Pomme de Terre Lake Reservoir

Pomme de Terre Lake is a reservoir on the Pomme de Terre River in southwestern Missouri. It is managed for flood control and recreation by federal and state agencies.

The lake was created by damming the Pomme de Terre River to provide flood control and recreational access for the region. Management combines federal recreation facilities with a state park along the shoreline.

The reservoir sits in Polk and adjacent counties in southwestern Missouri, with the nearest small towns providing access roads and services for visitors.

• Access and use: Access is via county roads from nearby towns and the lake is used primarily for boating, fishing and camping outside of flood-control operations.

What to See#

• Pomme de Terre State Park: A state park runs along part of the shoreline and provides campgrounds, picnic areas and boat ramps for recreational users.
• USACE recreation areas: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreation areas maintain boat ramps, day-use areas and some campsites around the lake.

• Use the official state-park facilities and boat ramps at Pomme de Terre State Park when launching a boat-these ramps and campground units concentrate services and overnight options.
• Plan mornings for fishing and calm-water boating; holiday weekends are busiest, so choose weekdays or shoulder-season days to avoid crowds at popular coves and ramps.
• If you want quieter stretches of shoreline, head to less-developed coves away from the main park units rather than the primary marinas and beaches.