The 205-acre property includes a mix of wetlands, grasslands, riparian cottonwood forest, and mesic-bur oak forest. Rock and sediment exposures along the Missouri River reveal past geologic events. A mowed grass trail is planned for the property to loop through these environments. In the restored prairie, look for dragonflies and butterflies. In the cottonwood and oak forests, watch for wildlife sign including resident whitetail deer and turkey.
Primitive camping is allowed at no cost under the auspices of a back country use permit issued by the Park's HQ Office through a request via email (MNRR-Interpretation@nps. gov), or by calling 605-665-0209. Reservations are not required, however we do ask that you call and leave us your basic itinerary.
This prominent island, also affectionately known and referred to by locals as Jake’s Island, is a remnant of large emergent sandbars that later developed into successional forests and sand flats. Today the 800-acre property supports a wide variety of wildlife on its sandbars and within its dense forested areas of cottonwood and Eastern red-cedar. Chutes paralleling the island, free-flowing water, vegetation, and sandbars not only provide important wildlife habitat, but add to the aesthetic qualities of the Park’s 59-Mile District. Situated along the Missouri National Recreational River Water Trail, the island is between Nebraska and South Dakota.
No reservations are required, however we do ask that you call and leave us your basic itinerary.
Near River Mile 806 is the 60-acre Green Island Recreation Area. Green Island Recreation Area has 1.75 miles of mostly flat sand or gravel trails. Access to the island trail is only by boat; land access is by taking the Yankton City Forest trail. Green Island has undergone quite a change. A backwater was restored as a mitigation measure during the construction of the Discovery Bridge. In 2008, the backwater was connected to the main river channel on the downstream end. The flood of 2011 eroded the upstream end of the backwater, creating an island with a flowering side channel.
