Autumn in Missouri means it's time for our family's annual float trip on the Current River in Eminence, and a weekend of glamping at Echo Bluff State Park to visit the wild horses, hike, bike, and explore.
Over the years, we've canoed many rivers in Missouri, but the Current is our favorite.
Missouri's Current River is great for kids and families.
Our four girls grew up camping and canoeing with our family. Autumn on the Current River is not only scenic, but it is peaceful and easy for beginning paddlers. We loved introducing our girls to family canoe trips on this clean, calm, easy float trip. After more than a decade of float trips, we've only had one canoe tip (and I still think it had to do with the balance of a grown man, a loaded cooler, and a petite girl). With proper lifejackets, experience, and care no one was injured and it is now part of our family lore.
Over the years, we have canoed with multiple outfitters, but Carr's Canoe Rental is our favorite. We appreciate their friendly, safe transportation to and from our spot. Choose a route based on what you want to see.
You can explore a cave on a canoe trip.
If you float Round Spring to Pulltite you can explore Merritt Rock Cave. We bring tennis shoes and flashlights. Bats and snakes do live in the caves. Don't touch or bother them as you're visiting their habitat.
We always find wildlife.
Over the years, our family has observed otters, fish, snakes, bald eagles, deer, raccoons, turtles, tadpoles, frogs, woodpeckers, bats, crawdads, and more. The kids love finding crawdads when we stop at a bank for lunch.
You can visit Welch Hospital Ruins.
TheWelch Hospital Ruins and the nearby cave and springs are a favorite pitstop on the Current River. In 1913, an Illinois doctor purchased Welch Springs believing the water had healing properties for asthma, tuberculosis, and other ailments. While the area is scenic and beautiful, the rugged inaccessible roads made it difficult to get to the hospital for treatments, and the facility failed to find success. When the doctor died in 1940, his family closed the operation. The building came to ruin and now the ruins are accessible from the river.
One of our favorite hikes at Round Spring.
One of our favorite hikes is at Round Spring. We follow a short trail back to an old cabin and the spring where we've observed otters, eagles, and turtles.
There are many springs along the river.
Round Spring, Pultite Spring, Blue Spring, and Fire Hydrant Spring offer beautiful stops along the river. Because the river is spring-fed, the water remains a fairly consistent 60°F year-round.
The autumn scenery never disappoints.
Over the years, we've floated this river in the spring, summer, and fall. Autumn is our favorite, but each trip has been memorable and fun. We love that weekdays and fall seem to be more family-friendly and pleasant. We love enjoying the wildlife, the fall foliage, the scenery, and the memories.
Bonus: This is the view from Echo Bluff State Park
Echo Bluff State Park is our favorite place to enjoy glamping in Missouri during our annual Current River family trip.
Here are 7 reasons we LOVE staying at Echo Bluff State Park.
They offer ideal lodging for everyone! You may tent camp, stay in an RV, rent a hotel room in the beautiful lodge, or rent a fully equipped cabin (ranging from 1-4 bedrooms, accessible or non-accessible, with options for everyone). Our family chooses three nights in a three bedroom cabin.
There is so much to do. We spend one entire day canoeing, and spend the rest of the time hiking, biking, exploring the sites like Alley Mill, Rocky Falls and Peck Ranch an elk preserve. We always plan a themed family night for either a talent show, an interactive murder mystery, or a themed movie night.
The Views: We love stargazing at night, wildlife viewing, and the scenery from the trees, river and bluff.
Wild Horses! Learn more about this state park and the wild horses of Shannon County that live there here.
Food options: We choose to cook our own meals in our cabin. The girls love bring-your-own appetizer night for an app buffet. iIf you'd rather not cook, the restaurant at Betty Lea Lodge offers a great selection for all three meals. And, the lodge provides a complimentary continental breakfast. The gift shop in the lodge also offers standard camping groceries (we purchase ice cream there) for simple items like s'mores, snacks, hot dogs, and the like. Tim's Bestway Foods and Dollar General in Eminence are additional grocery options. Likewise, you'll find several locally owned restaurants in town.
Fun options provided by the State Park: Bike rental is available at the lodge. They also have a free library of board games and books, a beautiful lobby with a fireplace, tables, and sofa, as well as a large deck with rocking chairs and picnic tables overlooking the bluff. The large firepit behind the lodge is a favorite gathering spot for nighttime s'mores and music. And, ranger programs and special events are offered throughout the year as well.
Holidays at the Park: Our girls have enjoyed trick-or-treating around the park during Halloween and a cabin decorating contest. We have enjoyed a fall craft fair as well. Throughout the year, they offer Thanksgiving and Christmas specials and other fun holiday or seasonal events. Here are some fun photos from the cabin decorating contest we won during Halloween 2020:
Start planning your Eminence, Missouri getaway:
Recommended Reading:
This book is my favorite reference for Missouri's State Parks. Written by four skilled writers and lifelong conservationists, this beautiful book showcases the captivating history, beauty, and recreational importance of Missouri's state park system, which is ranked among the top four nationwide. The book includes hundreds of photographs and provides details on all 88 state parks and historic sites, featuring the nation's longest developed rails-to-trail project, homes of notable Missourians, Civil War battlefields, and other historical landmarks such as mills and covered bridges. The authors narrate the complete story of the park system, from its beginning in 1917 to the newest state park established in 2015, covering much of Missouri's history and its scenic and diverse landscape.
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