SPRINGS

Falling Spring - Also see video here. Not accessible from the river. From Alton, MO travel North on MO Hwy 19 approx. 16.3 miles. Turn Right/East onto FR#3170. This road immediately splits; follow FR#3164 to your Left. Keep right at an intersection at approx 2 miles, then Falling Spring will be on your right at approx. 2.3. One of the more photographed spots in the Mark Twain National Forest, the Falling Spring Picnic Area offers history, scenic beauty, and quiet relaxation. This day-use area is situated on the edge of a spring-fed pond that falls from out of the middle of a small bluff wall. This spring, which is also a waterfall, has provided power for two mills in the past, the second of which still stands today. Built in the 1920s, this mill provided electricity, ground corn, and even sawed lumber and shingles for the few local residents. A small wooden walkway leads to the mill for closer inspection, which still has some of its original machinery in place. Aside from a few picnic tables and a small parking area, Falling Spring Picnic Area also holds an historic log cabin over 100 years old. Built in the mid-to-late 1800s, this cabin is the first of four houses built near this site. Constructed with half-dovetail notches at the corners, this helps to shed water away from the cabin, and may be one reason why it still stands today.

Greer Spring - On right after put in on Greer to Turner Mill stretch. Second largest spring within the state, is surrounded by walking fern and other vegetation in its natural state. The main outlet boils from its basin and plunges down the hillside to the Eleven Point River 1.25 miles away. The average flow is more than 300 cubic feet per second and the drop is 62 feet. However, a raft run down the spring several years ago resulted in a drowning. The spring is on private property and has been graciously left open to the public, but permission to float the spring will not be given. Greer Spring nearly doubles the size of the river and makes the Eleven Point River below Hwy. 19 quite floatable even in dry years. An 11-mile section of the river below Greer Spring is managed by MDC for rainbow trout. An area known as The Irish Wilderness, through which the river runs, is well named and indicates the character of this cool, fast river.

Turner Mill & Spring - Located 5.5 miles below Greer Spring. Access on both sides of the river. You can do Greer to Turner or Turner to Riverton stretch to check this out.

Boze Mill & Spring - Located on left. Located 12 miles below Tuner Mill and about 2 miles before you get to the Riverton hwy 160 bridge. Located on the Turner Mill to Riverton stretch.

Blue Spring - 8th largest spring in the state. Located just 0.3 miles before the hwy 142 bridge.

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