by Don Corrigan
Most Missouri outdoor enthusiasts know the joy of a canoe, kayak or tubing trip down the clear, flowing, pristine rivers of the Ozarks. Did I mention that these Ozark waters are cold!
On a sweltering day, a short swim in the icy waters can shock a hot, sweaty body back to a much cooler reality. And, a river-cooled view of the world can last several hours – before another dunking is required.
Emery Styron, who once published The River Hills Traveler, sold the paper and now lives in Iowa City. Nevertheless, he comes back down to the heart of Missouri for a plunge in the Ozark rivers several times a year.
As one of his trusted nature writers from his River Hills Traveler past, I sometimes join him for a float down the Current River or down the Jacks Fork. The two rivers meet up at Twin Rivers east of Eminence.
When we go down the Current, we invariably stay at Echo Bluff State Park and pass Round Spring Caverns on the way to Twin Rivers. Round Spring Caverns has the “natural graffiti” of red clay and sparkly minerals that decorate its interiors.
When we go down the Jacks Fork, we invariably stay at the Shady Lane Cabins. Nearby Windy’s Canoe Rentals drives us far up river. On the way back down, we make stops at Alley Spring and some of the bat caves along the way to Twin Rivers.
This spring, the rivers were high and powerful from some torrential rains and notable thunderstorms. High winds felled trees along the river banks and into the rivers. All this adds to river navigation challenges.
If you go for a float on the rivers this summer, be aware of changeable weather conditions and how they affect the streams and tributaries. Also, do not fail to visit the many beautiful Ozark nature sites along or near the rivers.
Two nature site pilgrimages that Emery Styron and I make on our annual Ozark river celebrations are at Rocky Falls and at Blue Spring. Both of these sites are more user-friendly compared to when I first visited them decades ago.
Some of my visits were for profiles in my 2007 book, “Show Me…Natural Wonders: A Guide To Scenic Treasures In The Missouri Region.” Rocky Falls and Blue Spring are as terrific now as nature sites as they were when I first started floating the rivers.
• Rocky Falls is a shut-in with great rock formations and craggy cliffs. It’s also a perfect home for fascinating creatures. Keep in mind that the critters are better equipped to climb and traverse the falls than you. Be careful.
The spring rains this year made Rocky Falls a sight to behold. Swift waters cascade down boulders of pink rhyolite and purple porphyry. A swarm of visiting dragonflies give the site a magical quality.
• Blue Spring is one of literally hundreds of Ozark springs that range from mammoth to miniscule. It’s almost an impossibility to find a spring with waters as blue as this one. It’s hue is attributed to the spring’s depth. Is there a bottom?
The Osage Tribe dubbed this bluish fountain flowing from the Earth as the “Spring of the Summer Sky.” The active spring was once a favored site for Osage encampments under a summer sky or a winter moon.
For travel directions and more information on Rocky Falls, Blue Spring and almost 100 other outdoor sites check out, “Show Me…Natural Wonders: A Guide To Scenic Treasures In The Missouri Region,” from Reedy Press in St. Louis.
Environmental Echo 