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Grand Gulf State Park (Missouri)

Coordinates: 36°32′43″N 91°38′43″W / 36.54528°N 91.64528°W / 36.54528; -91.64528
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Not to be confused with Grand Gulf Military State Park (Mississippi).
This article is about Grand Gulf State Park (Missouri). For other uses, see Grand Gulf.
Grand Gulf State Park
Water entering this cave reappears nine miles (14 km) away at Mammoth Spring.
Map showing the location of Grand Gulf State Park
Map showing the location of Grand Gulf State Park
Location in Missouri
Map showing the location of Grand Gulf State Park
Map showing the location of Grand Gulf State Park
Grand Gulf State Park (Missouri) (the United States)
LocationOregon County, Missouri, United States
Coordinates36°32′43″N 91°38′43″W / 36.54528°N 91.64528°W / 36.54528; -91.64528[1]
Area321.96 acres (130.29 ha)[2]
Elevation712 ft (217 m)[1]
Established1984[3]
Visitors57,524 (in 2022)[4]
Governing bodyMissouri Department of Natural Resources
WebsiteGrand Gulf State Park
DesignatedJune 1971

Grand Gulf State Park is a state-operated, privately owned and publicly accessible, geologic preserve near Thayer, Missouri, United States, encompassing a forked canyon that is the remnant of an ancient collapsed dolomite cave system.[5] The land that is now the park was acquired by conservationist Leo Drey (1917–2015) before becoming part of the Missouri state parks system. The 322-acre (130 ha) state park has been operated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources under a lease agreement with the L-A-D Foundation since 1984.[6] Grand Gulf was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1971 as an excellent example of karst topography and underground stream piracy.[7] A 60-acre (24 ha) portion of the park was designated by the state as the Grand Gulf Natural Area in 1986.[8]

Description

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The Grand Gulf is nearly 1 mile (1.6 km) long and up to 130 feet (40 m) deep with sheer sides. An uncollapsed part of the original cavern roof spans 250 feet (76 m), creating one of the largest natural bridges in Missouri. A watershed of 28 square miles (73 km2) feeds into the gulf which itself drains into a cave entrance at its eastern end.[6] Dye traces have shown that water entering the cave in Grand Gulf emerges 1 to 4 days later at Mammoth Spring in Arkansas, 9 miles (14 km) distant.[9]

Facilities

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The park has picnicking facilities and two trails for viewing the gulf. The park's heavy foliage makes fall and winter the best viewing seasons.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Grand Gulf State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ "Grand Gulf State Park: Data Sheet" (PDF). Missouri Department of Natural Resources. November 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  3. ^ "State Park Land Acquisition Summary". Missouri State Parks. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  4. ^ "Missouri State Park Attendance For January - December, 2022" (PDF). Missouri State Parks. February 3, 2023.
  5. ^ "Grand Gulf State Park". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Grand Gulf State Park: General Information". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  7. ^ "Grand Gulf". National Natural Landmarks Program. National Park Service. June 28, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  8. ^ "Grand Gulf Natural Area". Missouri Department of Conservation. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  9. ^ Beveridge, Thomas R. (1980). Geologic Wonders and Curiosities of Missouri. Rolla, Mo.: Missouri Division of Geology and Land Survey. pp. 335–344. Library of Congress Card Catalog No. 78-69968.
  10. ^ "Grand Gulf State Park: Trails". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
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