This page contains views of Heartland Cove at Smithville Lake. Heartland Cove is an isolated area on the northwest side of Smithville Lake, 8 miles north of Smithville and just 2 miles off of Highway 169. The cove is accessible by a 10 minute walk and makes a place where naturists might be able to sun and swim. Other lake users might be present, usually fishermen, but the intent was to find a section of the lake where naturists could be relatively isolated and enjoy a degree of privacy without encountering other Lake visitors.

To reach Heartland Cove drive north on Highway 169. Begin measuring mileage from the Burger King Restaurant near the US 169 and State highway 92 intersection, then drive north thorough Smithville. Six miles north of the Burger King you'll find county road W which also is marked for the Camp Branch Public Use area of the Lake. Turn right or east on route W. Just after turning east on W you will see route F, another paved county road. Turn left or north on route F. Next watch for the sign that says "Entering Clinton county".

Just past the Clinton county sign you'll drive past a residence driveway and then a gravel road SW KING ROAD. [the signage is currently down in the weeds] Take King road to the right or east. Follow King road as it winds a bit and at about the one mile mark and just after making a sharp left curve watch on the right side of the road for a gated entrance to a field. 



(Annotated photo courtesy of Mike Ash)

The Hiway W turnoff is 6 miles north of Smithville's Burger King restaurant.




---

This view shows the entrance visitors will walk through enroute to Heartland Cove. There are many of the white "Waterfowl Refuge" signs around the lake. This entrance normally has a padlocked single strand wire rope across the gate. Note the wooden stake to the left of the fence post with the letters H C -(H over C vertically) to mark the proper entrance.

As you walk toward the east,the green line on the aerial photo, you'll see the lake itself. There's a small pond in this field and if you'll look and turn to the left before you reach the pond you'll be facing northeast and Heartland Cove.

This is the east facing view of Heartland Cove. Tire tracks lead across the hayfield toward the cove. You can see the standing timber in the water - cover for the fish. Since this whole section of the lake it in the waterfowl refuge and north of the highway bridge it's both inaccessible to sail boats and in a no skiing area. That limits the number of boaters who'll be in the open water outside the cove. Walk on east toward the cove. Most of the distance you'll be walking through a brome grass hay field. The last 50 feet are across a strip of weeds and downed trees.
 
 

Next the shoreline view of Heartland Cove - this is from the north side of the crescent shaped cove looking toward the south. I've been setting up just back from the bare shoreline on the southwest portion of the crescent.Come on in the water's fine. You'll have a sinking feeling as you first step into the lake. The bottom gives way just a bit but it's not gumbo or oozey mud. It's a clay/sand mix and you'll come out relatively clean. Wade out just a few steps. When you're in and around the standing timber in the water be very careful at first for underwater limbs and underwater fallen trees. Feel your way around to make sure you're in a clear area before doing any water acrobatics.

The pictures and directions should enable you to find Heartland Cove and give it a test swim and sun session. No guarantees. You're on public lands. You can park alongside the gated entrance, at the wide spot in the road just west of the entrance where the road makes the sharp turn or in  the circle drive at the end of King Road - that's the actual access point for fishermen.

Never open and drive through the closed gate - even if it's unlocked. You might end up "locked in". You can always walk through or alongside this gate. Ownership of the property is Corps of Engineers with the land leased for hay or pasture.

The brome grass becomes quite tall by late May and if we've done our job correctly there'll be an informal trail down through the pasture. In recent years the "Buffalo Trail" has been weed whacked in early May to create an better walking path.

The Cove has been used for skinnydipping and nude sunbathing since 1997 however is it not officially signed or sanctioned for nude use. Law Enforcement Officers from any of several departments may visit the cove and have done so in past years although no known citations have ever been issued for Cove visitors.

If all will follow the rules of Nude Beach Etiquette on every visit, take out what you take in and respect the privacy of other visitors area nudists should be able to continue quiet, discreet use of the Cove into the 2004 season and beyond.

Your responsible use, cleanup and support of Heartland Cove encourages others to also make use of this public area so let 'em know you were there via the Message Board.

Heartland Cove and Heartland Naturists Message Board