Camping

[pcdreams]

can anyone recommend any good camping spots in sw mo.. We're in Springfield..
We're really interested in primitive camping.. IE not tons of people around and free/low cost..


Planning to go this weekend!!!

As cold as it is around here I don't think you would have to worry too much about overcrowding this weekend! Just how primitive are you thinking? No running water, no toilet facilities, no park tables?????

[pcdreams]

that sounds perfect!!

We've done a lot of primitive camping over the years. Enjoy it (at least untill it rains for days on end)

[donsgal]

Originally Posted by pcdreams

can anyone recommend any good camping spots in sw mo.. We're in Springfield..
We're really interested in primitive camping.. IE not tons of people around and free/low cost..


Planning to go this weekend!!!

According to http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/mark...districts/ava/ camping is allowed anywhere in the forest except day use areas.

You might want to give them a call to verify this information at

Cassville Office
Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs District Office
Highway 248 East
Cassville, MO 65625
(417)847-2144
(417) 847-5294 TTY

Donsgal

[pcdreams]

Yes!! I love camping in the forest.. Really what I was after was if someone had a favorite spot to camp (that they weren't planing to use over the weekend).. I been to a lot of areas but always looking for new places to go.

[Quint]

Not particularly put if you go to :
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/

and check out their atlas section. That will give you some pretty detailed information about the various state owned areas including some relatively detailed maps of the areas.

Also you can check out the various on-line mapping sites that can give you pretty good topo maps of the areas which will even show you borders, trails, lakes, ponds, woods and stuff.

Of course if you pick up any of the good mapping software you can print your own maps or you can always order them fairly cheap too. I kinda like having good high res maps of my general stomping grounds or the places I'm going to visit on trips.

[Westwood]

Corky will chime in and let you know exactly where the camping spots are.

[Westwood]

Quint, an invitation from to locals would be to your advantage. . . . .

[beorning]

One of my absolute favorite things to do in southern missouri are canoe floats. There are tons of crystal clear rivers with chert banks to camp on (for free) You can go for a weekend or weeks, depending on your inclination. I believe the Missouri dept. of conservation puts out a booklet on float trips, and the various rivers, rapid difficulties, etcetera. My personal favorite is the jacks fork river. Here's a site for a place that does guided floats and rents canoes. I think they will help with shuttles too, if you're using your own boat. :

http://www.currentrivercanoe.com

[pcdreams]

beorning: thanks this is the area I was looking for

[beorning]

No problemo. I used to live between West Plains and Springfield. Check out Mark Twain National forest if you're more attached to foot camping and don't want to mess with boats. There are also some pretty nice rivers running through it , too.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/marktwain/