Clay County Parks, Recreation, and Historic Sites manages more than 6,000 acres of parkland. In Clay, you can pair this natural side with a wide range of historical themes: from a scale model of a historic jail to a woolen mill with its original machinery intact.
Lakes, Trails, and Water Access
The 7,190-acre Smithville Lake is a recreational lake with two full-service marinas and boat rentals. The Camp Branch Trail System includes Bonebender Trail, Campground Trail, and Eagle’s View Trail, for a combined length of 10.4 miles. Camp Branch Beach can be reached by vehicle or from Camp Branch Campground via Bonebender Trail. Little Platte Beach is also accessible by vehicle or via Little Platte Trail.
More water activities are available at Watkins Mill State Park: Williams Creek Lake has a boat launch and a free courtesy dock. Kayaks are rented at the campground check-in station from April 15 through October 31. The park also offers interpretive programs during the summer months. Since rentals and programs are seasonal, check their schedules before your trip. At Smithville Lake, Crow’s Creek Campground has 406 campsites.
The activities also differ in how you can spend time on the water: at the lake, marinas and boat rentals are the main draw; at Williams Creek Lake, there is a boat launch and a courtesy dock; and Watkins Mill State Park also offers kayak rentals and summer programs. The trail names and the beach access points mentioned here also provide specific reference points for planning around Camp Branch and Little Platte.
Liberty and the History of Clay County
In Liberty, several options offer an introduction to local history. The city provides downloadable and printable self-guided tours, along with maps of historic Liberty. The African-American History Tour covers 175 years of African American history. At the Dougherty Historic District, local history is paired with a walking tour of about 1 mile: the district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also designated as one of Liberty’s five local historic districts.
At Historic Liberty Jail, a scale model illustrates the jail’s dimensions and construction. Field trips at Mt. Gilead School offer a different kind of historical learning: they include lessons in a historic classroom with a teacher dressed in period clothing. The Garrison School Cultural Center, founded in 1877 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, adds another part of the area’s educational history.
The museums also focus on different subjects. At the Jesse James Bank Museum, visitors see the bank as it appeared in 1866; the museum is located at the site of the first successful peacetime daylight bank robbery in the United States. Jesse James Birthplace houses the world’s largest collection of James family artifacts. The Clay County Museum displays historical artifacts from across the county and has a reading room where visitors can view historical documents and articles. Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum is among the oldest continuously occupied homes in Clay County and has a heritage garden with herbs, strawberries, and asparagus.
At Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site, the focus is on 19th-century textile production: a woolen mill with its original machinery fully intact has been preserved. Excelsior Springs Museum and Archives features several rotating exhibits as well as its regular offerings. The range extends from a single historic room and its furnishings to collections and exhibits covering different subjects.
Wine, Tastings, and Local Products
Each tasting experience also has its own connection to the products. At Belvoir Winery & Inn, you can order locally made wines and try the “Boo’s” wine. Ladoga Ridge Winery offers wines made from grapes grown in its own vineyard and provides tastings. At Restless Spirits, distillery tours are paired with spirits tastings and cocktails. These differences make the offerings another way to explore the area alongside its parks and history.
Discover more destinations: Liberty, Randolph, North Kansas City, Excelsior Springs, Trimble, Holt, Callaway, and Randolph.
For the full travel overview: Missouri.
