Caplinger Mills is one of those hidden gems people drive right by like it doesn’t exist. Aside from a highway bridge that crosses the Sac River and some old country roads, there really isn’t any indication of fun to be had. It’s a master illusion you should aspire to expose. You won’t regret it, I promise! The area is rich with recreational potential and friendly people. A combination that’s so rare these days.
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A little about Caplinger Mills, Missouri
In Northern Cedar County, sits a small village on the Sac River known as Caplinger Mills. Its historic district is the main attraction, drawing locals from miles around to participate in a variety of recreational activities.
The bridge
You’ll certainly be in awe of the unique bridge built in 1895 by the Chicago Bridge Co. If you look up on the West side, you’ll see that information on top of the bridge. It is beautifully stamped into a metal sign, seemingly untouched by the hands of time. The bridge’s impressive construction is a rarity, and its strength is unimaginable. The fact that it withstands the “often-extreme” flow rate of the Sac River is irrefutable proof of its strength. Need a visual? Watch this Caplinger Mills & Stockton Lake Dam video! It does a good job of showing the flow rate of the Sac River at Caplinger Mills when the water is being discharged from Stockton Dam.
If you want to learn more about the actual construction of the bridge, this article is quite interesting!
The mill
On the West side of the bridge, you can see remnants of what was once a functional grist mill that was responsible for grinding grain. Unfortunately, tragedy would strike the mill many times throughout the years. As the old story goes, fire would be the culprit every single time resulting in extensive reconstruction efforts. A close inspection of the old turbine that still stands in what remains of the old mill shows clear evidence of excessive heat. Take a close look when you visit!
The powerhouse
On the East side of the bridge, you can see what remains of the old powerhouse. It’s in remarkably good condition given its age. Much of the water valve system still remains on the South side. You can get an up-close view of the old grates that kept logs, sticks, rocks and other debris from entering the powerhouse. Additionally, you’ll see the gears and teeth that made the gate system function. It was responsible for controlling the flow of water to the turbines.
Inside there are two concrete pits that once housed turbines. Each turbine would spin a generator making hydroelectric power. This Caplinger Mills & Powerhouse video does an excellent job showing what’s left inside the old concrete structure.
The dam
The man-made dam was built in the mid 1800’s for the purpose of generating waterpower to run a grist mill. In the early 1900’s, the dam was reinforced with concrete to make it stronger so it would last longer. To say it was a successful endeavor is an understatement. The dam still stands strong today after years of abuse.
While it is no longer operating as a power source, it does create a seemingly white waterfall that adds a sense of beauty to the surrounding landscape. People travel from miles around to enjoy the scenery and listen to the peaceful sounds when the water levels allow for cascading falls.
A well-deserved honor
I ran a search on Caplinger Mills through the National Register of Historic Places database (provided by the National Parks Service). On September 2, 1993, Caplinger Mills Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Areas of significance are listed as industry, commerce, engineering, and transportation. Here’s a link to the National Register of Historic Places, just in case you have places you would like to research.
Caplinger Mills Mo Map
Use the interactive map below to find your way!
Fishing Caplinger Mills and the Sac River
This is quite literally an angler’s paradise. You can fish from many locations and for a variety of different fish. There have been many times where I caught my crappie limit under this old bridge. Likewise, there have been many nights when I caught my limit of catfish from the Sac River. I promise I will share with you a few of my personal “tried and true” tips for fishing Caplinger Mills and the Sac River. But first, a few personal fishing stories. All true, I promise!
My STRANGEST catch EVER!
This was one of…NO, scratch that…this WAS the strangest catch of my life! One night when the water was down, I settled in for a long night of fishing under the East side of the bridge. I was quite young and still had a lot of learning ahead of me. One thing was certain, I had no clue how much this night would teach me.
I was a couple hours into fishing when things got interesting. While reeling in my smallest catfish pole, I hooked something. I actually thought it was a stick until my line started moving slowly upstream in an odd fashion. I found myself somewhat perplexed as I continued reeling in my line and was excited to see what I caught.
Imagine my surprise when I realized what I had on my hook was not a fish! Guess what, it wasn’t a turtle either. I thought perhaps it was a Northern Brook Lamprey but ruled that out pretty fast. It was snakelike with the mouth of a lizard. What on Earth was I looking at?
I carefully removed the creature from my hook and placed it in a container with a little water so I could transport the thing. Remember, smartphones and Google weren’t an option. But my Daddy was a walking encyclopedia, so I went straight to him. I saw the excitement in his eyes when I placed the creature in front of him.
A mystery solved!
After careful evaluation, he revealed to me the creature was a decent size glass lizard (aka glass snake). A WHAT? LOL and why was it in the water? And how did it get on my pole? So many questions! Turns out they are very good swimmers that use the water as a means to escape predators. Poor thing! It was swimming for its life and found itself on the end of my hook. Feeling this creature and I had a LOT in common in terms luck, I carefully released it back to its natural habitat.
My biggest Carp (ever) at Caplinger Mills
The biggest carp I ever caught was off the Southeast corner of the dam while night fishing. It was literally all I had in me not to be pulled off the concrete ledge and letting go of my favorite catfish pole was NOT an option. I was in for a fight, and I knew it!
The thought of trying to reel it up that concrete wall was less than appealing. I didn’t want to chance a hook and weight to the face should the fish wiggle lose. Therefore, I found myself awkwardly walking to the East in hopes of getting to the water’s edge. However, that was easier said than done with a concrete powerhouse in my way and little to no light. There was no way I could carry a lantern while fighting this fish, and I did not own a head lamp at the time. I found myself regretting life choices.
After a lot of patience and an extra set of hands, I was able to make it to the water’s edge where our fight continued. Was this thing ever going to get tired? I know I was exhausted! When I finally reeled that old carp in, I took notice of its size next to my leg. I immediately knew it was the largest carp I ever caught though lacked the energy to properly weigh it. I placed the carp back in the water so someone else could enjoy reeling it in.
A few fishing tips
Want to save money on catfish bait? Catch Shad! Go under the West side of the bridge and throw your cast net. Don’t have one? This cast net will get the job done!
The image below shows where I usually cast my net for Shad. See the red marks? That’s a great place to aim for. Toss your net out past those rocks and into the current. Be careful though! You don’t want to cast it out too far. The current is really strong which makes pulling your net back in more difficult than it needs to be. Also, imagine getting your net hung up way out there?! That’ll make you cuss in many different languages.
How to use Shad
If you have never used shad before, they make for great bait. Remove the gut from each shad and place the guts in a jar. Put a lid on your jar to keep from spilling them during transport if you’re going to a secondary location. Trust me you don’t want to spill that in your trunk! Don’t ask…
As for the body of the Shad, you can cut that up into small pieces. Place your Shad side in a jar. But wait, don’t forget the head. You can use that too. Nothing goes to waste!
You’ll learn what works best for you but in my experience, Shad guts work well when fishing from the bank with a pole. Make sure you put your hook through the really hard piece of gut, so it doesn’t fly off when you cast. Shad head and shad side work well when setting trot lines or jug lines.
PRO TIP! When your cast net wears out (and it WILL), make sure you repurpose the sinkers. While the net may no longer be functional, the sinkers can still be used for many things.
A few more fishing spots near Caplinger Mills
The places below are some of my favorite fishing spots in the area. I embedded interactive maps below for your convenience! Use the plus sign to zoom in and the minus sign to zoom out.
The Highway Bridge
Cowan Bridge
NOTE: There is a wildlife refuge right by Cowan that boasts plenty of recreational opportunity! You will see it just before you get to the bridge using the map below.
Blackjack
Caplinger Mills Float Trip
These are easy waters to canoe and great for beginners just getting their paddles wet. I have spent many weekends canoeing the Sac River. There are many different stretches you can enjoy if you have your own canoe. My favorite section is from Caplinger Mills to Blackjack. It’s lengthy (15 miles) but you can easily do it in a day. There are plenty of places to swim along the way and you’ll see a ton of wildlife. If you set out early enough, you can even get some decent fishing in.
My post, Canoe Trips Tips, offers some excellent advice for those just starting out or those wanting to optimize their safety methods while on the water.
Camping
I used to camp the Sac River all the time spending days fishing my life away. I used to pitch a tent on the East side of the Caplinger bridge as far behind the powerhouse as I could go. It was always so peaceful back there. You’ll find several campgrounds right near Caplinger now. I will link them all here for your convenience, but I have absolutely no opinion on which to recommend.
The mill is a nice place to camp, but it draws more traffic than I like when I am trying to “get away from it all”. Years ago, I used to camp at Cowan Bridge a LOT! It is definitely on my list of favorite places to camp along the Sac River. I spent an entire month there once. It’s so peaceful. I swam a lot, caught a lot of fish, told a lot of campfire stories, played a ton of cards, and even partied with some strangers. Here’s some good video footage of Cowan Bridge and the Sac River!
On weekends when someone else was camping at Cowan, I pitched my tent under the highway bridge on N. It is a great place to fish and spend a weekend. However, you will want to make sure you have a vehicle capable of getting you in and out!
Public service announcement
I read some online reviews of the area and of local campgrounds and resorts. I was really surprised at some of the comments! “We left early because people were shady” or “We felt unsafe in the area”. I have been coming to this area on and off for the better part of 3 decades. I have spent an insane and probably unacceptable amount of time canoeing and fishing the area. Aside from a mean Rottweiler that left me scrambling for the nearest tree, I have never felt unsafe. Not once!
Below is a list of the biggest threats in this area.
- Severe thunderstorms (travel with a weather radio)
- Pit Vipers (stay away from the sharp end)
- The Brown Recluse and Northern Black Widow (inspect your bedding if camping)
- Bald-Faced Hornets (stay away from any nests you see)
- Ticks (take necessary precautions and use the buddy system)
- Falling off a bridge while drunk (drink responsibly)
- Drowning (wear a personal floatation device)
- Rogue livestock (don’t try to ride the cow, leave it alone)
- Running out of gas (plan ahead)
- Flat tire from gravel roads (carry a spare)
- Slipping in the mud (wear proper footwear)
- Having fun and getting dirty (take a shower and change your clothes)
- Spotty cell service (you’ll survive)
You can also read my post, Basic Safety for all Travelers, if you want some ideas on how to optimize your current safety methods while traveling.
Swimming
Pack your personal floatation device and sunscreen! I have spent a lot of time wading and swimming the Sac River. The water level varies depending on local weather as well as the frequency at which water is let out from Stockton Dam. Some areas are very shallow, and others are rather deep. You’ll want to pay careful attention to the current as well as the water level where you choose to swim.
Play it safe and wear a good pair of water shoes! Rocks along the bottom can be extremely sharp. Also, fishing hooks may be present and removing a barbed hook from your heel isn’t something that screams “fun vacation”.
Tombstone Tourism at Caplinger Mills
Cemeteries are full of mystery, and I often seek them out when traveling. The old ones pique my curiosity the most, but I’m really not picky. Tombstone tourism is an excellent way to fill time gaps in your itinerary for little to no cost. Additionally, it adds historical value to your trip!
There are plenty of cemeteries in the area. But I will start with the one closest to the Caplinger Mills Historic District. It’s within walking distance actually! As you can see from this video of the Caplinger Mills Cemetery, some of those old headstones are absolutely incredible. It’s definitely worth a visit if tombstone tourism is your thing!
Need directions?
Another cemetery you may find interesting is Old Union Cemetery. It is nestled in the country next to the Old Union Missionary Baptist Church.
Need directions?
Photography at Caplinger Mills
People come from miles around to have their pictures taken at Caplinger Mills. The unique setting offers beautiful backdrops for all those important occasions worth commemorating. The cascading falls, the powerhouse, the old mill, the bridge, the Sac River, the farm fields, the gravel roads, all work together to create photographic diversity. When you plan your trip, make sure you pack something to take pictures with!
FUN FACT! Many people have gotten engaged here over the years and many have exchanged wedding vows on top of the iconic bridge.
Grilling Out and Picnicking
This is an excellent place to have a picnic so plan one! Lay a blanket in the grass near the water’s edge and enjoy your lunch while listening to the sounds of cascading falls. It doesn’t get more peaceful than that! Do it alone or go with a friend. Either way, you’re sure to add some pleasure to your day.
If you want something more than a picnic lunch, pack a small cooler and a portable grill. Cook up a hamburger and relax by the riverbank.
Take a Walk
This is a nice area for long walks! You can walk the entire historic district, the roads in the village, the cemetery, and miles of old country roads. Your legs will be like jelly before you run out of space.
Relaxing at Caplinger Mills
There’s no end to the relaxing things you can do here. In case you need some inspiration, see the list below!
- Grab a good book and find a quiet place near the water to get lost in the pages!
- Play cards with friends
- Visit with people
- Write a book, poem, or blog post!
- Listen to the sounds of nature while doing absolutely nothing!
- Listen to music
- Meditate
- Paint a picture
- Walk your dog
- Sky Gaze
- Watch for birds and wildlife
- Unplug!
Sightseeing
There are some really cool things to see at Caplinger Mills and plenty of old country roads that make for scenic drives. However, should you want a little more adventure considering driving on over to the Stockton Lake Area. There’s a lot to see and some great places to eat. See the map below for directions!
I hope the information here helps you plan your trip should you decide to visit Caplinger Mills! If you have any questions regarding the area, please reach out to me in the comments section of this post or send me an email. I will happily respond to all your questions! A huge thanx to Matt Keller with the Humansville Paranormal Society for granting me permission to use his Caplinger Mills photos. Wishing you many blessings and as always, Safe Travels!
