By Todd Wilkinson Volunteers hard at work during a May cleanup of the Finley River, organized by James River Basin Partnership and the City of Ozark, Mo. I learned to kayak on the Upper Current. My job frequently finds me underway on the James. But the Finley is my “fun” river. One Legend says the Finley…
Report shows visitor spending supports 886 jobs in local economy A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 1,328,773 visitors to Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR) in 2021 spent $64,433,000 in communities near the park. That spending supported 886 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy…
By Brent Stock If you’ve spent any amount of time on the water or recreating on our public lands over the last two years, you’ve surely noticed an uptick in the number of folks out enjoying our beloved outdoor playgrounds. The global pandemic led to empty shelves at our local tackle shops, a one-year backlog…
As someone with a deep affection for Missouri’s Big Piney River, it’s no shock to me that Liberty Life Park stands by their motto, “A little piece of heaven right here on earth.” Paul and Melissa Wood are working to make Liberty Life Park a location that can fulfill many needs on the banks of…
Ryan Snider With an abundance of rivers to choose from for an enjoyable float, picking just one to feature is a daunting task for me. That’s why I decided to poll a variety of people from different walks of life. I asked them this question: “Which river in Missouri is your favorite to float and…
Have you completed the Current River Challenge yet? I did last October. It took me almost two years to do it, but I finally finished it. For those who may not be familiar with it, the challenge consists of two 4-mile hikes from Round Spring to Echo Bluff State Park, and then from Echo Bluff…
Like many of you who read the River Hills Traveler, I am a devoted advocate of float fishing from a canoe. A few years ago I added a much- appreciated accessory — a side-mounted bracket, a trolling motor and two rechargeable small, lightweight batteries. I have been floating Ozark rivers for over 50 years. Naturally…
Tucked way down south in the bottom of the state is a jewel among jewels — the Current River. Specifically, the stretch of river between Van Buren and Doniphan. If you were to calculate the amount of water that emerges from all the springs that dump into this section of the river, one would need…
