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Council Bluff Recreation Area
4.01108 reviewsSTATE HWY. DD, Belgrade, MO 63622, USA
Top 25% in MOFallSummer Destination
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Quick Facts
1,345 ftPrice
$11 - $33.97/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
75 campsites
Season
Open from May 20 to ...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
RV FriendlyShowers
Get DirectionsReal-Time Availability
Select a month, then check for open campsites
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
Quick Facts
1,345 ftPrice
$11 - $33.97/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
75 campsites
Season
Open from May 20 to ...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
RV FriendlyShowers
Get DirectionsCouncil Bluff Recreation Area
$11.00 - $33.97 / night
Campsite Fees
GROUP SHELTER NONELECTRIC: $25.00; MANAGEMENT: $33.97; STANDARD NONELECTRIC-15661: $22.00; STANDARD NONELECTRIC: $11.00; WALK TO: $11.00. Plus...
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Standard Site Fee$15.00
Hike and Bike Site Fee$15.00
Group Site Fee$100.00
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STATE HWY. DD, Belgrade, MO 63622, USA
Council Bluff Recreation Area
STATE HWY. DD, Belgrade, MO 63622, USA
Nearby places
Belgrade (0 miles), Potosi (approximately 17.6 miles)
Weather at Council Bluff Recreation Area
About Council Bluff Recreation Area
RV details
Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist
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You need reliably clean facilities or want to avoid wildlife encounters like raccoons.
From the U.S. Forest Service
Reference information about Council Bluff Recreation Area sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
Overview
<p>The Council Bluff Recreation Area, located next to the largest lake on the Mark Twain National Forest, is perfect for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors. The area provides ample opportunities for camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, swimming and more.</p><p>The site is large and spread out, the campground and beach are about a 1 mile hike apart, the hike/bike is downhill from the campground to the beach, but uphill coming back.</p><p>Located in southern Missouri, the Council Bluff Lake was created by a dam built across Big River. It is 440 acres in size and 87 feet deep in some places.</p><p>The <strong>Wild Boar Campground</strong> and sheltered picnic area are available for individual families or large groups.</p><p>The <strong>Chapel Hill Beach</strong> is at the eastern end of the campground and provides 1.25 acres of sandy beach. The beach is accessible via a short walkway from the parking area.</p><p><strong>Boating and paddling</strong> is a popular pastime on the lake, but all boats on the lake must operate at a no-wake speed. Visitors can access the water via the two boat ramps located at the lake.</p><p><strong>Fishing</strong> is also available. Anglers can expect a catch of a variety of freshwater fish, including bass, bluegills, catfish and crappies.</p><p>The 12-mile <strong>Council Bluff Trail</strong> encircles the lake, with spurs to the campground. Hikers can enjoy scenic views of the lake and a look at the Mark Twain wilderness. The Ozark Trail connects to the Council Bluff Trail at Trace Creek mile 15.</p><p><strong>Waterfowl hunting</strong> is allowed on Council Bluff Lake and the nearby Enough Fields provide upland game opportunities. A variety of wildlife makes its home in the heavily wooded area.</p><p> </p><p>A <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm8_045348.pdf" target="_blank">Printable Brochure</a> and map is available.</p>
About the campground
The elevation is 1,240 ft. The Council Bluff Lake Recreation Complex consists of the 440 acre Council Bluff Lake, Wild Boar Ridge campground, Chapel Hill beach and Beech Hollow boat ramp. The campground is a long narrow loop through a dense stand of mixed hardwoods and some pines scattered here and there. Each site has a ramada or covered cooking area and lamp pole along with the usual table and grille. The tent-only campsites are all walk-in nicely secluded and not convenient to a vault or drinking water. None of the campsites have a view of the lake. The campground also has group campsites (not included in campsite count) in the middle of the loop. Contact the ranger district office for more information on the group campsites. Canoes are available for rent at the Chapel Hill beach store as are firewood, ice, snacks, beach toys and coin-operated hot showers. Chapel Hill beach is 3.2 miles from campground. This campground is also known as "Wild Boar Ridge," "Council Bluff Wild Boar Ridge" and "Wild Boar."
Seasons & access
Open March 1 through November 30
Facilities
The showers are coin-operated and are located at the Chapel Hill beach. The playground is also at the beach Mark Twain National Forest 249
Water activities
Council Bluff Lake is 440 acres. There is a fee at the Hollow Boat Ramp to launch a boat. Power boats are limited to 10HP.
RV information
The parking aprons are gravel and all about the same size.
Directions
NOTE: The campground does not have a sign From Belgrade, MO, take State Rt. C west 3.8 miles to campground sign (State Rt. DD). Turn left onto Rt. DD and go south 6.7 miles to Forest sign (Council Bluff Lake) campground. Turn left at sign onto Forest Rt. 3001. Follow Rt 3001 for 0.3 miles to a "Y" intersection. Continue straight onto Forest Rt 3002 and go 1.4 miles into campground. Alternative from Potosi: In Potosi, MO, at intersection of State Rts. 8 (Main St.) and P, take Rt. P south 14.9 miles to "y" intersection and stop sign. Bear right onto State Rt. C and go 0.2 miles to Council Bluff Lake sign. Turn left after sign onto State Rt. DD and go 6.7 miles to another Council Bluff Lake sign. Turn left at sign onto Forest Rt. 3001. Follow Rt 3001 for 0.3 miles to a "Y" intersection. Continue straight onto Forest Rt 3002 and go 1.4 miles into campground. Mark Twain National Forest 248
- National Forest
- Twain National Forest
- Ranger District
- Potosi/Fredericktown
- Elevation
- 1240
- Rate
- $10 per day - single $20 per day - double
- Maximum Stay
- 14
- Open Season
- April 11 – October 31
