Ozark National Scenic Riverways - Missouri


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Ozark National Scenic Riverways
Photo of Ozark National Scenic Riverways courtesy NPS

Ozark National Scenic Riverways was created by an Act of Congress on August 24, 1964, to protect 134 miles of the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers in the Ozark Highlands of southeastern Missouri. The clean, clear waters of these two beautiful rivers provide excellent opportunities for johnboating, canoeing, swimming, fishing and tubing. Hunting is also an authorized use within the Riverways' boundaries. The landscape is predominantly rural, with broadleaf forests and occasional open fields.

The southeast Missouri Ozark Mountains are typified by narrow steep-sided hollows, numerous streams, and bluffs.

Much of the area is underlain by soluble limestone and dolomite, giving rise to sinkholes, caves, and springs of a classical karst topography. There are over 300 recorded caves within the boundaries.

Sixty per cent of the rivers' flow comes from seven major springs and 51 other springs of various sizes within the drainage basin. Big Spring, one of the largest springs in the United States, has an average flow of 276 million gallons of water per day. The maximum recorded flow in one day was 840 million gallons in June 1928.

There are 112 species of fish, 196 species of birds, and 58 species of mammals found in the park. There are also 25 species of snakes found in the park, including 4 poisonous species.

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Facilities available at Ozark National Scenic Riverways:



Ozark National Scenic Riverways website
Recreation Area Map
Park Email: bill_o'donnell@nps.gov

Phone numbers
Headquarters 573 323 4236
Headquarters (TDD) 573 323 4270
Round Spring Cave Information 573 858 3297 ext 23

Address
404 Watercress Drive
PO Box 490
Van Buren, MO 63965