hadn't been cleaned since before last summer, judging from all the spiderwebs and mud-dauber nests that looked fully intact. The interior floors are all stained concrete, which were attractive enough but there was only one rug for the main gathering room and one in a bedroom (none in the other bedroom). There was no coffee table in the gathering room, adding to the impression that the place is extremely sparsely furnished. The floors were dirty, including a very generous hardened smear of something that looked like peanut butter on the floor in front of the dishwasher. It was just kind of yucky inside. Overall as a place to stay, it was pretty disappointing. The upkeep reflects very little regard for the comfort and enjoyment...

We stayed at Montgomery Bell State Park Campground from June 9 to June 23, 2024, and enjoyed our stay.

One thing to note is navigating the campground roads was a bit challenging, as they were a bit narrow for larger vehicles, and the sites were closer together than we’re used to at a state park. However, once settled in, we were good to go.

We were in site 113, a gravel back-in site with full hook-ups, a picnic table, and a fire pit, with a peaceful creek running behind it. The site was spacious enough to fit our 5th wheel, with room to park both our truck and car side by side in front of it.

The park’s amenities include a bathhouse with showers, a laundry facility, and a camp store stocked with essentials. The park is pet friendly, though there is no enclosed dog park, there are plenty of areas to take your dogs with waste stations around the campgrounds.

We saw a variety of wildlife, which added to our enjoyment. We spotted squirrels, turtles, crawfish, fish, snakes, dragonflies, butterflies, birds, and even lightning bugs around our site, making for some memorable outdoor moments.

For recreation, the park provides over 20 miles of hiking trails, three lakes for fishing, kayaking, and swimming, and a golf course with scenic views. Other amenities include a playground, volleyball court, and a nature center with educational programs.

Despite the narrow roads and closer sites, Montgomery Bell State Park Campground is a good destination for campers who appreciate nature and wildlife. I would recommend it to anyone looking to stay in the Burns,...