Campground 2 sits in the wooded hills where the St. Francis River meets Big Creek, offering 31 sites (numbers 103–111 and 173–194) as your base for paddling, trail access, and family river days. The park operates fully April through October; expect crowds and tight spacing during holiday weekends, quieter conditions midweek and shoulder season.
Historical Significance
Many of the park's structures were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s, adding rustic stone and timber details that frame the nature center and older facilities. The center interprets the natural and cultural layers of the St. Francois Mountains.Weather and SeasonsSummer delivers the best conditions for water activities: highs in the 80s and 90s, nights in the 60s, and the river at its most inviting for swimming and floating. Afternoon thunderstorms roll through regularly, and mosquitoes thrive in the humid bottomland, so pack repellent and a tarp. April and October bookend the full-service season with milder temperatures and fewer bugs, though water can be chilly. November through March the campground offers basic access only, services shut down, and you'll have the trails mostly to yourself if you don't mind the cold.
Natural Features and SceneryThe St. Francis River flows just beyond the tree line, its clear water pooling into swimming holes and shallows where kids wade over rocky bottoms. Big Creek joins the river nearby, carving through the ancient St. Francois Mountains and forming the wooded hollow that shelters the campground. Hardwood canopy shades most sites. Deer browse the edges at dusk. The terrain is hilly, trails wind into rocky outcrops and valleys, and the sound of moving water carries through camp most mornings.
Geological RegionSt. Francois Mountains
Scenic ViewsScenic river and mountain views with wooded campsites and nearby creek and river access for water-based recreation.