Columbus - Belmont State Park Campground

Columbus - Belmont State Park Campground

You won’t believe the trees at this park. There are some huge ones—cottonwoods, sugar maples, and oaks—throughout this preserve located on dramatic bluffs of the Mississippi River. If it’s summer during your visit, you will enjoy the shade of one of these trees while overlooking the Big Muddy and the state of Missouri beyond. Mother Nature had a direct hand in creating this state park. In April of 1927, the Mississippi River flooded the nearby town of Columbus. The Red Cross subsequently sent a fellow named Rust to help; he got the town relocated to higher, less flood-prone ground, where it stands today. While relocating the town, Rust became interested in the remains of the Confederate fortifications here and thought these fortifications worth preserving. After Rust’s efforts, the Civilian Conservation Corps came in and helped develop the park that makes for Western Kentucky’s best camping destination.

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