Alley Spring Campground

Bay Creek Campground
Not well known, but beautiful. Short on the amenities, but few crowds. Swimming, fishing.

Blue Ridge Trail Loop

Jack's Fork River: The Prongs to the Current River

Preview: The Jack’s Fork Rive, the major tributary of the Current River, offers approximately 46 miles of canoeable water. The two rivers make up the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, administered by the National Park Service. Expect a remote wilderness experience on the Jack’s Fork in the fall, winter, and early spring, but armies of paddlers invade the river during the warm summer months, aided by a multitude of canoe-rental concessionaires and campgrounds. Everyone comes to enjoy the crystal-clear water that emanates from an abundance of springs along the route. Put-in at The Prongs, where two small tributaries combine to form the Jack’s Fork River. Access the river where SR Y crosses it. This section is normally canoeable only after good rains or a wet spring. The stretch from The Prongs to Alley Spring includes some of the wildest riparian scenery in the region. There are few signs of civilization in the upper sections, where crystal-clear water courses between the famous Ozark hardwood forests and stark bluffs formed by the never-ending erosion of the streambed. Paddlers feel as though they are navigating through a gorge, thanks to dense forest that blocks any view of pastoral land nearby. The only signs of civilization are the remnants of early settler homesteads and several bridges that cross the river at Alley Spring and Eminence. Below Eminence the river passes several campgrounds, which detract slightly from the wilderness experience.   Mountain View , MO - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - 53.6 miles    Eleven Point River: Thomasville to MO 142 Preview: The Eleven Point begins as a series of small creeks that unite just to the west of Thomasville, Missouri. One of the many theories about how the Eleven Point was named holds that 11 small creeks form its headwaters. Another theory states that someone shot an eleven-point deer on the river and the name was derived from that great event. Many more theories circulate in this area, but no two people can agree on which is correct. The Eleven Point River was listed in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act upon its initial passage by Congress in 1968, and it is thereby protected from Thomasville to MO 142, a distance of 45 miles. The Forest Service is in charge of managing the river and maintaining access points, float camps, campgrounds, and visitor centers. Paddlers on the Eleven Point are blessed with some of the best scenery and wildlife in Missouri. This run is a personal favorite for the author, especially in the fall and winter months when there are few other people on the river. Sightings of wild turkey, deer, and beaver are common, and on a recent trip a group of paddlers reported sighting a bald eagle. Trout also abound from Greer Crossing to Riverton, so make sure you have a fishing license and trout stamp. The cold, deep green water that emanates from Greer Spring gives the river most of its volume as well as the famous fog that hangs above the river until mid-morning on hot summer days. Densely forested banks that slope gently away from the river are mixed with steep rocky bluffs, usually on the opposite side of the river. The river speed is a pleasant 4 miles per hour, just enough for an occasional rapid and to keep one from paddling too much. The warm summer months bring out many paddlers, tubers, and swimmers, drawn by the icy cold water from Greer Spring. Canoe camping is also a favorite option on the Eleven Point River. Alton, MO - Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - 44.2 miles    McCormack Lake Recreation Area Campground Preview: Set next to a 15-acre lake built by the CCC, McCormack Lake Recreation Area is a quiet and relaxing hideaway. While McCormack isn’t spectacular like many of the campgrounds in the Ozarks, it’s a peaceful, comfortable place at the end of the road. Since McCormack has only eight sites, it doesn’t get crowded and noisy, yet it’s only a short distance from the Eleven Point River and its great canoeing and fishing. McCormack Lake itself offers pretty good angling, and great hiking and mountainbiking trails leave right from your campsite. It’s a free camp, too—one of the last good deals in the outdoors. Winona, MO - Campgrounds McCormack-Greer Area Preview: Long climbs and several rocky, technical sections make this stretch of the Ozark Trail somewhat difficult. It consists of 11 miles of single-track, with another 10 miles added on the road return route. It is recommended for experienced riders. However, since the trail is relatively short, with an opportunity to bail out three miles into the ride, more adventurous beginners may wish to give it a shot. Novices should expect to portage their bikes several times. Nearly all the Ozark Trail on this section is single-track. The numerous rocks in the trail vary from beds of small loose stones to shelf-like rock outcroppings that are a fun challenge to cross. A few of the bottomland sections of the trail follow double-track hard-packed roads. Windfall is common. This trail is located 16 miles south of Winona. Winona, MO - Campgrounds Two Rivers: Salem to Blue Spring, MO Preview: A 64-mile drive that starts at Salem and travels south into the scenic river hills of the Current and Jacks Fork rivers. The highway travels across a broad, gently rolling upland plains, that is part of the Salem Plateau. As you head south, the plateau is deeply dissected by rugged hills whose steep slopes drain into spring-fed streams. Some of the largest springs in the United States—even in the world—are within this region. Special attractions: Alley and Round Springs, Current and Jacks Fork rivers, Devils Well, Akers Ferry, Blue Spring Natural Area, Rocky Falls, Ozark Trail, and Virgin Pine Forest; scenic views, fall and spring colors, hiking, canoeing, swimming, camping, fishing, hunting, and large springs. (Exceptional drive for fall colors in October and white-flowering dogwoods in April.)This eTrail is a complete description of a scenic drive with a route map and information on the best travel seasons, interesting sites, recreation opportunities, camping locations, and much more.   Eminence, MO - Scenic Drives - 64 miles    Watercress Spring Recreation Area Campground Preview: Have you ever dreamed of slurping a chocolate shake while you were camping out under the open skies? Well, you can do just that at Watercress Spring Recreation Area. It feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere, yet it’s less than a mile from downtown Van Buren. It’s a short walk to the Jolly Cone, where you can founder yourself on ice cream and then head back to your pretty campsite to complain about how much you ate. Watercress Spring Recreation Area is next to the Current River, on a small flatland between the stream and the hills that separate the campground from Van Buren.