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Submission
**There are five primitive camping areas. One is for groups by special use permit only and one is only open October 1 through January 15. The main campground has 51 sites with 26 of them able to accommodate trailers. Camping is all on a first come first served basis.**
Lead Mine Conservation Area is in northeastern Dallas County, 40 miles south of Lake of the Ozarks, 12 miles north of Bennett Springs, five miles east of Tunas, and 21 miles northeast of Buffalo.
The area provides about two miles of Niangua River frontage and has a 3.5-mile stretch of Jakes Creek running through it. The area also has several wildlife watering ponds and seven springs and is composed mainly of forest land.
The Conservation Department purchased the original 600 acres for the Lead Mine Conservation Area in 1965 through a University of Missouri land grant. Additional land was acquired with Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson funding, and the state conservation sales tax, increasing the area to 7,761 acres.
During early settlement in the late 1800s and early 1900s, some lead mining did take place near the area. However, evidence of this is hard to find.
Many people made their living and raised their families on small farms that now make up Lead Mine Conservation Area. The town of Lead Mine, just one-quarter mile west, is a small community known for its country atmosphere, hand-made goods and horse drawn buggies.
Lead Mine Conservation Area contains many excellent examples of dolomite glade communities, oak-hickory uplands, and clear running springs. Deer, turkey, raccoon, squirrel, rabbit, coyote, and many other small animals and birds are commonly seen from the gravel roads and forest trails.
Wildlife habitat management includes the creation of watering ponds and manipulation of fields within the forest to provide added food sources. Timber harvesting is also an important element in habitat management. It produces forage and cover for forest wildlife.
There are five primitive camping areas. One is for groups by special use permit only and one is only open October 1 through January 15. The main campground has 51 sites with 26 of them able to accommodate trailers. Camping is all on a first come first served basis.
This area has an unmanned shooting range. The Range is Closed on Monday's for Maintenance.
Southwest entrance: From Plad, take Highway 64 west, then Route T north, then Route YY east 0.50 mile. Northeast entrance: From Lebanon, take Highway 5 north to Route E, which will become Bluff Trail at the end of pavement. Follow Bluff Trail 0.25 mile to area. There is no vehicle access to the west side of area from the east side.
Love coming here to camp.. no it’s not right on the water but it’s only a three minute drive but still one of the nicest places to camp
Beautiful place to ride and Camp, primitive, but nice camp sites! Was alot of trash left there this weekend from holiday weekend last week😔 we picked a lot up off trails and camp sites. Please help take your trash back home wirh you so we can keep these nice places to Ride!🙂
The one that started at all.
as the year of one long giant road trip morphs into my second year, I Stumbled across this gem. The Midwest conservation areas have usually been a place where I stop to recuperate away from all the hustle and bustle and find comfort in particular areas such as these. Today I came across the Lead Mine Conservation area on my way to Springfield MO and this one was obviously a ways out of my way; but, upon entering it worth every mile lost. Easily one of the largest (open spaces) I have come across, this place is gorgeous! With are several areas to camp And hike without ever brushing shoulders with another human (if you like that that sort of thing). For being out in the middle of nowhere Missouri it was shockingly well kempt meaning free of vandals and every day wear and tear from Mother Nature. Places to park your RV hook up to septic (I believe). For sure water! Nevertheless having witnessed this remarkable statement made to conserve and preserve Missouri and its beauty! I look forward to continue my writings & reviews across the country merely based from my personal experience and opinion. Keep doing what you’re doing #Missouri this place is pretty cool.
