Taking My Family To Black, Mo Next Weekend...any Tips?

[E Green]

We have never been to that area yet and have been told by many locals here to check out elephant Rocks and johnson shut-ins. We will certainly do that one day. Our cabin is right on the shore of a pond and the owner said it is full of bass, crappie and bluegill so I will fish that. My two year old boy loves it when i let him hold the pole while a ferocious 4 inch blugill or sunny is on the other end....priceless moments!

Anyways, any other parks or places I should visit while we are in that area? The cabin/property is right next to the black river so hopefully I can get about 2 hours on my own one day to fish that as well.

This is one beautiful state!

[gdh]

i would say you might want to check out the spring at centerville mo first road on the left after a sharp curve heading south the road runs along the river. if you want to eat out for dinner call widerness lodge you will need a reservation . lots of canoe and tube rentals in lesterville .

[jdmidwest]

Arcadia Valley and Ironton is rich in local history with some shops and Baylee Jo's BBQ. Some antique shops, a civil war fort, and other things to kill time on.

Taum Sauk mountain will give you a good view of the surrounding area and is a nice little stop. Ameren UE Taum Sauk pumped storage facility and lake is pretty interesting.

Shame you only have a weekend...

[Al Agnew]

Yeah, Johnson Shut-ins and Elephant Rocks are must-sees, and will take you several hours each to experience. Taum Sauk is best experienced by hiking a few miles on the trail...not much to see at the top of the "mountain", which is wide and flat on top and covered in scrubby woods. But the trail leading from there to Mina Sauk Falls and Devils Tollgate is nice. Fort Davidson is interesting if you're a history buff. The drive from Black to Viburnum is long and winding through thick forest, but not far past Viburnum is Dillard's Mill on the upper end of Huzzah Creek, which is one of the prettiest places around.

[E Green]

THANK YOU all! That is the info I was looking for!

[E Green]

That was one of the most scenic areas I have ever visited in my life. The weather wasn't the best by any stretch of the imagination but the natural beauty of the region was enough to keep us smiling. Elephant rocks and the Johnson shut ins were amazing....I have never seen anything like that before. I only had about a 20 minute window to fish on the Black River but I landed 3 smallmouth bass on my first 3 casts! One was maybe 14 inches and the other two were small. I would LOVE to go back to that area just to fish because I saw a ton of smaller streams (ottery stream was one that looks promising) that were probably great smallmouth locations. I also imagine that stretch of the Black River is good as well. I am used to the deeper murky black river that flows through poplar bluff...didn't expect to see the Black River look so majestic and tranquil. amazing area.....

[rainbow]

Next time go in the summer and stay at Black River Lodge near Lesterville. Great river access and includes all meals. Good place for families.

[E Green]

will def look into that..thanks

we plan on going back next spring so maybe that odge will work. We are always looking for great cabin rentals in the MO/arkansas Ozarks. Last year we stayed near on the Buffalo river in Jasper and that cabin was fantastic! Ozarkcabins.com i think was the website...amazing place as well. Please feel free to post cabin rec's here for future reference..haha I ask alot of questions....new guy

[E Green]

yeah that resort/lodge looks outstanding.....booking a family trip at that place for sure...thank you for that info...

winter hasn't even arrived and i'm already waiting on spring...haha

[Smalliebigs]

E,

Rainbow is right Black River Lodge is simply one of the best places on earth. I'm bias as my family has been going there for many years on the same week for decades and all the people from my week have been comming that week for ever as well. I have met some of my best friends in life at Black River Lodge and is something that i hold close to my heart for sure. It's not fancy but, provides you a base to have the time of your life if you choose to. The owner Gil and his daughters and grandchildren run it and I love them all like family. E, they have cabins on the weekends from Labor day thru mid October which is very fun.

I have found that area of the State to be my favorite as it is very scenic and there are bountiful outdoor oputunities.....I will be living on a river down there sooner than later.

Try Bearcats Getaway they have two very nice cabins as well right above the river. My wife and I stayed there this year and floated a few days they were pretty nice.