Ozark National Scenic Riverways

The clear water of the Current River is perfect for floating.
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.
Map showing location of park.
A man in a green shirt and black vest strikes hot metal with a hammer, sending sparks in all directions.
Pioneer heritage demonstrations at Alley Spring in October
Ozark cultural heritage will be highlighted at Alley Spring on October 5, 12, and 19! From 10 am to 4 pm each day, demonstrators will show off pioneer skills and traditions.
A man steps across a rocky creek in the fall.
Fall Hiking Series begins October 5 at Ozark National Scenic Riverways
As fall arrives in the Midwest, visitors to Ozark National Scenic Riverways can enjoy five unique, guided hiking adventures! All hiking activities are free to the public, and no registration is required.
A busy gravel bar by the river. Red rafts and kayaks are piled up with visitors of all ages waiting to load in them and float.
Tourism to Ozark National Scenic Riverways contributes $76.8 million to local economy Report shows visitor spending supports 908 jobs in nearby communities
A new National Park Service report shows that 1.3 million visitors to Ozark National Scenic Riverways in 2023 spent $66.8 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 908 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $76.8 million.
An old fashion color tintype postcard of big spring showing a bluff and spring pouring from the base. People are standing on the edge of the spring. Text reads: The Big Spring, Largest single spring in the World near Van Buren, Mo, in the Scenic Ozarks
Ozark National Scenic Riverways celebrates 100 years of public lands along the Current River on National Public Lands Day
Join us for National Public Lands Day on September 28 at 10 a.m. at Big Spring to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Missouri’s first state parks and the first public recreation lands in the Current River watershed. Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR) invites volunteers to help plant 100 native trees in the Big Spring area, followed by musical entertainment and volunteer appreciation courtesy of the Ozark Riverways Foundation.
A man in a hunter orange outfit smiles at the camera. A freshly-hunted deer lies in front of him.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways offers two special managed deer hunts
Ozark National Scenic Riverways will be conducting two managed deer hunts in October at Big Spring. One hunt is being held for youths, while the other is hosted for service members with permanent mobility impairments.
Sunset picture with high vantage point overlooking river with fall colors and sun setting in distanc
Photo by Brock Davis
A sunrise photo with blue turbulent water and a algae colored rock with trees overhanging
Photo by NPS Photo
a brown gravel bar with distant waterfall of water flowing down over brown rocks
Photo by NPS Photo
looking down through large brown/grey/purple boulders with creek in middle and forest in distance
Photo by NPS Photo/JoAnn Miller
A red canoe on gravel bar with clear blue stream behind and green forest
Photo by NPS Photo/JoAnn Miller
fall colors on leaves of trees surrounding a creek with an old wooden mill on the right
Photo by NPS Photo
a red mill with snow on roof with a stream emanating from it.
Photo by NPS Photo
brown rocks with water flowing over like a waterfall
Photo by NPS Photo