Bennett Springs is a state park located near Lebanon, Missouri. The park is centered on a spring, deep in the ground that was caused by an earthquake, according to the Osage Native Americans. The spring was bought from the Bennett heirs in 1924 and 1925. Since then, the land has been turned into a state park. It has been stocked with mountain trout since then and is great for fishing. The Niangua River, the river into which the spring flows, is a great river to canoe. The park has many trails as well, for those wanting to get right out there with nature. Bennett Springs is a great place to vacate for many reasons: great fishing, great canoeing, and many other outdoor activities.Growing up, my grandparents have always taken my brothers and I to Bennett Springs for vacation. They have their own place, a nice trailer, about one mile from the river. The greatest time I ever had in Bennett Springs was probably when my grandparents took us canoeing. The park has two main canoe drop zones. Moon Valley is a nine-mile course, while Ho Hum is a seven-mile trip. The Moon Valley trip is upstream from the spring, and the Ho Hum is downstream. Both trips last about four to five hours. I remember the first time I floated down the Niangua. Cottonmouth snakes were everywhere, as well as muskrats and otters. Our group of canoes was so strung out, I did not know if we were a hundred yards out or a mile apart. The float was really fun for everyone in the end though. One thing I learned is to not stand up in the canoe until I had gotten more experienced. I fished the whole trip, although I do not remember catching any keepers on the river that trip. I still had a lot of fun that first trip. Another great aspect of the park is their numerous outdoor-activities. Bennett Springs has a Nature Center building, in which resides a small museum of the springs layout. At the Nature Center, they have scheduled hiking trails, classes, and tour...
