Alley Spring Campground
Eminence, Missouri
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- river
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Alley Spring Campground
Alley Spring is a large spring and historic mill site on the Jacks Fork River within Ozark National Scenic Riverways, about 6 miles west of Eminence, Missouri. The NPS-managed campground here sits a short walk from a popular swimming hole on the Jacks Fork, a clear, spring-fed stretch that makes for an inviting river to swim in.
The site sits in the rolling, forested Ozark hill country of Shannon County, where the spring's outflow joins the Jacks Fork River near the historic 1894 'Old Red Mill,' one of the most photographed structures in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
Swimming at Alley Spring Campground
Recreation.gov (the NPS's own reservation/description partner) describes a 'popular swimming area on the Jacks Fork River, a crystal clear and spring fed waterway that's cool and refreshing on a hot summer day,' located a short walk from the campground. No further detail on depth or bottom composition was found in official sources.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Eminence, travel west about five minutes on State Highway 106. From Mountain View, drive 19 miles east on US 60, turn north on County Highway E for 10 miles, then west on Highway 106 for two miles.
Parking: Paved roads and parking areas serve the campground and adjacent mill/spring day-use area.
The hike in
- To the water
- well under 0.25 mi (a short, flat walk from the campground/day-use parking area)
- Time on foot
- under 5 minutes on foot
Difficulty: easy, level walk on paved/gravel paths from parking, no elevation gain and no formal trail
This is a drive-up spot: recreation.gov describes 'a short walk from the campground' to reach the popular swimming area on the Jacks Fork, right by the historic Alley Mill. No hiking trail or trailhead is involved.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
No lifeguards at this NPS day-use spot; the spring-fed Jacks Fork stays cold year-round and river current/depth vary with flow, so young kids should be watched closely. Park-wide rules ban jumping from trees or rope swings (a sign this kind of risk-taking happens here), and visitors are told to check river levels for flood conditions before swimming. Where Alley Spring's outflow meets the river there is a shallower mixing zone (a visitor described standing with 'one leg in the river water and one in the spring'), which is gentler for wading than the open river channel.
Parking
Free
Paved campground/day-use parking area at Alley Spring, immediately adjacent to the mill/spring and the short walk to the swimming area. Ozark National Scenic Riverways charges no entrance or day-use fee; only overnight campsites are charged (rates vary by site, see recreation.gov).
Restrooms
Yes
Flush toilets and showers at Alley Spring Campground, open seasonally April 15-October 15 (heated shower house available); alternate facilities used the rest of the year when the water system is shut off. Alley General Store is also nearby (0.9 mi) for supplies.
Water clarity
Clear
NPS/recreation.gov describe the water as crystal clear and spring-fed. A visitor report (r/missouri) described swimming exactly where Alley Spring's outflow meets the Jacks Fork, noting the visible contrast between the two, 'one leg in the river water and one in the spring', consistent with a very clear spring plume mixing into slightly less clear river water.
Hours
No gate or fixed hours for the Alley Spring day-use/mill area, Ozark National Scenic Riverways public outdoor spaces are open to visitors at any time; the Alley General Store info line is (573) 226-3945. Campground flush toilets/showers run seasonally April 15-October 15 (water shut off Oct 15-Apr 14).
On the water
Restrictions: Park-wide Ozark National Scenic Riverways float rules apply: personal flotation devices required on all vessels, no glass or styrofoam items in vessels, no lashing vessels together, no jumping from trees or rope swings. No motorboat/jet ski use is documented for this stretch of the Jacks Fork.
Alley Spring is a standard canoe/kayak/tube launch point on the Jacks Fork River, with an on-site outfitter (Harvey's Alley Spring) renting and shuttling; private canoes, kayaks, and tubes are also commonly launched here.
Rentals nearby
Canoe, kayak, raft, and tube rentals for the Jacks Fork and Current Rivers, including shuttle service
Prices: Jacks Fork single-day: canoe $50 (Sun-Fri)/$55 (Sat & holidays); kayak $40; double kayak $50/$55; raft $150/$180; tube $20; cooler tube $15. Current River single-day: canoe $65; kayak $50; double kayak $65; cooler tube $15. Private-vessel shuttle pricing varies by trip (call for rates).
13863 State Hwy 106, Eminence, MO, located directly at Alley Spring, about 6 miles west of Eminence (a second office is at Hwy 19 & 106 in Eminence Junction). · Alley Spring office: Sun-Fri opens 8am, Sat opens 7am (closes when the day's floaters are off the water); Eminence Junction satellite office opens daily at 8am.
Canoe, kayak, raft, and tube rentals with shuttle service; also offers camping and a grocery store
Just east of Eminence, MO, near the confluence of the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers, roughly 12-13 miles from Alley Spring (matches the 'TWO RIVERS' campground listed 12.7 mi away).
What regulars say
Visitor reports (r/missouri, r/camping, r/canoecamping) consistently describe Alley Spring as a reliable put-in even in dry weather because the river is spring-fed: one poster wrote 'Just did the Jack's Fork, put in at Alley Springs, great float, plenty of water because it is spring fed.' Another described swimming right at the point where Alley Spring's outflow joins the river, noting the contrast between the two water sources ('one leg in the river water and one in the spring'). Other threads note that most of the cave features and 'Blue Spring' (with 'unbelievable blue water') on the Jacks Fork lie upstream of Alley Spring, and that a multi-day canoe-camping route from Alley Spring downstream to Two Rivers (about 13 miles) is a popular trip. No first-hand crowd-level complaints were found, but the swimming area's proximity to a large campground and the historic mill suggests it can get busy on summer weekends.
Backstory
Alley Mill ('Old Red Mill') was built in 1893-94 by George Washington McCaskill, powered by Alley Spring's constant flow, replacing an earlier 1868 mill; it is now preserved as an Ozarks history museum. The community of Alley Spring (formerly Mammoth Spring/Barksdale Spring) had a post office from 1884 to 1974. The site lies within Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the first NPS unit established to protect a wild river system.
Alley Spring Campground: FAQ
Is Alley Spring Campground kid friendly?
No lifeguards at this NPS day-use spot; the spring-fed Jacks Fork stays cold year-round and river current/depth vary with flow, so young kids should be watched closely. Park-wide rules ban jumping from trees or rope swings (a sign this kind of risk-taking happens here), and visitors are told to check river levels for flood conditions before swimming. Where Alley Spring's outflow meets the river there is a shallower mixing zone (a visitor described standing with 'one leg in the river water and one in the spring'), which is gentler for wading than the open river channel.
Do I need to hike to reach Alley Spring Campground?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Alley Spring Campground?
Paved campground/day-use parking area at Alley Spring, immediately adjacent to the mill/spring and the short walk to the swimming area. Ozark National Scenic Riverways charges no entrance or day-use fee; only overnight campsites are charged (rates vary by site, see recreation.gov).
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Alley Spring Campground?
Alley Spring is a standard canoe/kayak/tube launch point on the Jacks Fork River, with an on-site outfitter (Harvey's Alley Spring) renting and shuttling; private canoes, kayaks, and tubes are also commonly launched here.
When is the best time to visit Alley Spring Campground?
Summer, when flush toilets and showers are open (April 15 - October 15) and the spring-fed water is described as refreshing on hot days; the water system is shut off October 15 - April 14.
What are the rules at Alley Spring Campground?
Campground: two tents or one RV plus one tent per standard family site (six tents or two RVs plus four tents per cluster site); no glass-bottled beverages in tubes or non-motorized vessels; hammocks must be free-standing (not tied to trees). Park-wide river rules (Ozark National Scenic Riverways): no jumping from trees or rope swings, personal flotation devices required on vessels, no glass or styrofoam items in vessels.
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