Swamps, Trails, and Throwed Rolls: A Sikeston Adventure Guide

Looking for an outdoor escape that mixes Southern hospitality with Midwestern wildness? Head to Sikeston, Missouri, where cypress swamps, wooded ridges, and wide-open skies create a natural playground.

You’ll find trails that feel plucked from Appalachia, lakes stocked with bass, and even a rodeo that draws tens of thousands. From kayaking to “throwed rolls,” here’s your guide to the best adventures in and around Sikeston.

 

TAKE A HIKE
No, you didn’t just teleport to eastern Kentucky. Although it may feel like the Appalachian Mountains, you’re still in southeast Missouri when trekking in General Watkins Conservation Area, a short 14 miles north of Sikeston.

Managed by Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), the area has four hiking trails within its forests, which are filled with sweetgum, American beech, tulip poplar, and cucumber trees.

But stay on the trail: The undergrowth is predominantly composed of Virginia creeper and poison ivy.

 

GET WILD
Ever been birding by boat? While visiting Sikeston, take time to visit the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, one of eight national wildlife refuges in Missouri.

Supporting migratory birds along the Mississippi Flyway, the 21,592-acre refuge features 15,000 acres of bottomland hardwood forest and 3,500 acres of marsh and water, as well as upland hardwoods, crops, and grasslands.

Drive, bike, or run the 17-mile Ozark Highlands Auto Tour around the refuge — or better yet, explore via kayak or canoe on the Mingo River, Stanley Creek, Monopoly Marsh, or through the many miles of ditches.

 

GO FISHING
Looking to reel in some black bass, catfish, or crappie? Tywappity Community Lake is a great place to spend the day.

With 37 acres of surface water, 147 acres of woodlands, a boat ramp, a 2.5-mile trail around the lake, a pavilion, grills, picnic tables, and restrooms, this MDC area has an outdoor activity for every member of the family.

Pets are also welcome, but you have to keep them on a leash. Electric motors only for boats on the lake.

 

RIDE FREE
If you’re looking to hit the saddle (horse saddle or mountain bike seat), head to Holly Ridge Conservation Area, located 20 miles west of Sikeston, to explore the 11.5-mile loop trail.

Starting at the parking lot off County Road 517, the trail passes by two natural areas: Holly Ridge and Beech Springs.

Beech Springs features a perched bog — or hanging bog — which is a natural pond on an upland site. It’s also the home of the historic Kinder Cemetery.

 

GIDDYUP
“This ain’t my first rodeo” is something we’ve all said, but how many of us have actually been to a rodeo?

The Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, held annually over four nights in August, is the largest rodeo in the region, drawing over 40,000 attendees each year.

And with the opening of the new Sikeston Rodeo Museum, you don’t have to wait till August to soak up the region’s rich history of cowboys, cowgirls, and rodeo clowns.

Immerse yourself in the grit and passion of these performers at the free museum — and get a little closer to making that rodeo statement more true.

 

HEAD DOWNTOWN
Craving some small-town America? Take a stroll through Historic Downtown Sikeston, featuring sweet treats from Susie’s Bake Shop & Restaurant and fine dining at Carson’s by Chef Adam Glenn.

If you prefer to catch your meal, head to Lambert’s Cafe — the home of throwed rolls — at the east end of town.

Events happen year-round, including the annual Christmas tree lighting and parade (December), the downtown wine festival (September), and the St. Patrick’s Day festival and home brew competition (March).

Author: Michael Shepherd Jordan is a contributor to Terrain.

Top image: The Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo. (Aaron Furhman/Missouri Division of Tourism)