Whether named for an unwooded creek or ironically christened by French trappers to ward off competition, the untamed woods, bluffs and springs of the Sans Bois mountains have beckoned to generations of explorers. Ancient tribes, trappers and outlaws have escaped to these ‘wood free’ mountains, carving the timeless sandstone cliffs and stoic pines from a sacred hunting ground, mining camp and hideout into a preserve dedicated to the natural beauty and history of the area, Robbers Cave State Park.
While the resource rich area has always drawn hunters, trappers and miners, the mountains surrounding Robbers Cave really achieved notoriety after the Civil War with legendary outlaws such as the Youngers, Daltons, Rufus Buck Gang, Jesse James and even Belle Starr utilizing the area’s natural amenities as a place to cool their heels from the long arm of frontier justice.
