Greer Spring Branch

[Al Agnew]

The spring branch is 1.25 miles long and drops about 60 feet in that stretch, with a flow of over 300 cfs, so that would make it one of the most dependable short whitewater runs in the Ozarks. There are some short pools and deep pockets, but most of it is very fast water. And PLEASE, don't think it could take the kind of pressure that flyfishing or kayaking would put on it and still be the same. The difference between Greer Spring branch and the other places we flyfish is that it has never seen any kind of wading, nor the kind of bank-tramping that flyfishing would subject it to, AND it doesn't see strong floods like the streams do. The bottom is covered with various aquatic plants and the banks and rocks are draped with moss, and the growth never gets washed away like it does all the time on the streams (and worn away on the trout park spring branches). You absolutely CANNOT subject it to a lot of wading and bank clambering without totally destroying the character of this spring branch.

[Gavin]

I'd like to see it left as it is..no fishing or kayaking...Its a jewel of the Ozarks and I'd hate to see it developed in any way...Some things are just better left as is. Cheers.

[Flysmallie]

So is it ok just to hike into it and look around?

[Gavin]

Sure, the Forest Service maintains a trail to the spring head..its about a 3/4 mile walk and slippery in places but its well worth the hike. There is a marked trail head off of Hwy 19 about a mile south of the Greer Access.

[ColdWaterFshr]

I agree with most of the others. A buddy of mine and I once attempted to fish the spring branch (illegally) and it proved very difficult. We made it down about a third of a mile before giving up, exhausted. The speed of the water, the boulders everywhere, and the steepness of the banks, thick cover left little room to cast -even with short spinning rods. Its just not terrain or water for the general public. All that watercress and ferns would surely take a beating. I wouldn't mind a lottery type deal to get permission to fish it or kayak it, but it would I would keep the number so low (20 per year?) that it would have little impact.

[jdmidwest]

So is it ok just to hike into it and look around?

There is a trail and a parking lot off HWY 19 to the spring itself. The area below the spring to the river is private and no trespassing. It is marked well. The old trail used to come down the hill by the old mill at the top of the hill from the river. It was steep and a pretty tough walk and went thru the private land. The new trail is longer, but is not as steep and has bridges and benches to sit and rest and is on the forestry service land.