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| Ozark Jewels |
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| Missouri overflows with great collection of springs | ||||||
| Bubbling up from below the surface, springs can be found throughout Missouri, feeding the state’s rivers, streams and lakes and satisfying our thirst for outdoor adventures. Missouri has thousands of springs welling up from the ground, many of which are located in the southern half of the state. Some roar violently from fissures in the earth, and others rise silently, almost imperceptibly, into seemingly still pools. In fact, the Ozark Highlands of southeastern Missouri is home to the world’s largest collection of “first magnitude” springs, those that emit more than 65 million gallons of water daily. The springs are fascinating–and beautiful–sights for outdoor enthusiasts. The limestone that is often dissolved by the spring, along with the influence of the spring’s depth and the sky overhead, often give the water a bluish cast. Whether it is the spectacular scene of a giant spring flowing from the base of a towering bluff or the cool air around the spring on a hot summer day, people have always been attracted to these sparkling “Jewels of the Ozarks.” Though many can be found, the following few are good examples of the different types of springs you can experience. Ozark Riverways The Ozark National Scenic Riverways was created by the U.S. Congress in 1964 to preserve the clean and clear waters of the Current and Jack’s Fork rivers, two of the state’s most pristine. Yet if it weren’t for the seven major springs and many more smaller ones in the area, there wouldn’t be much to preserve. In fact, the springs provide more than 60 percent of the rivers’ flow. The largest of those springs is the aptly named Big Spring, the largest in the state and one of the biggest in the world. Located near Van Buren, the spring gushes forth with approximately 276 million gallons of water per day from subterranean passages at the base of a dolomite bluff, swelling the nearby Current River. In addition to a beautiful campground, the site features rustic cabins and a lodge built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The lodge is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Also, float trips on the Current River are available from outfitters in nearby Van Buren. Also feeding the Current River is Round Spring, located farther up the river north of Eminence. Protected by the National Park Service as well, the spring flows into an almost perfectly circular cavern that has collapsed, and from there it travels through a natural tunnel before it emerges into the river. About 26 million gallons of water flow through the huge bluish pool each day. The site features a campground and tours of the nearby Round Spring Cave during the summer. Yet perhaps the most engaging spring in the region is Alley Spring, located just west of Eminence. The fertile valley and large, flowing spring have been a gathering place for 10,000 years. Native Americans appreciated the steady reliable flow of the spring in the 1700s, and later in the mid-1800s, a mill on the spring became the focus of a community of settlers. The striking red mill that’s located near the spring today was built in 1894. With a turbine and steel rollers, the mill served the needs of the local community by processing the farmers’ grain. The inside of the mill is open to visitors from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and guests can see old milling equipment. For additional information, call (573) 226-3945. For a great view of the mill, take a short walk to the far side of the spring. Rocky bluffs surround the 60-foot spring pool, which virtually glows with a turquoise hue. The spring branch flows for a half mile before entering the Jack’s Fork River. An average of 81 million gallons of water per day pass the mill on the way to the river. In addition, two nature trails are located near the spring, a 1.5-mile trail offers a scenic view, and a .3-mile trail passes bluffs and the spring branch. Nearby is a campground and historic one-room schoolhouse. Other springs of note in the region include Blue Spring, Pulltite Spring and Welch Spring. For more information about any of the springs in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, call (573) 323-4236, or visit www.nps.gov/ozar. Angling for trout The cold waters that emerge from springs provide the perfect temperature for trout to thrive, and several Missouri streams fed by springs offer exceptional catch-and-keep fishing opportunities from March 1 to Oct. 31. In the mid-1800s, settlers found Bennett Spring near Lebanon in southwest Missouri to be an ideal spot for grist and flour mills, especially because it had a daily flow of 100 million gallons. The spring valley became a popular camping ground for farmers while waiting for their grain to be ground at the Bennett mill, and to pass time the campers would fish and hunt. While the mill is no longer there, the fishing is more popular than ever. Today, Bennett Spring State Park is one of the prettiest places in the state to angle for rainbow trout. The spring itself, the fourth largest in the state, emerges in a basin that is 50 feet in diameter. From there, the spring branch meanders through the park until it merges with the Niangua River, a popular float stream. The 3,100-acre park offers ample opportunities for camping, swimming and hiking, along with fishing. Plus, a nature center offers exhibits about Missouri’s springs and the natural environment. The park also contains vestiges of the CCC, which built cabins, shelter houses, roads and a beautiful arched bridge over the spring branch in the 1930s. The most striking example of what the CCC left behind is the rustic dining lodge with stone walls, beamed ceilings and blacksmith-made iron chandeliers with a trout motif. For more details, call (417) 532-4338, or visit www.mostateparks.com. Another park where you can angle for trout is Maramec Spring Park near St. James, a private park run by the James Foundation. The park’s centerpiece is Maramec Spring, which emits an average of 100 million gallons of water a day. Gushing from beneath a huge cliff into a large pool, the spring is the fifth largest in Missouri. In addition to fishing in the Meramec River that flows through the park, the 1,860-acre property offers a variety of other diversions. There are several trails in the park. One self-guided trail helps visitors understand the history of the Maramec Iron Works, which supplied iron for kettles, plows and other utensils, and later for gunboats and cannonballs during the Civil War. Also, two museums in the park provide insight into the history of the region. The Maramec Museum houses natural and cultural exhibits, featuring a 21-foot bluff, waterfall and 500-gallon aquarium. And the Agriculture Museum exhibits antique farm machinery dating to the 1800s. For more details, call (573) 265-7387, or visit http://tigernet.missouri.org/~tjf/ spring.html. To see the headwaters of the Current River, head to Montauk State Park near Salem, another good trout park. The park’s springs and the tiny Pigeon Creek combine to supply 43 million gallons of water to the river each day. Like at many other springs, the clear, fast water in Montauk State Park once attracted settlers who built mills along the river bank. A total of four mills served the community of Montauk at various times, and the last one built in 1896 still stands. After catching the limit of trout, visitors can hike one of two trails or have a meal in the dining lodge. Overnight guests can camp or stay in a cabin or motel. For more details, call (573) 548-2201, or visit www.mostateparks.com. A fourth trout park, Roaring River State Park, also offers great fishing and outstanding views. With a narrow valley, mountainous terrain and deep blue spring, the scenery is breathtaking. The Roaring River Spring originates in a deep canyonlike gorge beneath a cliff, and a trickling flow of water falls from the bluff into a deep blue pool below. An average of 20 million gallons of water gush from the spring daily. Located in far southwest Missouri, the 3,403-acre park has an interesting history. In 1928, St. Louis businessman Thomas Sayman purchased much of the land that makes up the park and donated it to the state. And the CCC built many of the park’s buildings in the 1930s. For those who don’t fish, there’s more than 10 miles of trails through the park. Guests can rent bicycles for exploring or cool off in a swimming pool. And the Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center offers interpretive displays on the park’s natural history. The park has more than 180 campsites, and there are 26 secluded rustic cabins. Also, the Roaring River Inn and Conference Center houses 26 guest rooms and kitchenette suites, a restaurant and meeting rooms. For details, call (417) 847-2539, or visit www.mostateparks.com. Whether you enjoy fishing, hiking or just exploring nature, Missouri’s springs are a sparkling choice for any outdoor enthusiast. |
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Copyright © 1999 - 2007 AAA Traveler Magazine | 12901 N. Forty Dr. | St. Louis, MO 63141 |
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