It may not make the list of 25 places to visit in America before you die, but the Trail of Tears State Park does offer shaded picnic sites, hiking trails and a magnificent overhead view of the mighty Mississippi. And take heed, if you have a sensitive nature the story of this mass 800 mile relocation may bring tears to your eyes. Located in Jackson, Missouri, the 3415 acre park is a memorial to the Cherokee Indians who lost their lives during the ordeal. A visitor center display interprets the sorrowful event, a site where nine groups of Cherokee crossed the Mississippi River during the harsh winter of 1838. The Nancy Bushyhead Hildebrand Memorial salutes all the Trail of Tears Cherokee.
   The park occupies land between Route 177 and the Mississippi River, with campgrounds, fishing grounds, and the 20 acre Lake Boutin. The high bluff and cliffs not only offer views of the majestic river, but provide roosting sites for bald eagles.

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