Mo. sets up conservation area database

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Conservation Department wants to help vacationers find good places for outdoor activities.

The agency has created a searchable database it's calling the Conservation Atlas that includes 900 state conservation areas, lake and river access points, visitor centers and shooting ranges.

People seeking weekend and vacation destinations can search the database by location and the type of activity, with filters for facilities and natural features. It also allows searches for disabled access.

A search for camping along the Missouri River with boat access turns up 17 places around the state, from St. Louis County to northwestern Missouri's Atchison County.

The database can be found by clicking the "Atlas" link on the department's website at www.mdc.mo.gov.