Birding is excellent in the various picnic areas and the campground.

Big Spring was one of Missouri's first state parks. It was a state park from 1924 until 1969 when the people of Missouri donated it, along with Alley and Round Spring State Parks to the National Park Service to become a part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. A gift from Missouri to America.

The Big Spring area contains the Big Spring of course, but also a campground, a picnic area, a dining lodge, trails and housekeeping cabins. The area is known as the CCC historic district as many of the structures were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps when it was a state park.

There are a few trails that are level and paved with gravel. These may be accessible depending on your abilities and equipment. Specifically these are the Slough Trail at Big Spring, the access trail to Big Spring itself, and the River's Edge Trail at the Big Spring Campground.