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Jacks Fork / Middle Current Backcountry Campsites

Overview

Jacks Fork / Middle Current Backcountry Campsites will be reservable in advance beginning October 1st, 2025. If calling the Recreation.gov Call Center to make your reservation, please state the campsite you are wanting to reserve is in the “Jacks Fork/Middle Current District” of Ozark National Scenic Riverways and then state the campground and site number. Please download the Recreation.gov app before starting your journey to the backcountry sites, as cell service can be limited or simply non existent in these remote areas of the park.

Within Ozark National Scenic Riverways, a "backcountry campground" refers to campgrounds with some basic amenities, but not as many as developed campgrounds. All backcountry sites have picnic tables, fire rings, lantern posts, and vault toilets. 

These campgrounds may have fewer amenities, but they are some of the most beautiful locations in the park. Certain sites are located right on the river's edge, allowing quick water access. Some sites are far away from other campers, giving you a chance to enjoy natural peace and quiet. If you crave a camping experience that is off the beaten path, these are the sites for you! 

Keep in mind that these campgrounds are often harder to reach due to their location. Most backcountry sites require driving down gravel roads. Some roads are unsuitable for vehicles with low clearance.  

Horse camping is not allowed within ONSR.  Trail riders who desire to camp should contact local campgrounds with stables.  Day trail riders can park horse trailers during daylight hours at Shawnee Staging Area and Broadfoot Staging Area.

Recreation

The river flows past the campground, offering excellent canoeing, tubing, swimming and fishing. Over 130 miles (209 km) of waterways exist within the park. Canoe and kayak rentals and outfitters can be found nearby.

Several miles of hiking and horseback riding trails crisscross the region, include the Alley Overlook Trail, Chubb Hollow Trail, Ozark Trail, Cave Spring Trail and Big Springs Trail.

Facilities

This campground has vault toilets available. Picnic tables, fire rings, and lantern posts are provided.

Natural Features

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways is known for its caves, springs, sinkholes and losing streams, and features over 300 identified caves within its boundaries. The caves range in size from a rock overhang to almost seven miles of identified passages. Eight caves, including an open sinkhole, have been designated as outstanding natural features.

The Ozark forest is mostly White oak and Shortleaf pine, Missouri's only native pine species. Along the rivers, Sycamore, Cottonwood, River birch and maples are common.

Redbud and dogwoods are also abundant, putting on a spectacular show during most spring months.

Nearby Attractions

Round Spring Cave is nearby, with ranger-guided tours offered daily during summer months. Historic and picturesque Alley Mill and Alley Spring are also nearby. The mill is open daily in the summer and ranger-guided tours are available upon request.

Scenic Big Spring is the largest freshwater spring in North America and produces an outflow of 280 million gallons a day.

Charges & Cancellations

With the backcountry sites now utilizing the Recreation.gov Scan and Pay system, there will not be any capability for changes and refunds. If you are unsure of your plans, please pay one night at a time.

Camp site features

Across 52 camp sites:

  • Fire pit: 3 of 52 sites
  • Pets allowed: all 52 sites
  • Longest rig: 50 ft
  • Largest party: 6 people

Fees

Backcountry campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Campers simply select their site, set up their tent/RV, then proceed to the bulletin board for payment. Upper Current District Backcountry Campsites will be reservable in advance beginning October 1st, 2025. Until then, all backcountry sites are payable upon arrival using Scan & Pay on your mobile device until September 30th, 2025. Please download the Recreation.gov app before starting your journey to the backcountry sites, as cell service can be limited or simply non existent in these remote areas of the park. Beginning April 15, 2025, backcountry sites will require a fee year-round. Payment is only accepted through Scan & Pay, via the Recreation.gov app until October 1st, 2025 at which time all backcountry sites will be reservable on Recreation.gov website, app or by calling 1-877-444-6777.

Directions

**_POWDER MILL:_** **Physical Address** NPS Road 509 Eminence Township, MO 63638 **Directions** Powder Mill can be found 13.5 miles east of Eminence, MO. From Eminence, drive east on Highway 106. After roughly 13 miles, you will cross a bridge over the Current River. After the bridge, take the first right towards the Powder Mill Campground. Drive down the side road until you find a large grass field; this field is the campground. **_LOG YARD:_** **Physical Address** County Road 555 Winona Township, MO 63638 **Directions** Log Yard is located about 30 minutes from Eminence, MO. Starting in Eminence, head east on State Highway 106. After 16.25 miles, turn south onto Highway HH. Stay on HH for about 6 miles, until it dead-ends into County Road 555. Turn west and follow the gravel road until you reach the campground (less than a mile). This route requires driving on gravel roads for less than one mile. **_BAY CREEK:_** **Physical Address** County Road 106-425 Summersville, MO 65571 **Directions** Starting in Eminence, drive west on Highway 106. After about 9.7 miles, turn left onto County Road 106-425. Stay straight on the main path as it heads into the woods. Follow the gravel road for just over 2 miles, until it runs into Bay Creek. This route requires driving on gravel roads for about 2 miles. **_BLUE SPRING and BAPTIZING HOLE (JACKS FORK):_** **Physical Address** County Road OO-493 Mountain View, MO 65548 **Directions** Blue Spring Campground is located about 15 minutes from Mountain View, MO. Starting in Mountain View, drive east on Highway 60. After 3 miles, turn left onto Highway OO. Drive north on Highway OO for about 2.5 miles. After a large bend in the road, it will intersect with County Road OO-493. Take the left turn onto OO-493. Follow the main path for about 2 miles, after which it will dead-end into Blue Spring Campground. This route requires driving on gravel roads for about 2 miles. (Baptizing Hole is located on a spur of OO-493 on the right, just before you drop down into Blue Spring campground). **_BACHERS:_** **Physical Address** County Road 493B Mountain View, MO 65548 **Directions** Bachers Campground is located about 20 minutes from Mountain View, MO. This route follows gravel roads for 3 miles. High clearance is recommended. Starting in Mountain View, drive east on Highway 60. After 3 miles, turn left onto Highway OO. Drive north on Highway OO for about 2.5 miles. After a large bend in the road, it will intersect with County Road OO-493. Take the left turn onto OO-493. Follow the main path for about 1.4 miles, then turn right onto 493B. Follow this road for 1.6 miles to Bachers. Please note that there is only 1 campsite located at Bachers. **_RYMERS_** : **Physical Address** County Road M-471 Birch Tree, MO 65438 **Directions** Rymers Campground is roughly 20 minutes from Birch Tree, Missouri. This route requires driving on rough, narrow gravel roads for about 2.5 miles. High clearance is recommended. Starting in Birch Tree, head west on Highway 60. After 4 miles, turn north onto State Highway M. Stay on this road for 1.5 miles, then take the right turn to stay on M. After another 2 miles, the road will turn to gravel - this is County Road M-471. Stay on the main path until you reach Rymers Campground, about 2.5 miles away. **_SHAWNEE:_** **Physical Address** County Road 106-211 Eminence, MO 65466 **Directions** Shawnee Creek Campground is located roughly 12 minutes from Eminence, MO. Starting in Eminence, head east on Highway 106. After 3 miles, you will cross a bridge over Shawnee Creek. Take the next left onto County Road 106-211. Follow this road for about 2 miles, at which point it will dead-end into Shawnee Creek Campground. This route requires driving on gravel roads for about 2 miles. The horse staging area is near the intersection just before the campground.

Stay Limit

Check in from 1 PM, check out by 12 PM.

Reviews

Ratings (26)
5 stars
11
4 stars
11
3 stars
3
1 stars
1
Stephanie D
Loop:Bachers Campground
Reviewed 21 hours ago
Campground was perfect. Clean, someone had stocked some fire wood, was super easy to find. Had no problems with the visitors before and after us. River access was clean and beautiful. Was best spot and most perfect camping trip ever!
Maya V
Loop:Bay Creek Campground
Reviewed 13 days ago
My family and our service dog were attacked by a vicious, rescued Pitbull/Lab mix. A small boy, around 6 years old was on a small bicycle leading a dog on a flimsy leash. The boy stopped in front of our campsite's driveway, directed an unusual stare towards me and as his dog tugged on a leash, he released and his dog attacked me and our 1-year-old, much smaller puppy. Our 45 lbs puppy was tied to a park bench far away from the road, and on a 5 ft steel chain made for dogs up to 125 lbs. He couldn't fight back properly, but he did his best to protect us. Mauling lasted at least two minutes, but it felt like 20, and not a single person helped. The owner slowly came over and just stood there staring as my daughters and I screamed at him to do something. My daughter threw his leash at him that was laying on the ground, and he finally restrained his dog. Park rangers (NPS) gave them no tickets, saw no problem with the fact they put in serious danger their own little child, caused injuries to me, my daughter and my dog, damaged my service animal (he is now fearful of even tiny dogs), and caused severe emotional distress and trauma to all of us, including my 8-year-old. NPS rangers and the campground's Host did not ask them to leave, and they went for a walk with the dog and swimming. Bloodied and limping, we packed as fast as we could. NPS rangers told us if we aren't packed up in time, and we haven't paid for another night, they will charge me with stealing from NPS. I believe the attack was deliberate and fueled by racism. We won't be back, and we used to spend weeks every summer at that campground. This is a dangerous time for immigrants and others to be in this area, so please be careful.
Jody B
Loop:Baptizing Hole Campground
Reviewed 22 days ago
I hate to even say it for fear that this will become a super popular spot and I won’t be able to reserve it anymore, but this place was awesome! Beautiful campsite with easy private river access.
Jessica R
Loop:Rymers Campground
Reviewed a month ago
Rymers Campground with 3 sites very secluded and spread out. Has vaulted toilet and boat launching. I definitely would camp here again. Seen a black bear. Black bear didn't disturb us just walked by like it had somewhere to go. Spent two nights here.
Jess W
Loop:Baptizing Hole Campground
Reviewed a month ago
Beautiful site. Excellent view of the river and the bluffs. There is no pit toilet at this site, however.
Stephanie C
Loop:Bay Creek Campground
Reviewed a month ago
I Love camping on the Jacks Fork river at Bay Creek, we have been camping here for a long time. Just know that it's a popular put in site and if you're trying to set on the gravel bar to enjoy your Saturday, it's gonna be very busy and crowded. I had to move my chair several times to accommodate floaters getting in and out of the water
Robert H
Loop:Baptizing Hole Campground
Reviewed a month ago
Nice to be able to reserve online
Erica G
Loop:Blue Spring Campground
Reviewed 2 months ago
As far as the space in the location for the campsite was great but they do need to spray for ticks. Ticks were extremely bad. There were thousands of ticks everywhere even if you had bug spray on ticks were all over you we were fighting the whole time we were there even when we got home.
Allison H
Loop:Powder Mill Campground
Reviewed 2 months ago
Great stay
Kim B
Loop:Powder Mill Campground
Reviewed 2 months ago
A very relaxing weekend.
andrea b
Loop:Blue Spring Campground
Reviewed 2 months ago
We stayed at the blue spring #4. While the spot itself is absolutely beautiful, it is also the access point for foot traffic crossing through to the public areas/caves and swimming. Most people walked directly through our camp versus going around. If you are wanting privacy and less people, then this would not be ideal but other than that it was a great spot with beautiful views.
Brooke S
Loop:Bay Creek Campground
Reviewed 2 months ago
Loved the view and space at bay creek!!
Scott S
Loop:Blue Spring Campground
Reviewed 3 months ago
This campsite was spectacularly beautiful and clean. It was separate from the other sites with some privacy. The vault restroom was mostly clean and odor free.
Benjamin L
Loop:Blue Spring Campground
Reviewed 3 months ago
:)
Tom J
Loop:Powder Mill Campground
Reviewed 3 months ago
Campground was very well maintained with a good base if gravel and flat spacious sites. The cel reception was spotty, so it was hard to pay for the spot, so book before you get here. We were alone until bedtime and our new neighbors set up camp as we were falling asleep. They were quiet and considerate, but the campsites are very open and their quiet voices carried.
Amy J
Loop:Bay Creek Campground
Reviewed 3 months ago
This campground (particularly sites 7-10) was beautiful and serene. The only thing that could have made it better would be to have a vault toilet near sites 9 and 10 like there used to be. Also, the new reservation system is quite problematic if you only find out about it after you arrive at the campground and then have to go back out to the main road to get enough cell reception to access the site or app.
Tracy R
Loop:Bay Creek Campground
Reviewed 3 months ago
Love how secluded it is.
Anna D
Loop:Powder Mill Campground
Reviewed 4 months ago
Beautiful side by side campsites along the river. I can see how it will get busy in the summer. We camped in March during off-season and it is still required to pay for the sites now. The restrooms are not open, im assuming until open season. Looks like some construction is going to happen, and park rangers did stop by to keep an eye on things
Kirk H
Loop:Powder Mill Campground
Reviewed 8 months ago
Rustic campground with generally level sites. Vault toilet. No electric, water or sewer hookups for RV's. Lots of bald eagles hunting along the river.
Kirk H
Loop:Powder Mill Campground
Reviewed 8 months ago
Powder Mill Campground has long been a favorite location. Very rustic, with only a vault toilet, no electric, water or sewer hookups for an RV. Vehicle access to the landing at the Current River is very helpful for launching & loading canoes/kayaks. Note: NO internet or cell service here, so use of the new online reservation system is not possible.
min r
Loop:Bay Creek Campground
Reviewed 9 months ago
Awesome view and clear water, worth it to be there.
Evan S
Loop:Blue Spring and Baptizing Hole Campgrounds
Reviewed 10 months ago
Although I think the new system of having to show up to the site to claim it instead of being able to reserve ahead of time is absolutely crazy, we lucked out on an open site. This is a great spot to wake up at. We chose the bigger site just slightly down river from the first the parking with lots of sand and a big flat area surrounded by trees. Was clean and quiet and had the place to ourselves most of the time. Being a back country site I feel this should be a free site, especially since it lacks fire rings, although there are tables and a bathroom. However, it’s worth the $10 and we had a group of 7. Will stay here again.
BRANDY P
Loop:Powder Mill Campground
Reviewed 10 months ago
We have been coming here for years and have enjoyed it but this new paying after you arrive is horrible especially after you drive for 3 hours to get here and have only 1 spot open. This needs to be like all others and make reservations here also.
Jennifer E
Loop:Log Yard Campground
Reviewed a year ago
Camp here every year and will continue.
James L
Loop:Shawnee Creek Campground
Reviewed a year ago
Good campground
Dallas Z
Loop:Blue Spring and Baptizing Hole Campgrounds
Reviewed a year ago
Camped at spot two. Was a decent back country spot. Only downside was the primitive bathroom was up wind and so we were smelling that for the duration of the stay. Rest of the area was beautiful. Campground plot was fairly well maintained.
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Availability

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Location
404 Watercress Drive
Van Buren, MO 63965

Camp Sites