Ozark
National Scenic Riverways
Ozark National Scenic Riverways was created by an Act of Congress on August 24, 1964, to protect 134 miles of the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers in the Ozark Highlands of southeastern Missouri. The clean, clear waters of these two beautiful rivers provide excellent opportunities for johnboating, canoeing, swimming, fishing and tubing. Hunting is also an authorized use within the Riverways' boundaries. The landscape is predominantly rural, with broadleaf forests and occasional open fields.
| Ozark NSR was the nation's first "scenic
riverways" - a forerunner to the Wild and Scenic River Act by four years. The southeast Missouri Ozark Mountains are typified by narrow steep-sided hollows, numerous streams, and bluffs. Much of the area is underlain by soluble limestone and dolomite, giving rise to sinkholes, caves, and springs of a classical karst topography. The rivers have been used by humans for at least 12,000 years as evidenced by discovery of scattered Paleo-Indian artifacts. More recent inhabitants have left their mark as well. Learn more about the long and fascinating history of the Ozarks. |
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| Ozark NSR contains 19 sites currently listed on the National
Register of Historic Places as significant historic or archeological sites. There are over 300 recorded caves within the boundaries. Several caves have been identified as having critical habitat for the endangered Indiana and gray bats. Some caves are gated or signed to protect bat habitat. Please respect these closures. Sixty per cent of the rivers' flow comes from seven major springs and 51 other springs of various sizes within the drainage basin. Big Spring, one of the largest springs in the United States, has an average flow of 276 million gallons of water per day. The maximum recorded flow in one day was 840 million gallons in June 1928. There are 112 species of fish, 196 species of birds, and 58 species of mammals found in the park. There are also 25 species of snakes found in the park, including 4 poisonous species. VISITATION: About 1 1/2 million people a year visit Ozark Riverways. The rivers are very popular for canoeing and floating with inner-tubes. Fishing, hunting and johnboating continue to gain in popularity. Visitation is heaviest during the summer months, especially during weekends and holidays. LOCATION: Shannon County, Carter County, Dent County and Texas County; all in southeast Missouri. ADDRESS: TELEPHONE: OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS: Ozark NSR is open year around. There is no formal visitor center for the park. The Superintendent's Office is located on Business U.S. Highway 60 in Van Buren, Missouri. Hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Information is available at the Headquarters information desk. Also, EASTERN NATIONAL, a cooperating non-profit association, sells books and other items representative of the natural and cultural resources of the Ozark region and the park. These publications are also available through mail order at the park address. CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING: Summers are hot and humid. Good sun screen and insect repellent are a must! Ticks are the most prevalent insect problem. The area is subject to severe thunderstorms, torrential rains, and flooding at any time of year. Winters are generally cool with variable precipitation. WEATHER FORECASTS, SATELLITE VIEWS, and RIVER LEVELS (choose Current River at Van Buren or Jacks Fork River at Alley or Eminence under the White River Basin) are available on-line. Check out flooding forcasts and other useful float planning information at this NOAA web page. DIRECTIONS: Ozark NSR is within a day's drive of several large metropolitan areas, including St. Louis, Memphis, Kansas City, and Springfield (MO). Public transportation to the park is limited. Most visitors drive their own vehicles. A few privately chartered buses bring visitors to the area. Canoe and tube concessioners provide drop-off and pick-up services for their customers. Gateway towns include Eminence, Mountain View, Salem, Ellington and Van Buren. FEES, COSTS RATES: There is no entrance fee into the park. There are charges for family, cluster and group campsites at developed campgrounds, for cave tours at Round Spring Cavern, and for picnic pavilions located at Big Spring, Alley Spring and Round Spring. Golden Access and Golden Age Passes are available at Park Headquarters and at campground fee stations throughout the park. FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES: (Facilities may be closed or have limited hours from September to May.) Visitor Center/Exhibits: Information is available at Akers Ferry, Round Spring, Alley Spring and Big Spring Ranger Stations, and at Park Headquarters. Alley Mill: Visit the historic Alley Roller Mill for a look into the past. The mill is open daily from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Stop in for an up-close look at one of the Ozarks' most famous landmarks. There is no charge, but donations help us offset operating costs and are gratefully accepted. Located six miles west of Eminence, Missouri, on State Highway 106. Books and postcards may be purchased at the mill. The mill machinery is no longer operational, although restoration efforts are underway. Story's Creek School: See how the "Three Rs" really were taught in country schools. Open Friday and Saturday, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., during the summer season. Located adjacent to Alley Mill. Trails, Roads: There are 380 miles of roads within the park, most of which are secondary public roads and backcountry roads or traces. There are numerous road access points along both the Current and the Jacks Fork Rivers. State Highway 19 and U.S. Highway 60 provide the primary road access into the area. There are 14 miles of designated horse trails and 48 miles of foot trails located within the park. There is not a formal trail maintenance program within the park, so trail conditions may vary considerably. Short hikes in the Big Spring and Alley Spring areas are popular. There is also a seven mile section of the Ozark Trail located within the park, which is planned to some day go from St. Louis to the Arkansas border. Several long sections of this trail have already been completed. Most hiking on the trail is in the spring and fall. Programs/Activities:
Lodging and camping facilities: A variety of lodging and camping facilities are available inside and outside of the park. Developed campgrounds are located at Alley Spring, Big Spring, Powder Mill, Pulltite, Round Spring and Two Rivers. There are no electrical or water hook-ups. These may be found at State Parks and private campgrounds in the area. Family sites are $10.00 per night and can accommodate up to six persons/two tents. Group sites can accommodate from seven to 45 people. Tent camping only. Reservations are required, call (573)323-4236. Fees depend on the size of the party. Akers Ferry Campground remains closed this season (1999). The canoe rental and store remain open. Private campgrounds are available in the immediate area. Picnic Shelters may be reserved by calling (573)323-4236. Summer weekends book up quickly; call early! The fee is $25.00. Primitive campgrounds are located throughout the park. These are accessible by vehicle and have minimal facilities. Backcountry camping is permitted on gravel bars. Please keep a clean camp, bury human waste away from water and have an escape route in case of flash floods. No fee is charged for primitive and backcountry camping. Food/supplies: Restaurants and grocery stores are available in all area communities. Basic camping supplies and groceries are available at Pulltite, Round Spring, Alley Spring and Akers Ferry. Other Concessions/NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and Opportunities: Eastern National is a cooperating association which was formed to provide publications and other services for national parks and monuments in the eastern U.S. The Association maintains small sales areas at Park Headquarters and the Alley Roller Mill. Over 175 items are available with special emphasis on state and region natural history and culture. For further information, call (573) 323-4236. Other concession services available include canoe and tube rental businesses, fishing guide services, and lodging in historic CCC cabins at Big Spring. Concession canoe and tube rentals are available. Drop-off and pick-up transportation is provided within these prices. Accessibility: Most developed areas have rest room facilities which are accessible. Accessible camping sites have been developed at Big Spring, Alley Spring, Round Spring and Pulltite Campgrounds. An accessible trail and picnic site has been developed at Rocky Falls. For more information on accessible facilities, call or write the park. Special Needs: Parking available at Park Headquarters and Alley Mill. TDD services are available at (573) 323-4270 RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE: Canoeing and floating in tubes are the most popular recreation activities at Ozark NSR. The rivers are considered to be Class 1 streams, which is the easiest classification used. Also, johnboating, fishing and hunting (licenses required), horseback riding, camping, and picnicking are popular activities. Most hiking is done in the spring and fall. Horsepower limitations on outboard motors are in effect above the Big Spring Boat Landing (Current River) and on the entire Jacks Fork River within the park. Check at Park Headquarters for details. RESERVATIONS/PERMITS: Reservations for group campsites and picnic pavilions must be made at least 10 days prior to the date of arrival. Certain popular facilities may be booked early in the year for weekends and holidays, so don't delay! Special tours of Round Spring Cavern can be arranged for school groups (only!) by calling (573) 858-3297 or (573) 323-4236. BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS: The Current and Jacks Fork Rivers can be enjoyed for an hour or for days. Most floaters come to spend at least the weekend. Sightseers can visit a few of the highlights in just a few hours, for example, Big Spring, Alley Roller Mill, Round Spring, and Rocky Falls. If you have a little more time, look for Devil's Well. For the more adventurous with a sturdy vehicle, visit Klepzig Mill or the Susie Nichols cabin. SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS: A variety of special events are being held each summer in addition to the many fun and exciting activities the park rangers hold every week. Watch for more details here on the "WEB." VISITOR IMPACTS: We hope to eventually add a virtual visitor center page where we can post river conditions and other items of interest to visitors. ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:
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