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Trout anglers who book early. The on-site hatchery and stocked rainbow trout are the real draw here, and midweek visits in late spring or fall get you the river without elbow-to-elbow pressure on the best holes.
Price
Varies
Booking
Reservable
Sites
35 campsites
Season
General on-season: A...
Cell
No Service
Pets
No Pets
Price
Varies
Booking
Reservable
Sites
35 campsites
Season
General on-season: A...
Cell
No Service
Pets
No Pets
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Learn more about alerts →Campground 1 (Sites 7-41)
36.5857, -93.8371
We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.
Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans
256,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account
Learn more about alerts →Trout anglers who book early. The on-site hatchery and stocked rainbow trout are the real draw here, and midweek visits in late spring or fall get you the river without elbow-to-elbow pressure on the best holes.
Anyone expecting cell service, tent camping, or a quiet weekend without crowds. Pets aren't allowed, peak weekends pack the river hard, and shower cleanliness slips noticeably when the campground is running at full capacity.
Context for the broader area surrounding Campground 1 (Sites 7-41), sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.
<A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Virginia+Smith+Dam">Virginia Smith Dam</a> (formerly called Calamus Dam) and Calamus Reservoir, <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=North Loup Division Project">North Loup Division, P-SMBP</a>, are on the Calamus River in Nebraska. Recreation at the site is managed for the Bureau of Reclamation by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Reservoir open 24 hours. Good access roads. Fishing season is year round. Available species include walleye, wiper, white bass, northern pike, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, and crappie. Irrigation supply reservoir experiencing moderate fluctuations. The reservoir has 5,142 water surface acres, 6404 land acres and 31 miles of shoreline. <a href="http://www.usbr.gov/gp-bin/arcweb_cane.pl">Current reservoir level.</a>
Site is 5 miles northwest of Burwell. Nearest highway is Nebraska 91.
Campground 1 (Sites 7-41) appears in our curated guides. Explore more top-rated campgrounds for the same activities and regions.
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The campground comes alive from late spring through early fall, when anglers and families fill the sites with laughter and the excitement of the catch. If you prefer a quieter experience, visit during the golden days of autumn when the hillsides blaze with color and the crowds thin out, or embrace the solitude of the off-season from late fall through winter (though you'll want to check ahead, as some services close). Mark your calendar for February 25th, when Roaring River's on-season officially begins and the park springs back to full operation.
Spring-fed river and on-season starting Feb 25 make spring strong for trout fishing and camping.
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Campground 1 at Roaring River offers standard Missouri State Parks campsite amenities including picnic tables, fire rings with grills, potable water, flush toilets and multiple shower houses. There are electric hookups (including reported 50-amp service in a newer section) and an RV dump station; wifi has been reported by visitors but may vary.
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