| Ozark National Scenic Riverways | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
 The Ozark National Scenic Riverways (red) and the nearbyEleven Point National Wild and Scenic River (green) | |
| Location | Shannon,Carter,Dent, andTexas Counties,Missouri |
| Nearest city | Salem,Van Buren, andEminence |
| Coordinates | 37°11′27″N91°16′35″W / 37.1907°N 91.2763°W /37.1907; -91.2763 |
| Area | 80,000 acres (324 km2) |
| Established | August 27, 1964; 61 years ago (1964-08-27) |
| Visitors | 1,789,783 (in 2007) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Ozark National Scenic Riverways |
TheOzark National Scenic Riverways is a recreational unit of theNational Park Service inthe Ozarks of southernMissouri in theU.S.
The park was created by anAct of Congress in 1964 to protect theCurrent andJacks Fork rivers, and it was formally dedicated in 1971. The park's 80,000 acres (324 km2) are used for many forms of recreation and are home to abundant animal and plant species. 1.3 million recreational visits are estimated annually. Canoeing is one of the most popular activities. Kayaking and inflatable rafts and tubes add to the volume of river floaters. Motorized boating with jonboats is also a popular activity of locals and nearby Missourians. Other activities include horseback riding, hunting, hiking, fishing, camping, birdwatching,nature photography, and sightseeing.
The park service promotes the Current River as one of themidwest's best float streams, in part due to the contributions of some of the nation's largest springs. The headwaters of the Current River begin at the confluence of Pigeon Creek and Montauk Springs inMontauk State Park. Other notable springs along its course include Welch Spring, Cave Spring, Pulltite Spring, Round Spring, Fire Hydrant Spring, Ebb and Flow Spring, Blue Spring,Big Spring, and Gravel Spring. The park contains the United States' largest concentration of first magnitude springs (which are defined as having average flow of more than 100 cu ft/s (2.8 m3/s)) indolomite rock. The only comparable spring collections are the limestone springs ofNorth Florida nearGainesville and the igneous-based springs ofIdaho'sSnake River.
The park includes manycaves, including Round Spring Caverns, which offers ranger-led tours in the summer. Other notable caves include the Devils Well sink and Jam-Up Cave.[1]
The park is traversed by theOzark Trail, a popular long-distance hiking trail that passes Rocky Falls and crosses the Current River onHighway 106 at Powder Mill.
The park has resident feral horses and elk have been reintroduced on state lands nearby and are expected to eventually populate the park.
Historic sites includeAlley Spring andAlley Spring Roller Mill,Buttin Rock School,Walter Klepzig Mill and Farm,Reed Log House, Welch Hospital and manyCCC structures at Big Spring.
Facilities include campgrounds along the two rivers at Alley Spring, Round Spring, Pulltite, Two Rivers and Big Spring. There are also a number of less developed primitive campsites, and there are group sites atAkers, Round Spring, Alley[2] and Pulltite. Park rangers present campfire programs and nature hikes at the bigger campgrounds during the summer. There are also traditional craft demonstrations and free bluegrass concerts.
The park is located mostly inShannon County with parts extending intoCarter,Dent, andTexas counties. Communities surrounding the Ozark National Scenic Riverways includeEminence,Licking,Salem,Van Buren,Ellington,Bunker, andMountain View, Missouri. Administrative offices are located in Van Buren. TheBig Spring Historic District in Carter County was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1981.[3][4]
Sarvis (2002, 2000) traces the controversy over the creation of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR) in southeastern Missouri. Boasting clear rivers and spectacular landscape, the area saw a political contest for control of river recreational development between two federal agencies, theNational Park Service (NPS) and theForest Service. Local residents opposed NPS plans that included eminent domain acquisition of private property. Both agencies presented rival bills in Congress, and in 1964 the NPS plan was selected by Congress. In the long run the NPS has successfully accommodated and supervised OSNR recreation for two million visitors a year. By contrast, the Forest Service's nearby recreational activities have handled no more than 16,000 visitors yearly.[5]
In 2017, the mill was featured in theU.S. MintAmerica the Beautiful Quarters series. The design is an image of Alley Mill that was created by Ron Sanders and sculpted by Renata Gordon.[6]
& O.E. Meinzer. "The Large Springs of the United States" (USGS, 1927).
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