TheGasconade River is about 280 miles (450 km) long[1] and is located in central and south-centralMissouri.[2][3]
The Gasconade River begins in theOzarks southwest ofHartville inWright County and flows generally north-northeastwardly through Wright,Laclede,Pulaski,Phelps,Maries,Osage andGasconade counties, through portions of theMark Twain National Forest. It flows into theMissouri River near the town ofGasconade in Gasconade County.[4][3][5] AtRich Fountain, the river has a mean annual discharge of 3,097 cubic feet per second.[6]
The name Gasconade is derived from "Gascon", an inhabitant of the French region ofGascony.[7] The people of that province were noted for their boastfulness. It was applied by the early French to the Indians living on its banks who bragged about their exploits. The name means to boast or brag, and thus the river received its name. The waters of the river are boisterous and boastful and the name is also descriptive.[8]
The headwaters of the Gasconade are in the southeastern corner ofWebster County northeast ofSeymour, Missouri where it drains the eastern margin of theSpringfield Plateau at approximately37°11′54″N92°41′44″W / 37.19833°N 92.69556°W /37.19833; -92.69556.[9] The river joins the Missouri River at the city ofGasconade at38°40′28″N91°32′55″W / 38.67444°N 91.54861°W /38.67444; -91.54861.[10] The river follows a meandering course through theOrdovician agedolomite andsandstone bedrock of the OzarkSalem Plateau creating spectacular bluffs andincised meanders along the way.[11] Numeroussprings andcaves occur within the drainage area and along theriver course. Significant tributaries include theOsage Fork of Webster and Laclede counties andRoubidoux Creek andBig Piney River ofTexas and Pulaski counties. The Roubidoux and Big Piney flow respectively along the west and east boundaries ofFort Leonard Wood which lies a short distance south and east of the Gasconade.
The plateau surface near the midpoint is 300 feet (91 metres) above the river bottom near the river midpoint northeast ofWaynesville creating scenic river bluffs.[12] At the junction with the Missouri the river bottom is about 400 feet (120 m) lower in elevation than the old plateau surface above the river.[10] The elevation of the plateau rim at the headwaters is at or above 1,600 feet (490 m) with local hilltops at over 1,700 feet (520 m) (second highest elevation in Missouri nearCedar Gap). The elevation at the confluence with the Missouri is 500 feet (150 m) giving an overall drainage basin relief of 1,200 feet (370 m).
The Gasconade River is the longest river completely within the boundary of Missouri. It has been called one of the world's crookedest rivers.[13]
It is ranked with a difficulty of I and II (seldom) by those whocanoe,kayak and float.[14] It is considered a good float stream because there's typically not a heavy congestion ofboats. It is common to go for many miles without seeing another boat.[15]
There arecaves and an abundance ofwildlife along the river and is considered a popular place byanglers for itslargemouth bass andsmallmouth bass.[15]
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