Sunset picture with high vantage point overlooking river with fall colors and sun setting in distanc
Ozark National Scenic Riverways has some spectacular scenery. Brock Davis

Ozark National Scenic Riverways

Federal Recreation Area · Missouri · National Park Service

Ozark National Scenic Riverways is the first national park area to protect a river system. The Current and Jacks Fork rivers are two of the finest floating rivers found anywhere. Spring-fed, cold and clear: they are a delight to canoe, swim, boat, or fish. Besides these two famous rivers, the park is home to hundreds of freshwater springs, caves, trails, and historic sites such as Alley Mill.

Plan your visit

Know before you go

Phone
(573) 323-4236
Official site
www.nps.gov
Managed by
National Park Service

Getting there

Directions on Google Maps →

What's here

Highlights: Archeology · Colonization and Settlement · Dams · Farming and Agriculture · Ranches · Great Depression · Industry · Mills · Logging and Timber Cutting · Schools and Education · Tragic Events · Catastrophic Fires · Floods · Wars and Conflicts · Civil War · Westward Expansion · Homesteading · Animals · Birds · Cats (wild) · Fish · Horses (wild) · Tortoises and Turtles · Caves, Caverns and Karst · Fire · Forests and Woodlands · Coniferous Forests · Deciduous Forests · Geology · Groundwater · Aquifers · Freshwater Springs · Mountains · Natural Sounds · Night Sky · River and Riparian · Rock Landscapes and Features · Scenic Views · Unique Species · Rare · Endangered · Watersheds · Wilderness

Activities & features: Auto and ATV · Scenic Driving · Astronomy · Stargazing · Boating · Motorized Boating · Camping · Backcountry Camping · Canoe or Kayak Camping · Car or Front Country Camping · Group Camping · RV Camping · Caving · Fishing · Freshwater Fishing · Fly Fishing · Guided Tours · Hiking · Backcountry Hiking · Front-Country Hiking · Horse Trekking · Horseback Riding · Hunting and Gathering · Gathering and Foraging · Hunting · Paddling · Canoeing · Kayaking · Stand Up Paddleboarding · Junior Ranger Program · Playground · Tubing · River Tubing · Swimming · Freshwater Swimming · Wildlife Watching · Birdwatching · Park Film · Shopping · Bookstore and Park Store · Gift Shop and Souvenirs

Photos

  • A rocky "shut-in" with a modest waterfall.
    NPS Photo / Wil Marischen
  • A woman paddles down a river while wearing a personal flotation device.
    Courtesy of Wil Marischen
  • fall colors on leaves of trees surrounding a creek with an old wooden mill on the right
    NPS Photo
  • a red mill with snow on roof with a stream emanating from it.
    NPS Photo
  • brown rocks with water flowing over like a waterfall
    NPS Photo
  • A sunrise photo with blue turbulent water and a algae colored rock with trees overhanging
    NPS Photo
  • looking down through large brown/grey/purple boulders with creek in middle and forest in distance
    NPS Photo/JoAnn Miller
  • A red canoe on gravel bar with clear blue stream behind and green forest
    NPS Photo/JoAnn Miller

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91 parks mapped in Missouri

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Sources: National Park Service, Google Places · updated 2026-08-12