“natural spring-fed wonderland”
Ozark National Scenic Riverways is the first national park area to protect a river system. The Current and Jacks Fork Rivers are two of the finest floating rivers you'll find anywhere. Spring-fed, cold and clear they are a delight to canoe, swim, boat or fish. Besides these two famous rivers, the park is home to hundreds of freshwater springs, caves, trails and historic sites such as Alley Mill.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways was established through congressional legislation on August 24, 1964 to conserve and interpret the unique cultural and natural resources of the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers. The Riverways protects 134 miles of clear, free-flowing spring-fed waterways. The impressive karst landscape of the Riverways supports an amazing variety of features, including a spring system unparalleled in North America. Ozark National Scenic Riverways was the first federally protected river system and provided the inspiration for the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968.
Have been floating these rivers since I was a kid. Very good for daytrips as well as longer journeys for a laid back way to get in touch with nature. My favorite float is Alley Spring to Eminence, MO along the Jacks Fork, but my favorite spring in the riverway system is Cave Spring. Love this place!
First off, this place is free to visit. There are tons of outfitters where you can rent canoes or kayaks and have a float planned. Or just bring inner tubes. But there's tons of stuff to do that doesn't involve floating or paddling. There's Rocky Falls, Alley Mill, Round Spring Cave, hiking, camping, etc.
Incredibly beautiful. The ecology of the area is a site to behold. Blue tailed skinks and a snake resting on the water's edge are possibilities. Beware of black gnats; they're everywhere.
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Ozark National Scenic Riverways
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- Sun - Sat: 8:00 am - 9:00 pm
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