Thousand Hills State Park is a public recreation area covering over 3,000 acres (1,200 ha) two miles (3.2 km) west of Kirksville in Adair County, Missouri.

The state park features Native American petroglyphs and 573-acre (232 ha) Forest Lake with fishing, swimming and boating.

Following voter passage of a special bond issue, land was acquired to construct a dam across Big Creek, a tributary of the Chariton.

Missouri Governor Forrest Smith, who attended the 1953 ceremony, has been erroneously linked to several historical accounts that claim Forest Lake was named in his honor.

[5][6] A series of Native American rock carvings, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, are protected in an enclosed observation and interpretation center.