Cedargrove Campground

[jdmidwest]

A hoosier? At least you did not call me a hick...

At no point did I suggest camping in a parking lot. I don't believe Sam did either. There are established fire pits at each location where campsites have been previously.

[Gene K]

Hoosier sounds a bit nicer than idiot, which evidently I am for riding my ATV to Cedar Grove. Always nice to make new friends.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Sorry to ruffle feathers guys. I'm sure you're decent fellers and not hoosiers or idiots. Its just that I've seen these places left trashed before. Established campfire pits doesn't make it right. I don't think it is legal to camp anywhere at Tan Vat, but as you say, people do it all the time. There aren't any trash cans at either location, so what do people do? They make a bonfire and attempt to burn their trash and usually don't succeed. Or they just chuck it in the woods.

As for Cedargrove and ATV's, the last time I was there, I saw an ATV rally, several of them racing around the campground area going WAY too fast. To improve the ambience of their little event even further, they had an impressive car stereo blaring at peak volume, presumably so they could hear it OVER the noise of their ATVs. I wanted to join them, but I was afraid my mullet haircut wouldn't be good enough.

[Gene K]

I know you were generalizing - thus my smiley. Trash? Tell me about it. There have been campers every weekend at Parker this summer, and almost always they don't take all their trash out with them. I have picked up more trash than I care to remember.

[SamC489]

Thanks alot Gene.

On a side note, what is that poker chip avatar of yours? Is there an operating cardroom in the Ozarks somewhere? I play alot of poker online and at the St. Louis casinos.

[Gavin]

There are some decent camp spots around Baptist. There is a really rough road on the right as you come down the hill toward the upper lot. You can drop your stuff there and carry it down towards the logjam hole..there are a couple nice gravel bar campspots in that area. You will see fisherman, but no partiers. Or your can take the trail headed upstream out of the upper parking lot 50-75 yards or so and camp in the woods there... You can always leave your tent there, hop in your car and run to Cedar if you want to..

If your thinking about Parker...take the road that heads downstream from the access toward Shaeffer Sping branch..nice gravel bar for camping there, but your likely to have some unwanted company. Another option would be to cross the river at Parker and hump up the Horse trail till you find a nice campspot..Again..youll probably have unwanted company, especially if you camp on that gravel bar that the 4x4 folks like to drive down to..

Cedar...forgetaboutit...to many people and the CG is pretty ripped up.

If your planning to keep any of the fish that you might catch below Cedar, you really shouldnt bring them back to a gravel bar campsite in the blue ribbon area because you will probably be in violation of the limit in the blue ribbon area.

Some other options if you want to keep some......Camp at Welch...youll have to cross the river with your gear and hike up about 100 yards or so..there is a nice gravel bar there between the river access and the spring. You can park at the access, but you cant camp there.

Camp at Eagles Park across from Tan Vat..you can bring your fish back to camp w/o violating any game laws and Dave will keep an eye on your stuff.

Have a great trip!

[jdmidwest]

All the accesses mentioned are a part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverway managed by the National Park Service. Camping should be allowed anywhere along the riverway. Of course, most outdoors campers leave a site better than they find it. What you see at most accesses are remnants of meth labs and drunken parties. Take out what you bring in and leave no trace.

Or get a motel room and watch TV and don't enjoy the peace and solitude of the Great Outdoors.

Sleep in your car and someone may mistake you for a bum...