The Ozark National Scenic Riverways

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways is a park that protects and preserves a pair of rivers (Jack's Fork River and the Current River) that flow through a part of south eastern Missouri.

This part of Missouri is on the Ozark Plateau, a hilly geological dome that is located in parts of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas as well as Missouri.

Six of us from central Pennsylvania (Brian, Dave, Mark, Rick, Vern, and me) got together to explore these rivers. Our original plan was to take four days to paddle 40 miles of the Jack's Fork River, provided there was enough water to get down. We delayed our launch by a day because of forecasted storms, including hard rain, possible tornados, and hail. We got the forecasted rain and then some, so we were happy to not be huddled and shivering in tents along the river.

The payoff for waiting a day was a perfect level (3.5' at Mountainview) for paddling Jack's Fork! And there was plenty of water to make for a fast trip down the river. It only took us two days to make the 40 miles from Buck Hollow to the Two Rivers campground, leaving an extra day or two to paddle scenic sections of the Current River. A very nice bonus!

Jack's Fork River

Limestone cliffs at the put in, Jack's Fork River

Gravel Bar and Limestone Cliff along Jack's Fork River

Jam Up Cave, Jack's Fork

Rick on Jack's Fork

Overnight at a wilderness campsite near Bay Creek campground

Day Two on Jack's Fork

The Upper Current River

The Upper Current River, between Welsh Landing and Pulltite Campground

The Current River, between Welsh Landing and Pulltite Campground

Cave Spring, Current River

Vern, paddling out of the cave at Cave Spring

Me, coming out of the cave (thanks, Mark, for the photo)

Lots of caves like this one along the Current River

Whats in a name? What "Pulltite" is all about

The Current River, near Pulltite Campground

The Upper Current River, between Cedar Grove and Akers Ferry

The Current River near Cedar Grove

Dave on the Upper Current, near Cedar Grove

Waterfall near Razor Hollow

Waterfall near Razor Hollow (Video)

Welch Spring Hospital, a private "health resort" for TB, Asthma, and other respiratory conditions. Active between 1913 and 1940

Welch Spring, next to the hospital ruins. This spring pushes about 100 million gallongs of water per day (about 160 cfs) into the Current River

Welch Spring and Hospital

The Current River, between Cedar Grove and Pulltite

The Upper Current River, between Pulltite and Round Spring

The Pulltite Cabin, near the campground, is an early example of a "Creole style" recreational cabin, built around 1913

The Pulltite Spring pumps about 42 million gallons of water per day (about 65 cfs) into the Current River

The Current River, between Pulltite and Round Spring

Karst formations on the Upper Current River, between Pulltite and Round Spring

Round Spring: "Round as a silver dollar" 26 Million gallons / day

A Few More Springs, Waterfalls, and Points of Interest in the Park

Rocky Falls, a "shut-in" in the Ozarks

Rocky Falls

Blue Spring, 310' deep and 100' across. One of Missouri's deepest and prettiest springs, it pumps an estimated average of 90 million gallons of water per day (about 140 cfs for boaters) into the Current River. The intense blue is caused by light reflected from dissolved minerals in the water

Blue Spring

Big Spring pumps out around 280 million gallons of water per day (450 cfs). Reflected sunlight makes the water appear turquoise

Big Spring

Big Spring, the biggest of them all! Located on the southeastern end of the park, it pumps out around 280 million gallons of water per day. (450 cfs). Reflected sunlight makes the water appear turquoise