McCormack Lake Recreation Area

Area Status: Open

Picnic table and fire ring near lakeshore.

McCormack Lake Recreation Area is surrounded by maple trees.

Hiking - There is hiking at McCormack Lake Recreation Area. This is a trailhead in McCormack Lake Day Use Area for the 1.07-mileMcCormack Lake spur trail, which connects to the Eleven Point River Section of the Ozark Trail and the Lazy C Trail.

Fishing and Boating - The 15-acre lake is stocked annually with panfish and bass being the catch of the day. During the warm months the vegetation in the lake can make fishing and boating difficult. The lake is a non-motorized area; boat motors are not allowed. An electric trolling motor is permitted. There is ample parking for picnickers and fishermen.

Camping - The campground is primitive with limited picnic tables, firerings and lantern posts. A vault toilet is provided. No water is available.

At a Glance

Operational Hours:	Quiet Hours 10 pm to 6 am
Reservations:	All sites are first come, first served.
Area Amenities:	Accessible,Tent camping,Picnic tables,Toilets,Parking
Fees:	There are no fees.
Open Season:	January - December
Usage:	Light
Restrictions:	Day Use Boats are allowed, only electric motors are permitted on the lake. No motorized vehicles permitted on trail system. No motorized vehicles beyond posted signs. Campground Fireworks are prohibited. Campsite parking allows for two vehicles per site. Park only in designated parking areas. No more than 8 people are permitted at single sites. Dogs must be on a 6 foot leash in the campground. Only collect dead and downed wood for campfires. No trash containers; please pack out all your trash. Follow the Leave No Trace Principles.
Closest Towns:	Greer, MO
Water:	None
Restroom:	Vault
Operated By:	USDA Forest Service
Information Center:	Eleven Point Ranger District Email \| Phone and Address

General Information

Accessibility:

Lantern posts and picnic tables are accessible.

Directions:

From Winona, MO

go south on Hwy 19 for 13 miles,
then go right/west on Forest Road 3155
The lake is about 2 miles down this road, which is drivable in any vehicle.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Campground Camping

No water. Tables and grills. Vault toilet available in picnic area. No garbage pick-up; pack in, pack out.

No. of Sites	6
No. of Accessible sites	0
Difficulty Level:	Easy

Lake and Pond Fishing

Small 12-acre lake for canoe and trolling motor fishing.

Fish Species	bass, panfish
Fishing Mode	boat, shore
Fishing Platform	no
Water Temperature	cold
Fishing Method	pole
Difficulty Level:	Easy

Day Hiking

McCormack-Greer Trail

The McCormack – Greer trail total length of 3.81 miles, includes a 1 mile spur from McCormack Lake connecting to the Eleven Point River Section of the Ozark Trail, leading in to the Greer Crossing Recreation Area.

Trail goes around the lake and down to Greer Crossing Recreation Area on the Eleven Point River.

Eleven Point River Section of the Ozark Trail

The first 10 miles pass through very rugged slopes and flowages associated with the Eleven Point National Scenic River. Several fine views of the Eleven Point valley are present.

From the Greer Recreation area, at mile 10, the trail parallels the Eleven Point River on its way to McCormack Lake. There is a fine picture opportunity at the mouth of Greer Spring and an excellent bluff view of the river near mile 12.

A spur leads to McCormack Lake at mile 13.

Difficulty Level:	Intermediate

Viewing Wildlife

This is a good location to view waterfowl and eagles. You may catch a glimpse of the occasional beaver or muskrat on the lake.

The ultimate wildlife viewing experience is watching animals in their habitat. Here are some helpful tips to become a wildlife friendly viewer:

Use the right tools - A field guide, a pair of binoculars and a camera. Wear clothing that is appropriate for the season and activity.
Watch at dawn and dusk - This is the time when most wildlife species are active enough to view.
Keep your distance - Maintain a distance that is comfortable for the wildlife.
Stay quiet - Move slowly and quietly to increase your chances of viewing wildlife, and to avoid stressing the animals you wish to watch.
Do not feed the wildlife - There is plenty of food available in the wild. Human food can cause digestive problems, provide improper nutrition, and even kill an animal.

An online version of the Missouri Wildlife Viewing Guide is available on their website

Viewing Plants

This is a great area for spring wildflower viewing and an exceptional location for seeing fall color.

Of the roughly 2800 species of plant in Missouri, about two-thirds can be found on the Forest. While most can be found commonly throughout the Forest, less common species can be found in specific natural communities such as calcareous fens, acid seeps, and glades (limestone, dolomite and igneous).

What to look for

Native - MDC Field Guide
Non-Native - Mark Twain NNIS | MDC Problem Plant Control
Threatened, Endangered and Candidate Species - Mark Twain | MDC Species

Picnicking

Picnic area beside lake with ample parking

No. of Sites	3
Difficulty Level:	Easy

Group Picnicking

There is a picnic area beside the lake with ample, paved, parking. It is a shaded, grassy area with a view of the lake.

No. of Sites

1 group site

Boating - Non-Motorized

You will need to carry your boat to the water, there is no boat launch at this lake. You can carry boats to the water at the day use or the campground.