Trail of Tears State Park

Trail of Tears State Park is located adjacent to the Mississippi River.  In 1804 Meriwether Lewis rode a custom made, 55-keelboat down the Ohio River and joined William Clark in Clarksville, Indiana.  From there, Clark took the boat down the Ohio River and then up the Mississippi River passing by this spot.   There is a Lewis and Clark wayside exhibit located at the main overlook within Trail of Tears State Park.   The ADA accessible overlook is located roughly 160 feet above the Mississippi River.  The overlook gives you a great view of upstream, downstream and across the river into Illinois.

The park marks another tragic event later in American history.  In 1838 and 1839 the Cherokee were forced from their homes in Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee and were moved to the Indian Territory, known as Oklahoma today.  There were 17 detachments of Cherokee.  A few detachments traveled by steamboat along the Tennessee River, Ohio River, Mississippi River to the Arkansas River into Indian Territory.  However the majority used the Northern land route and crossed the Mississippi River within Trail of Tears State Park.  Moccasin Springs Road in front of the Visitor Center is part of the original route.

The park has a Visitor Center with exhibits and a video about the Cherokee Removal, two campgrounds, hiking trails, picnic areas and a lake where you can fish and swim.