3.9123 reviewsPrice
$12 - $20/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
7 campsites
Season
April 1 - December 1...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
$12 - $20/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
7 campsites
Season
April 1 - December 1...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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#66 Confederate Ridge Road Doniphan, MO 63935
Canoeists, kayakers, and anglers chasing bass and panfish on the Current River will find the onsite boat launch and pine-shaded sites genuinely convenient. Spring weekdays are the sweet spot before summer crowds arrive and the river stays clear and cold.
Outfitter vans and buses roll through early in the morning kicking up dust, and there's zero cell service. If light sleeping, connectivity, or a guaranteed site matter, this first-come-first-served, 7-site campground is a tough sell.
Reference information about Deer Leap Recreation Area sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>The Deer Leap Recreation Area is situated on the east bank of the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mtnf/recarea/?recid=21668">Current River</a>, this site is not one of the busier campgrounds so is often a great place to get away from the crowds. Expect some activity of outfitter-guides utilizing the non-motorized launch in the campground, though. Deer Leap provides primitive camping, a boat launch and floater access/tuber launch. </p><p>When you veer off the road, the boat launch is a short 80 yards from the Y. </p><p>When you head to the campground, the road follows the river for a short distance before entering a stand of pines. The campground is shady and quiet. There is a busy canoe/tubing launch in the center of the campground. This campground is good for visitors who like a little privacy while camping. </p>
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Spring is the best window here. Late April into May delivers daytime highs in the mid-50s to mid-70s, cool nights, and clear, cold river water for canoeing, tubing, and fishing. Wildflowers bloom, fresh green foliage fills in, and wildlife viewing picks up. Crowds stay moderate, especially on weekdays. The campground opens April 1. Summer brings warm weather for swimming and floating. Autumn offers color. Winter is quiet and cold.
Described as 'Spring is the best window' with cool days, wildflowers and positive spring reviews.
The Deer Leap Recreation Area provides a range of amenities aimed at ensuring a comfortable and accessible camping experience. Official sources highlight the availability of potable water, vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, lantern posts, and designated accessible facilities (including toilets, tables, pedestal grills, and fire rings). Sites are semi-private with spacing and vegetation for privacy, and all sites are within walking distance of the river.
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