Big Spring, Ozark National Scenic Riverways

06/10/2026

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Lessons for Grades 3-8

06/08/2026

05/29/2026

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Get ready, June is National Rivers Month! Now is the time to plan what events to attend to help us celebrate Missouri's rivers and streams. Complete a Missouri Stream Team National Rivers Month Activity during the month of June and file an activity report using one of the special National Rivers Month activity codes and you can receive a limited-edition 2026 National Rivers Month sticker! To learn more and get ready to participate this June, visit our website https://www.mostreamteam.org/.

Photo features National River Months Sticker.

05/27/2026

Happy birthday Rachel Carson!

05/25/2026

05/23/2026

https://www.snakebitefoundation.org/blog/2018/9/6/how-to-survive-a-snakebite-in-the-wilderness

FIRST AND FOREMOST, DO NOT MAKE IT WORSE! DO NOT MAKE A TOURNIQUET, DO NOT CUT AND SUCK, DO NOT APPLY THE SAWYER EXTRACTOR OR OTHER COMMERCIAL “SNAKEBITE KITS”, DO NOT ELECTROCUTE YOURSELF WITH A STUN GUN, AND DO NOT FOLLOW ANY STRANGE RECOMMENDATIONS YOU RECEIVE FROM OTHER HIKERS ON THE TRAIL. ...

05/22/2026

Great information on how to reserve a backcountry campsite.

Memorial Day Weekend is upon us, and that means that summer will soon be in full swing! If you're planning a trip and are looking for a smaller, more rustic campground, then you might be interested in one of our backcountry campgrounds, but reserving one of these sites has a few extra steps.

First, all backcountry sites are now reservable (including same day) through https://recreation.gov, but they can be hard to find using the search feature on the home page. Instead of searching the name of the backcountry campground you're looking for, search "Ozark National Scenic Riverways" and click the top result. Alongside our major campgrounds, you'll see backcountry campgrounds sorted by district: Upper Current, Jacks Fork / Middle Current, and Lower Current. Select the district you want and browse the list of sites to find the campground and site that you want.

You can also begin your search on the Backcountry Campgrounds page of our park website at: https://www.nps.gov/ozar/planyourvisit/backcountry-campgrounds.htm

Just scroll down to "Backcountry Campgrounds by River Section," then click the district dropdown menus for links to information and photos for each campground in that district. Each campground information page has a link to the correct reservation page on recreation.gov under the "Reservations" dropdown menu. This is also good route to use if you are planning to use the recreation.gov call center (877-444-6777) to make your reservation, as you will need to be able to tell the operator which district your preferred campground is in.

We hope this explanation helps you find your perfect camping spot this year, and we hope you enjoy your visit!

Image: Backcountry campgrounds offer a quieter, more rustic camping experience. Credit: NPS / W. Marischen

05/19/2026

🚧 Big Spring Boat Ramp Closed 5/20/2026, 6:00am-1:00pm 🚧

🛶 The Big Spring boat ramp will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, May 20th from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm while park staff remove hazard trees in the area.

🚣 Alternative options include the boat ramps at the Van Buren Riverfront Park and at Watercress Park in Van Buren.

05/17/2026

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Get ready, June is National Rivers Month! Now is the time to plan what events to attend to help us celebrate Missouri's rivers and streams. Complete a Missouri Stream Team National Rivers Month Activity during the month of June and file an activity report using one of the special National Rivers Month activity codes and you can receive a limited-edition 2026 National Rivers Month sticker! To learn more and get ready to participate this June, visit our website https://www.mostreamteam.org/.

Photo features National River Months Sticker.

05/17/2026

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America’s national parks rely on more than the staff visitors see.

Biologists, botanists, ecologists, entomologists, and other specialists help the National Park Service understand how wildlife, plants, fish, and ecosystems are changing over time. Their work gives park managers the research and data they need to make informed decisions and protect natural resources for the future.

But many of these positions are being pushed out of the National Park Service. And when those experts leave, long-running research can disappear with them.

Visitors may not notice these losses right away. But the long-term damage could be profound, especially as parks face accelerating change from climate change and other pressures.

Parks cannot be protected without the science and expertise behind the scenes.

Tell Congress to stop further National Park Service staffing cuts and protect the people whose work helps parks survive. 👉 https://mstr.app/9494f0ed-d8e6-4b41-93fe-e32e3fc5679c

🎨: Artwork by Madigan Creative Co.