Ozark National Scenic Riverways

06/17/2026

Sorry for the inconvenience, folks, but our phones are still acting up. We've been in touch with the phone company, but the issue might not get resolved until Monday, June 22nd. In the meantime, if you need to contact us please use (573) 944-3163 to reach the Big Spring Entrance Station.

If you've had trouble calling us, we've got a glitch in our phone system. Our main phone line is not picking up incoming calls, but you can still reach us by dialing (573) 944-3163. Sorry for the inconvenience, folks!

06/16/2026

We have another opening at Ozark National Scenic Riverways!

The Maintenance Division at Ozark National Scenic Riverways is looking to fill a WG-07 Maintenance Worker position that will be located at Round Spring near Eminence, MO. This is a permanent, subject to furlough position with the park. Roles of this position will include general maintenance on our facilities, campgrounds, trails, river access points, and park owned equipment. You will be tasked to operate various equipment such as a skid steer or dump truck. Additionally, you will need to understand basic construction methods relating to plumbing, painting, and masonry. With this job you may be scheduled to work some weekends and holidays. Pay will start at $22.66 per hour.

If you are interested in the position and plan to apply, please read the announcement carefully and fully. There is a section in the announcement that details out the required documents you will need in order to apply including your resume and proof of residency. This announcement will close on June 28, 2026 at 11:59 pm (EST). To apply for this position, you must do so through the USA Jobs link: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/873167600.

Additional to the WG-07 Maintenance Worker position, the National Park Service is still receiving applications for a WG-05 Maintenance Worker position loacted at Big Springs. The deadline to apply for this position is June 22, 2026 at 11:59 pm (EST). You can apply for this position at the following USA Jobs link: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/872194800.

If you have any questions about the job, you can contact William Terry via email at [email protected]

06/15/2026

River Conditions Update: 6/15/26: 9:45A

All sections of Current and Jacks Fork are OPEN! Enjoy!

*Photo does not depict current conditions
NPS Photo

06/14/2026

River Closure Alert:
6/14/26: 12:30P

🛑 Jacks Fork River: CLOSED: Buck Hollow (Hwy 17 Bridge) to Alley Spring.

River closures for non-motorized vessels are implemented during elevated conditions to ensure the safety of park visitors. Please note that these closures do not apply within two miles above and below the communities of Van Buren and Eminence, nor do they affect motorized vessels

06/11/2026

🚧 Summer Road Improvements at Round Spring 🚧

⚠️ On June 15, work will begin to replace the low water crossing leading to the Round Spring pavilion, playground area, and main parking lot for Round Spring itself. The closure is tentatively expected to last for the remainder of the summer season. Alternative parking near Round Spring Group Campsites 4-8 will provide trail access to the north side of Round Spring.

⚠️ Additionally, the lower river landing at Round Spring is expected to close July 6 for repaving, and the closure is expected to last approximately one week. All visitors getting on or off the river at Round Spring should plan to use the upper landing behind Carr's Store until the lower landing is reopened.

Watch for directional signs as you enter Round Spring Campground. Call Round Spring Ranger Station at 573-858-3297 for more information or updates.

06/11/2026

Come join our TEAM at Ozark National Scenic Riverways!

The Maintenance Division at Ozark National Scenic Riverways is looking to fill a WG-05 Maintenance Worker position that will be located at Big Spring near Van Buren, MO. This is a permanent, fulltime position with the park. Roles of this position will include grounds care, custodial work, routine carpentry, trails rehabilitation, and any general need to keep our park open and accessible to the public. With this job you may be scheduled to work some weekends and holidays. Pay will start at $19.48 per hour. To apply for this position, you must do so through the below USA Jobs link.

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/872194800

If you are interested in the position and plan to apply, please read the announcement carefully and fully. There is a section in the announcement that details out the required documents you will need in order to apply including your resume and proof of residency. This announcement will close on June 22, 2026 at 11:59 pm (EST).

If you have any questions about the job, you can contact William Terry via email at [email protected].

06/11/2026

If you've had trouble calling us, we've got a glitch in our phone system. Our main phone line is not picking up incoming calls, but you can still reach us by dialing (573) 944-3163. Sorry for the inconvenience, folks!

05/28/2026

Hey, what are those fuzzy things growing on that tree?

🌰 Those are catkins, the flowers of the Ozark chinquapin chestnut tree. Specifically, these are male flowers that produce pollen, and these photos show the first flowering of one of our two chinquapin trees at Big Spring. These flowers are versatile: they can spread their pollen by wind, but they have a sweet fragrance to attract pollinators to carry their pollen, too!

🌸 Chinquapins form both male and female flowers on the same tree, but a tree normally takes a year or two after its first male flowers appear to produce female flowers, and pollen from another flowering chinquapin is required to produce chestnuts. Only one of our two trees has flowered; that and no female flowers mean no chestnuts this year, but we can still chalk up this small step as a conservation win in the restoration of these rare trees!

🌳 You can learn more about the Ozark chinquapin and the effort to restore it at the Ozark Chinquapin Foundation's website: https://ozarkchinquapinmembership.org/about-the-tree/

Images: Catkins bloom for the first time on a young Ozark chinquapin tree. Credit: NPS / S. Heise

05/22/2026

Memorial Day Weekend is upon us, and that means that summer will soon be in full swing! If you're planning a trip and are looking for a smaller, more rustic campground, then you might be interested in one of our backcountry campgrounds, but reserving one of these sites has a few extra steps.

First, all backcountry sites are now reservable (including same day) through https://recreation.gov, but they can be hard to find using the search feature on the home page. Instead of searching the name of the backcountry campground you're looking for, search "Ozark National Scenic Riverways" and click the top result. Alongside our major campgrounds, you'll see backcountry campgrounds sorted by district: Upper Current, Jacks Fork / Middle Current, and Lower Current. Select the district you want and browse the list of sites to find the campground and site that you want.

You can also begin your search on the Backcountry Campgrounds page of our park website at: https://www.nps.gov/ozar/planyourvisit/backcountry-campgrounds.htm

Just scroll down to "Backcountry Campgrounds by River Section," then click the district dropdown menus for links to information and photos for each campground in that district. Each campground information page has a link to the correct reservation page on recreation.gov under the "Reservations" dropdown menu. This is also good route to use if you are planning to use the recreation.gov call center (877-444-6777) to make your reservation, as you will need to be able to tell the operator which district your preferred campground is in.

We hope this explanation helps you find your perfect camping spot this year, and we hope you enjoy your visit!

Image: Backcountry campgrounds offer a quieter, more rustic camping experience. Credit: NPS / W. Marischen

05/19/2026

🚧 Big Spring Boat Ramp Closed 5/20/2026, 6:00am-1:00pm 🚧

🛶 The Big Spring boat ramp will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, May 20th from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm while park staff remove hazard trees in the area.

🚣 Alternative options include the boat ramps at the Van Buren Riverfront Park and at Watercress Park in Van Buren.