The gently rolling hills of the Ozark country are home to Pomme de Terre Lake. A paradise for swimmers and boaters, this Army Corps of Engineers park features an 8,000-acre lake with miles of beautiful shoreline. The lake's name directly translates to "apple of the earth" and comes from the French word for potato. Opportunities for hiking and fishing abound at this COE lake in the heart of the Ozarks.
Where Lindley Creek meets the Pomme de Terre River, in southwest Missouri, you'll find the Pomme de Terre Dam. This dam was built by the Army Corps for flood control, and the resulting reservoir is ideal for outdoor recreation. RV campers are not starved for campsite selection along the over 100 miles of shoreline. There are six COE campgrounds, most of which have hookups and accommodate large RVs.
When visiting Pomme de Terre Lake, you can reach other fabulous destinations conveniently. This area of Missouri is full of stunning lakes and dense forests. Within an hour you can be at Lake of the Ozarks State Park, Stockton Lake, or Bennett Spring State Park.
Pomme de Terre Lake is southwest of Kansas City and southeast of St. Louis. The drive from either major city is an easy one during the peak season. Roads are wide, paved, and easy to navigate. During the Missouri winter, road conditions can deteriorate and end up covered in snow and ice. Always carry winter gear and have winter tires wherever possible.
The drive to Pomme de Terre Lake is scenic once you leave Kansas City. The route takes you directly over the Grand River Arm of Harry S. Truman Lake. Treat yourself to stunning views of the Osage river or a slight detour to one of the multiple wildlife areas along the way. From St. Louis, the drive is longer and can take up to four hours. The slightly longer journey will take you through Jefferson City and right past Lake of the Ozarks State Park.
The best places to stop for supplies east of the lake are Hermitage or Pittsburg. From the west, your best bet is Wheatland.
Just above the Pomme de Terre Dam, the Damsite Park Campground has over 100 campsites and accommodates motorhomes, trailers, and campers up to 45 feet. A total of 80 sites have electric hookups, while the remaining ones have no hookups at all.
At Damsite, visitors can take advantage of the small laundry facilities and the dump station if required. You'll find standard amenities here like showers and toilets as well.
Docks for fishing and boat launching ramps are nearby, but not within the campground itself. Kids can spend time at the playground, and the central location makes access to hiking trails a breeze.
A popular choice for RV camping at Pomme de Terre Lake is at Outlet Park. Although the maximum RV size limit is a little lower than the other campgrounds at 40 feet, most travelers will have no trouble finding enough space here.
The sites are located below the dam and offer a fantastic jumping-off point for canoeing and kayaking. You can also swim and fish in the Pomme de Terre River, although there are no official swimming areas within the campground.
Guests at one of the 21 sites have access to a boat ramp, hot showers, sports courts, and hiking trails. Non-electric campsites, as well as ones with water and electric hookups, can be reserved here.
A unique feature at Outlet Park is the large group campsite that will house up to 50 campers. It has onsite toilets and a picnic shelter with electric hookups.
There are an additional three COE campgrounds at Pomme de Terre Lake that have hookups: Wheatland Park, Nemo Landing, and Lightfoot Park. These campgrounds will all accommodate RVs up to 45 feet.
At Wheatland Park, there are campsites with both water and electric hookups. Other notable features include a beach, boat ramp, dock, and laundry facilities. At Nemo Landing, campers get a choice of either electric, electric and water, or sites with no hookups. For entertainment, enjoy the playground for the kids, hot showers, beach access, and a boat ramp. Lightfoot park is smaller but also offers the choice of water and electric hookups and standard amenities.
Another option for primitive COE camping at Pomme de Terre Lake is at Pittsburg Park. Found on the lake's Lindley Creek Arm, there are a total of 25 sites. Only 13 of the sites are suitable for small campers. An advantage of staying here is the access to the shoreline for swimming and fishing. You'll also find vault toilets, a dump station, and a boat ramp here.
The COE beaches at Pomme de Terre Lake are generally open annually from mid-April to the end of September. There are two official beaches: one at Wheatland Park, and the other at Nemo Park. The sandy beaches are not pet-friendly and do not permit alcohol or glass containers.
At Nemo Park, the slope is gradual and trees set back off the beach provide an abundance of shade. Visitors can use one of the two onsite picnic shelters. The Wheatland Park beach has less sandy and more grassy areas. No matter where you swim at Pomme de Terre Lake, there are no lifeguards, but loaner lifejackets are available.
The Army Corps of Engineers encourages boating on the crystal clear waters of Pomme de Terre Lake. Six boat ramps scattered around the lake at day-use areas and campgrounds will have you cruising in no time. This variety means that boaters can choose their desired location and launch directly into the river or specific arms of the lake.
If you need supplies or gas around the lake, there are four convenient marinas, one of which, the Pittsburg State Park Marina is managed by Pomme de Terre State Park.
One of the main reasons road trippers add Pomme de Terre Lake to their itinerary is the excellent fishing. Stocked regularly with muskie since 1966, anglers have high chances of catching trophy-worthy fish. In addition to muskie, troll for bass, catfish, crappie, bluegill, and walleye. Fishing is done regularly from the shoreline, docks, and boats.
Fishing at this COE lake and river is regulated, and the rules are enforced by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Make sure you have the required license, respect all catch limits, and obey posted signs.
The Army Corps of Engineers provides a total of 14 picnic shelters for use throughout the shores of the lake. Some of the shelters are reservable in advance, while others are claimed on a first come, first served basis. Most have unobstructed lake or river views with amenities nearby like restrooms.
For smaller groups, there are picnic tables available and the two swim beaches make excellent outdoor dining locations. The miles of shoreline offer countless private spots to set up your blanket.
When you visit Pomme de Terre Lake, you're bound to spend most of your time outside. While hiking, boating, and camping, keep an eye out for one of the COE park's native inhabitants. Give all animals space and never feed any wildlife.
Have your camera ready to capture the local deer as they graze in the forest. Small creatures like squirrels and rabbits are also often spotted. Bird-lovers should watch for dove, turkey, and waterfowl.
The Pomme de Terre Multipurpose Trail welcomes mountain biking, horseback riding, and hiking on its almost 20 miles. You'll find this trail at Bolivar Landing on the south side of the lake, and it is considered challenging.
An easier trail, at approximately three miles, is the Running River Trail. It is a loop that follows the river and delves into the lush forests — users not wishing to do the full trail can opt-out before hitting the more difficult parts.
Additional trails are available at nearby Pomme de Terre State Park.
