After Eureka Springs, our friends headed home and we made the short but windy drive to Roaring River State Park in Missouri. The park is just a few miles north of the border with Arkansas and one of the three main Trout Parks run by the State Park system. We were in Campground #1 (there are 3) and our site was right by a small gentle stream that was exceptionally clear.
It turned out to be a kid’s fish free weekend so down in the area of the spring, things were quite busy. But we are on a quest and this trip is going to get us to 8 more parks and historic sites in the southwest region of Missouri. If you were following earlier, we went to Big Sugar Creek and Prairie State Parks. We also visited a Civil War site, the Battle of Carthage and Harry Truman’s birthplace. So this is park #5.
Roaring River attracted settlers as early as 1820. The river is spring fed and so the water flowing from the spring allowed early settlers to use an undershot wheel which could power a grist mill.
Lots of CCC structures remain at the park. There is a lodge and other buildings. I really enjoyed walking around the hatchery and seeing the trout that are being released. The water is a gorgeous deep blue and the trail above the spring was very quiet since the kids were busy fishing.
The weather has been extraordinary and a campfire was quite enjoyable.