A few months ago, I had never heard of Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park.


As a child, I grew up learning the love and explore nature very early on. My family loved going camping together, and we often made day trips to the nearby Big Oak Tree State Park outside of East Prairie, Missouri or over to Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee. I have so many fond memories from those trips, from learning how to fish, to bathing in the river (yes, our grandma made us bathe in Current River when we'd go there!), to walking the nature trail and trying to see what wildlife we could spot at Big Oak Tree. As you can see, state parks hold a special place in my heart.


After moving to Tennessee in December of 2024, I couldn't wait for the weather to warm up so I could get out and explore the area. Tennessee is such a gorgeous state, and it's always been my experience that every part of Tennessee that I've visited has hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered. Imagine my excitement when I found out that there was a state park less than 30 minutes from my new place! I eagerly waited for spring so I could get down there to explore.


A few days ago, I made my second trip to the park. The first time I visited, it started raining shortly after I arrived and I couldn't really explore as much as I would have liked. This time, though, it was hot but gorgeous outside, and I took my camera to see what I could capture. 

A blue dragonfly rests delicately on a green leaf blade in soft focus.
A gray rabbit sits near a rustic mailbox in a garden setting.
Delicate white wildflowers bloom among yellow black-eyed susans in a summer meadow.
Tranquil pond with lily pads surrounded by green trees and sunlit lawn.
Blue dragonfly perched on dried grass seed heads against blurred green background.
Blue and black butterfly perched on yellow black-eyed susan flower in garden.

Have you ever visited Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park?

If so, what's your favorite thing about the park?

First of all, let me just say that if you've never been to Meeman-Shelby Forest, you are missing out. There are tons of great hiking trails, places to picnic, and plenty of opportunities for fishing or even just boating. There are campsites, of course, and even a couple of cabins, and the area is teeming with wildlife. While I was there, I managed to snap pictures of adorable squirrels, tons of dragonflies (who were absolutely swarming around Poplar Tree Lake!), beautiful birds, and even an ornery raccoon that was trying to get food out of one of the park's trash cans.


My favorite thing, though, is just to sit and take in the beauty of the park. The sunlight filtering through the trees creates such a magical aura, and it's so peaceful and serene. It's easily become one of my favorite places to go within the area.


No, this blog post is not sponsored. LOL I really just love the park and wanted to share some of its beauty with you! If you see and want to purchase prints of any of these images, they're all available within my galleries here on the site.