St. Francis River - Mile-By-Mile Description - map

St. Francis River I

0.0 Gruner Ford Access. Hwy. H Bridge 3 miles sourh of Farmingron. River has a normal float gradient. Must carry boats a short distance to riverParking Lot , Fishing(Bass/Catfish/Goggle Eye/Sunfish)4.5 acre area.Map
3.0 Hwy. 67 Bridge.
7.0 Syenite Access on right, just downstream of Hwy. H Bridge. Gravel ramp.Parking lot,boat ramp,fishing(bass/catfish/sunfish)
From Syenite) Go west on Route DD for 1.5 miles. Turn right on Route H and continue to the area. 29.43 acre areaMap
8.2 River begins to flow more rapidly. Next 3 miles has gradient of 20 feet per mile. Several long pools end in rocky, steep drops. Vision is often obscured by dense willow thickets. Use caution! This can be a dangerous section in high water.
13.2 Spur from Hwy. K meets river. No access.
16.7 Wachita Creek enters on right. Granite bluffs with pines on each side of river.
17.7 Roselle Access on right at Hwy. 72 Bridge. Gravel/dirt ramp. Map Cafe and store nearby. Begin shut-ins sections.12 miles west of Fredericktown on Highway 72 in madison County.
Parking lot,gravel boat 21.88 acre arearamp,fishing(bass/catfish/sunfish/walleye) This section should nor be run by inexperienced canoeists. In high water it should be run by experts only. Difficulty ratings of the rapids range from III in moderately low water to V in flood stage. Fast riffle below the access leads to slow section but rapids soon begin. Low bluff on the right and sound of the water warn of first rapids, which begins with a rocky ledge across the river. The next 1.5 miles includes three sharp drops. Quiet sections invariably end in rapids.
store nearby. Begin shut-ins sections. This section should nor be run by inexperienced canoeists. In high water it should be run by experts only. Difficulty ratings of the rapids range from III in moderately low water to V in flood stage. Fast riffle below the access leads 10 slow section but rapids soon begin. Low bluff on the right and sound of the water warn of first rapids, which begins with a rocky ledge across the river. The next 1.5 miles includes three sharp drops. Quiet sections invariably end in rapids.store nearby. Begin shut-ins sections. This section should nor be run by inexperienced canoeists. In high water it should be run by experts only. Difficulty ratings of the rapids range from III in moderately low water to V in flood stage. Fast riffle below the access leads 10 slow section but rapids soon begin. Low bluff on the right and sound of the water warn of first rapids, which begins with a rocky ledge across the river. The next 1.5 miles includes three sharp drops. Quiet sections invariably end in rapids.
20.2 Millstream Gardens Conservation Area and access on left. Must carry boat down steep slope to gravel ramp. MDC area with parking lots / pavillion / picnic tables / restrooms / gravel boat ramp(canoe acees only).Activities : hunting / fishing  / canoeing  / bird and nature watching / hiking . - Map
20.8 Begin mile of continuous rapids with sharp drops. Scouting on foot is essential. A picnic shelter on left bank overlooks beginning of this rapids section. The steepest drop on the river is just below this. It is 4-6 feet, depending on water stage, but the chute has a difficult S-curve approach.
22.3 Turkey Creek enters on left. Rocky rapids continue to damsite.
22.7 Silver Mine Dam. Breech blown in left side of dan1 is mnable, but in high water produces a high wave at the bottom which would swamp an open canoe. A "rockgarden" run from here to the bridge.
23.2 Hwy. D Bridge and Silver Mines Recreation Area and campgrounds. There are campsites on both sides of the river below the bridge and on the left side above the bridge.
24.7 Little St. Francis enters on left.
27.5 Hwy. E Bridge. Cedar Bottom Creek on left.
28.2 Rock Creek on right.
29.6 Begin passage berween Marlow Mountain, on left, and Black Mountain. There are some fast runs both above and below this area, but the passage berween the rwo mountains is mostly a long pool with Hwy. E along right bank.
31.4 French Mills and Little Rock Creek on right. Half a mile up this creek there is a pretty shut-ins area, about a half mile in length, with a drop of 80 feet. It can be reached on foot via Hwy. E., which parallels it.
32.0 Marble Creek on right has shut-ins 2 miles upstream.
32.8 Begin passage berween rwo high hills. At lower end of this run, granite ourcroppings constrict the river, producing a rapids with rwo drops. Waves are somctimes high enough to pur a considerable amount of water imo a loaded, open canoe. May be scoured easily from rock ledge on left.
34.8 Wade Ford. Closed to public access.
36.2 Unusual cave in bluffs. 37.6 Marsh Creek on right.
41.9 Marsh Ford.
42.1 T welvemile Creek on left. Sertlement of Sacois is 1 mile up the creek.
43.4 Hwy. C-N Bridge at Jewett. High bank but can be used as an access.

Marble Creek Recreation Area

Marble Creek, rushing 20 miles through the rugged St. Francis Mountains, is named for deposits of attractively colored dolomites which were mined and used in the building trade as “Taum Sauk Marble”. Within the recreation area, you can see the concrete remains of a grist mill dam and building foundation. This dam was the third to be built here and was operated until 1935.

Campground: 25 single sites and 1 double site. All have a table, fire ring and lantern post. Vault toilets centrally located. No Fee.; Open all year. No horses allowed in campground or picnic area – only at the trailhead and along the trail.

Picnic Area: 4 picnic sites, each with table and pedestal grill.

Trail: Trailhead for the Marble Creek Section of the Ozark Trail. This 8-mile segment goes to Crane Lake (connecting with the 5-mile Crane Lake National Recreation Trail) and is open for hiking, equestrian and mountain bike use.

Fishing: Wade fishing for smallmouth bass and panfish.

Swimming: Is permitted, largest area for swimming is at the old mill dam.

How to get here:

From Ironton, MO, take Hwy E southeast for 15 miles.

Open Year Round – Maintained and Operated by Friends of Marble Creek

Sites are first come-first served. Free. No garbage service – please remove all trash and litter.

Silver Mines Recreation Area - Map

Silver Mines Recreation Area, named for actual silver mines, active in the 1920s but long since played out, is located on the banks of the St. Francis River. "Whitewater" enthusiasts from around the world bring their kayaks to enjoy the challenges of the river during the White Water Festival in March and spring high water.

Trail: There is a one-mile long trail along each side of the river. From Turkey Creek Picnic Area, a 1.2 mile trail to the north leads to Millstream Garden Conservation Area, managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Campgrounds: 66 campsites, of these 9 are double sites and 1 is a group site, each with table, lantern post and fire ring. Some sites have electrical hookups available and some sites support RV and trailers up to 40 feet in length. Drinking Water and Vault Toilets are centrally located.

Picnic Area: 2 sites containing 5 picnic units, each with table and grill. Group picnic shelter accommodates upto 75 people. Has 1 large grill and 6 tables. Reservable throught www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777 for $25/day, plus a $9 - $10 reservation fee.

How to get here:

From the Fredericktown, MO exit on Hwy 67, take Hwy 72 west 4 miles to Hwy D. Go about 3 miles south on D to paved Forest Road 2510. You'll see the Forest Service sign.

Open March 10 through October 29.
Some sites can be reserved through Recreation.gov
or some sites are first come-first served basis when you arrive. Day use fee $2 per vehicle.
Camping sites have a nightly fee for single sites $8, double sites $16, and group site $25-$50.
Some electric hookup sites are available for $15/single, $30/double.

St. Francis River II - map

43.4 Hwy. C-N Bridge at Jewett. High bank but can be used as an access.
43.7 Leatherwood Creek on right.
47.4 Shelron Ford at junction of county roads 445 and 447.
51.2 Reed Bend Ford. Cannot drive to river here.
52.1 Five small caves in bluff on right.
53.5 Bald Knob on left.
55.5 Head Ford. Reached from Coldwater on County Road 302. 56.9 Cedar Creek on left. Coldwater access MDC area - Map  no developed facilities. Activities : birdwatching / camping / canoeing / fishing / hunting / 9 miles north of Hwy 34 on Hwy 67, then 5 miles west on Co. Rd 302 to the St. Francis River.80 acre area 
61.9 Spring on right. Settlement of Lodi on left.
62.4 Kelly Ford. No access.
65.2 Spur of Mudlick Mountain on right. Logan Mountain on left. 66.1 Big Creek enters on right.
66.5 Sam A. Baker State Park access and campgrounds. Water becomes slower below this point.
Wappapello Lake Wildlife Area birdwatching,camping,canoeing,fishing(bass/catfish/sunfish/white bass/walleye) hunting,hiking - 1880 acre area On Highway 34 about 2.5 miles west of Highway 67.This area has forest, old fields, and cropland. Facilities/features: primitive camping, hiking trail, designated horse trail, and 3 permanent streams (St. Francis River, Logan Creek and Clark Creek). No access to Wappapello Lake from these lands.-Map
69.8 Hwy. 34 Bridge. Access.COE Area with gravel bar/parking lot/river access fishing(bass,white bass,sunfish,walleye)
71.2 Clark Creek on right.
73.4 Hubble Creek on left.
75.4 Hwy. 67 runs near left bank.
76.4 Lake Creek on right. Access and campground.
78.6 Hwy. 67 Bridge. Last access before Lake Wappapello. Greenville Recreation Area on right. Parking lor on left just below bridge. Dam is 18 miles across the lake.

 

Missouri's Big Creek

This St. Francis River tributary is only floatable in spring and early summer. The Big Creek Shut-ins are one of the main features of Sam A. Baker State Park and are worth seeing by boat when there is sufficient water.

Big Creek - Mile-By-Mile Description - map

0.0 Hwy. K.
2.2 Hwy. 49 Bridge. Section to Des Arc is fast but has some shallow pools. This part is a high-water float only. A railroad parallels the creek to Vulcan.
7.9 Hwy. 143 Bridge. Good access.
10.1 Paved ford. Portage.
11.1 Shut-ins between two hills.
12.2 The Battery, a group of cottages at the site of an old bridge, 2 miles south of Brunot. Spring just above bridge.
12.9 Big Creek Shut-ins begin. Run is beautiful and not ordinarily dangerous. A couple of rapids require caution.
13.9 Crane Pond Creek on left.
15.9 Shut-ins open up.
17.2 Low-warer bridge in Sam A. Baker State Park. Portage. Good access bur there are a couple of fur runs below this access and other accesses downstream in the park.
19.2 Junction with St. Francis River.

Butler County

Fisk Access - Map - MDC area on St. Francis River with boat ramp / parking lot. Activities : Bird watching / canoeing / fishing . Fisk Access is east of Fisk on Old Highway 53.

James Clark Access - Map - MDC area on St. Francis River with slide in type ramp for canoes / parking lot. Activities : fishing / 12 acres

Dunklin County

Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area - Map - MDC Area with access to St. Francis River with concrete boat ramp / parking lot. .Activities : fishing / waterfowl hunting / trapping with permit / 1330 acres. Southwest of Kennett on Route A, turn west onto a gravel road at the MDC sign, and continue over the St. Francis River levee to the parking area.

Chalk Bluff Trail Access - Map - MDC Area on St.Francis River with Concrete boat ramp / restrooms / parking lot / activities: fishing / hiking / hunting / canoeing / bird watching. Take Hwy 62 south from Campbell, then right 3 miles on Co. Rd 232, and left 1.25 miles on Co. Rd 228 to St. Francis River.

Wilhelmina Conservation Area -Map - MDC area on St. Francis Rver with parking lot. Activities : bird watching / camping / canoeing / fishing / hunting / 1475 acres. The entrance to the main tract is in Dunklin County north of Campbell on Highway 53, then 4.5 miles left on Route DD and left again on County Road 203.