Hazel Creek Lake: A Guide for Kirksville Residents

Hazel Creek Lake is a roughly 530-acre City-owned reservoir north of Kirksville.

It serves two roles at once: it is part of Kirksville's drinking-water supply and a public outdoor-recreation area managed in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Conservation.

There are two separate access points

The City describes a southern and northern access.

The southern entrance is reached from Hungry Hollow Road.

The northern entrance is reached from Buck Creek Road / Peaceful Front Road.

Both are roughly 1.5 miles west of U.S. Highway 63 after traveling north from Kirksville.

The City currently lists at each access:

• gravel parking;
• boat ramp;
• picnic area;
• restroom facility.

The northern access also has an accessible fishing dock.

Who manages Hazel Creek Lake?

The City owns and maintains the lake property and identifies Hazel Creek as a primary municipal water source.

MDC says the City handles non-fishing activities while MDC manages the fishery through a cooperative arrangement.

That distinction matters because an MDC fishing page does not mean MDC owns the lake.

Kirksville currently draws raw water from both Hazel Creek Lake and Forest Lake for treatment at the City's water plant.

Boats are allowed, but motors are restricted

Current MDC area regulations allow boats on Hazel Creek Lake.

Only electric motors may be used.

Do not carry Forest Lake's motor rules or City boat-permit structure over to Hazel Creek by assumption. The current City FAQ specifically adds the City boat-permit requirement for Forest Lake, not Hazel Creek.

Missouri registration, safety and fishing requirements still apply where relevant.

Fishing

MDC currently lists fishing opportunities including:

• muskie;
• sunfish;
• catfish;
• crappie;
• black bass.

This article does not freeze species-specific size or daily limits because those require a current fishing-regulation check.

The lake's fishery is substantial enough that MDC publishes an annual fishing outlook separately from the general area page.

What about swimming?

Older official material said swimming was prohibited, but that source is dated.

The current City and MDC pages used for this article do not establish a current swimming rule clearly enough to repeat the old wording as present policy.

If swimming or shoreline access is the purpose of the trip, check current posted signs or ask the City before assuming it is allowed.

Hours and activity rules

MDC's current cooperative-area rules list general closed hours of 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., with exceptions for certain permitted activities such as fishing, hunting and launching or landing boats.

Those exceptions do not make every activity permissible overnight.

For fishing-access features specifically, see Accessible Fishing Options Around Kirksville.