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Elk River Basin - Recreation Leave No Trace - Every year, millions of pounds of trash are collected from our nation’s rivers, parks, and streets. The waters of the Elk River Basin experience heavy recreational traffic during the warm summer months. If you visit a state park, river, lake, campground, or any other public place, remember to leave no trace of yourself by picking up your trash.
State
Parks and Hiking Areas | Caves |
Fish Hatcheries | Historic Sites
& Museums Big Sugar Creek State Park - Big Sugar Creek State Park is located about five miles east of Pineville on County Road SE W24 in McDonald County, MO. This park has 2,048 acres of savannas, glades, and woodlands and offers hiking along the 3 - mile Ozark Chinquapin Trail. Big Sugar Creek State Park is still in its development stage, with future plans including a day use area and a canoe launch. Buffalo Hills Natural Area - The Buffalo Hills Natural Area is a 340 acre preserve managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation. It is located 10 miles west of Goodman in McDonald County, MO, just off of Highway B. Huckleberry Ridge State Forest - Located south of Pineville, MO, this hiking area can be found by turning north onto highway K about one mile south of Pineville and continuing another 8 miles on K highway. This area offers about six miles of trails.  CavesThere are 530 explored caves in McDonald County, MO. Caves are important to water quality for a couple of reasons. First, the rock material from which caves are made allows water to pass through very quickly. Pollution can quickly travel a great distance underground through the networks among different cave systems. In addition, cave-dwelling animals are typically very sensitive to toxic materials, and introduction of such pollutants into their habitat could reduce their ability to live. It is therefore very important to properly dispose of toxic materials so they don’t reach cave systems. Some caves within the Elk River Basin are big enough to enable tourists to tour their depths by foot or even by vehicle. Many caves are very small and can only be explored by professionals. Blanchard Springs Caverns - USDA Forest Service. Truitt’s Cave -Located off of Highway 59 near Noel, MO, Truitt’s Cave offers guided tours, panning for gems, a gift shop, and underground picnics. You can contact Truitt’s Cave at 313 S. Main St , Lanagan , MO. Bluff Dwellers Cavern & Browning Museum - Located off of Highway 59, 2 miles south of Noel, MO, this cave system is known for its diversity of cave formations. Guided tours and a museum are available at the cave. Old Spanish Treasure Cave - Located at 14290 N. Arkansas Highway 59 near Sulfur Springs , AR , the Old Spanish Treasure Cave offers guided tours, panning for gems and minerals, and a gift shop. Legend has it that Spanish conquistadors buried their treasure deep within the cavern over 300 years ago. Although some evidence of Spanish presence has been found within the cave, the search for the treasure continues to this day. Neosho National Fish Hatchery - Located at 520 E. Park St. in Neosho, MO, the Neosho National Fish Hatchery is the oldest operating federal fish hatchery in the United States. Rainbow trout, spoonbill, sturgeon, brown trout, and the endangered Ozark cavefish are raised at the hatchery. Guided tours, picnic areas, and a 0.3 mile self-guided path around the hatchery are available to the public. To view an article from National Geographic magazine about the Neosho National Fish Hatchery and the Ozark cavefish, visit the link at http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/10/1029_031030_ghostfish.html#main.
Pea Ridge National Military Park
Newton County Historical Park
Wal-Mart Visitors Center Fishing -- Fishing licenses are required for those who are at least 16 years of age and can be purchased at many local bait shops, gas stations, local Wal-mart stores, and Bass Pro Shops. Opportunities to catch smallmouth, largemouth, spotted, and rock bass are found in the Elk River . Channel catfish, redhorse suckers, and northern hogsuckers can also be caught in the Elk River . For more information about fishing prospects in the Elk River , visit http://mdc.mo.gov/fish/prospects/ Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees - The Elk River flows out of Missouri and forms the Elk River Arm of the Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, a 43,500 acre reservoir located in northeast Oklahoma . Built from 1938 to 1940, the Pensacola Dam impounds the Grand River flowing south out of Kansas to create this large reservoir. The dam was the first hydropower facility in Oklahoma and continues to produce hydroelectricity today. There are many recreational opportunities located at or around the lake. For more information about the Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, visit: Ponderosa Trails - Located at 1305 Ponderosa Road in Pineville , MO , Ponderosa Trails offers facilities for horse riders, camping and relaxing. Campgrounds & Canoe Rentals -- Camping and canoeing are popular sports in the Elk River Basin. They provide opportunities to see varieties of local plants and animals and to relax during hot summer days. Many local outfitters provide canoe rental and transportation back to visitors' vehicles upon completion of floats. Campgrounds and canoe outfitters are listed below.
Neosho Municipal Golf Course Bella Vista, Arkansas, has seven golf courses. There are five other public or private golf courses located throughout Benton County, Arkansas. |
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Missouri Watershed Information Network (MoWIN) |
Page last updated August 26, 2008 |
