Bluff View

Description: Bluff View campground is nestled into the hills on the East side of Clearwater Lake. The Black River runs into the lake near this campground.

Location: Take HWY 34 to Piedmont MO. Turn north on HWY 49, go 1 mile to HWY AA and turn left, go 7 miles on HWY AA, the road will end in Bluff View Park.

Facilities: The lake is fed by the Black River at this point, which provides visitors an excellent location to fish. Bluff View is also an excellent area to camp, swim, boat, picnic or sightsee. The Bluff View Campground offers 60 sites, many with electric and water hook-ups. Additional amenities include a dump station, hot showers, a boat ramp, a playground, interpretive trail, public phones, and a swimming area.

Fees: $12 non-electric, $16 electric, $20 for electric and water and $40 for group picnic shelter.

Open: May 15 to September 15.

Bluff View Map

Highway K

Description: Highway K Campground is located on Black River west of Annapolis, MO. The river provides excellent opportunities to camp, swim, canoe, picnic, and sightsee.

Location: Located 5 miles southwest of Annapolis, MO. Follow Hwy 49 south to the center of Annapolis, turn right onto Hwy K, and follow Hwy K 5 miles. Highway K Park will be on your left.

Facilities: The Highway K Campground offers 83 sites, including 65 with electric. Additional amenities include a dump station, hot showers, a picnic shelter, playground, and public phone.

Fees: $12 non-electric, $16 electric, $20 electric and water, $50 for group picnic shelter

Open: April 1 to October 31.

Highway K Map

Piedmont Park

Description: Campground is set on ridge tops just above the lake level. Many sites offer an excellent view of the lake.

Location: Follow US 34 to Piedmont, MO. Go North on Highway HH 5 miles to the top of the dam. Turn right and follow the signs into the campground.

Facilities: Piedmont Park Campground provides visitors an excellent location to camp, fish, swim, boat, picnic, or sightsee. Piedmont Park Campground offers 97 sites, 79 have electric hookups. There is potable water within the park, but not at individual campsites. Additional amenities include a dump station, hot showers, picnic shelters, a boat ramp, a playground, public phones, and a swimming area.

Fees: $12 for non-electric, $16 for electric, $20 electric and water, $50 for group picnic shelter, and a minimum of $40 for the group campsite.

Open: April 15-September 30.

Piedmont Park Map

River Road

Description: River Road Park is set along the riverbanks of the Black river, just below Clearwater Dam. The terrain is very flat and offers easy access to the river for fishing.

Location: Follow US 34 to Piedmont, MO. Go North on Highway HH 5 miles until you reach River Road Campground.

Facilities: River Road Campground provides visitors an excellent location to camp, fish, swim, boat, picnic, or sightsee. River Road Campground offers 109 sites, 97 have electric hookups. There is potable water within the park, but not at individual campsites. Additional amenities include a dump station, hot showers, picnic shelters, a boat ramp, a playground, and public phones.

Fees: $12 non-electric, $16 for electric, $20 electric and water, and $50 for group picnic shelters.

Open: River Road is open year round.

River Road Map

Webb Creek

Description: Webb Creek Campground is located on the banks of Clearwater Lake, southeast of Ellington, MO. Most of the campsites are located on the wooded hillside, just above the lake.

Location: From Ellington, MO, go south on US 21 for 2.6 miles to Highway H. Turn left on Highway H and go 10 miles to Webb Creek Campground.

Facilities: Webb Creek Campground offers 35 sites, including 25 sites with electric hook-ups, and water nearby. Additional amenities include hot showers, a playground, boat ramp, swimming area, picnic shelter, public phones, and a dump station. There are no water hook-ups.

Fees: $12 non-electric, $16 electric, $40 group picnic shelter

Open: May 15 until September 15

Webb Creek Map

Beaver Springs Campground

Kempers Resort

Sam A. Baker State Park is located east of Clearwater Lake where the St. Francis River and Big Creek join. It is very different from the lake, but is regarded as in the greater lake community. There are two campgrounds plus backpack camping opportunities.

Markham Springs. Also in the lake community is Markham Springs Campground, a U.S. Forest Service recreation area located on Black River several miles downstream from Clearwater Lake.

The Bluff View Nature Trail is a .6-mile hike that takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. It offers a picturesque view of the lake and river valley. The trail is rated moderate in difficulty. This is a foot trail only. Sorry, no bicycles allowed. The trailhead is located near the restrooms in C-section of Bluff View Park.  Map

   The Black River Nature Trail is an .8-mile trail that is rated moderate and is accessible from River Road Park. It winds its way though oak-hickory hilltop woods alongside the Black River. Several locations provide benches to rest and lookout platforms for a bird’s eye view of the river. Hiking this trail takes about ½ hour. This trail gives access to two other trails, the Bottom Land Forest Trail and the Blue Heron Slough Trail.   Map

   The Bottom Land Forest Trail, located near River Road Park, can be accessed by taking the Black River Nature trail or via canoe/kayak. Canoe landings are posted along the shoreline and benches are nearby so you can sit and enjoy the scenery. This scenic trail weaves its way through a bottomland forest (of course!), cane breaks, a warm season grass field that is scattered with cactus, and on top of a bluff overlooking the Black River. This moderately difficult trail is one mile long.

   The Blue Heron Slough Trail is the third trail near River Road Park. It is 1/5 mile long and is also accessible via the Black River Nature Trail or canoe/kayak. If you’re quiet you may view great blue herons, wood ducks, and turtles in this old river channel pond. A wildlife food plot is at the end of this trail. This trail is rated moderate.

   The Black River Hike and Bike Trail is a 3.25-mile gentle paved and gravel trail that winds through the bottomland hardwoods and pines along the Black River below Clearwater Dam. The 10-foot wide trail is perfect for biking, jogging or for taking a leisurely stroll.

   The main trailhead is in River Road Park on the southeast side of the park, but you can enter the trail at four other locations. Watch for the signs on Highway HH below the Dam. One location is just east of Clearwater Store, and the other two locations outside the developed park are in the Overflow Camping Area at the ponds below the dam. Each entry point offers you multiple options from as short as a 1 mile walk to a full 3.25 mile bike ride and any combination in between. We recommend you enter the tail at the overflow camp area off of HH highway between Memorial Day thru Labor Day if it is a weekend or you are not a camper.

   The entire trail takes about an hour and a half to walk, and there are rest benches along the way. The trail offers a great diversity of views. One can see a Great Blue Heron standing in the water willow along the Lower Black River, look at the pine plantation on the interior of the trail, or view work performed by the Clearwater Lake staff to preserve a stand of Giant River Cane, which is required nesting habitat for the endangered Swainson’s Warbler. If you walk the trail early in the morning or late in the afternoon, you may see deer, turkey and other wildlife along the way

   The Black River Hike and Bike Trail is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and we invite everyone
to come out and enjoy it. We ask that no litter be left behind. Remember, the trail is only
open to hikers and bicycles. No motor scooters or all terrain vehicles are allowed.