So glad we found this place! We were on vacation in the area when we had to make a last-minute change to our itinerary. Our original destination was the Johnson’s Shut-Ins, but the water was unbelievably low. To make matters worse, there really wasn’t room for us because of the huge crowd. We chose to look on Google Maps for an alternative swimming area and found one 44 minutes away. After notifying our “Safety Buddy” of changes in our itinerary, we were off to the Silver Mines Recreation Area.
This place is absolutely amazing. We had so much fun I only took two photographs while we were there. I spent the whole-time hiking, playing in the water, and looking for remnants of ore in the river.
The Mines
The Silver Mines Recreation Area is really neat to explore especially if prospecting and mining interest you. You can see the mines, ruins from the old mining town, and the tailings that were left behind. There was only a tiny bit of prospecting done on the East side of the St. Francis River but ultimately the West side would prove to be plentiful. The Einstein Mine and the Gabriel Shaft set closest to the St. Francis River. Moving West, you’ll find the Killian Prospect and the Apex Mine. Shifting to the Southwest, lie the Henson Shaft and the Martin Mine. Almost directly South from the Martin Mine, you’ll find the Ozark Mine.
You can view a geological map of the Silver Mine area here.
NOTE! Sometimes this map takes a moment to load.
Hiking
The Silver Mines Recreation Area boasts a little over 2.3 miles of unique and diverse trail hiking. For the most part the trails are moderate in terms of difficulty. However, there is a section on the East side that goes from the parking area up to and across the river at the dam that I wouldn’t hesitate to call treacherous.
If your intention is to cross the river at the dam and complete the 2.3-mile loop, you’ll need to have proper footwear and trekking poles. Prepare for slippery rocks, wet feet, and a potentially dangerous current. This section of the river is rated Class II – Class IV white water which fluctuates with the regions rain fall at any given time. Carefully evaluate the strength of that current before you attempt to cross the breach in the dam. Once you are safely across the breach, you will be challenged with some technical hiking as you climb up and cross to the West side.
HELPFUL RESOURCE! Check the latest river conditions here. Scroll down until you find the Saint Francis River data.
If you’re not up for the excitement of crossing the dam, you can always continue up the East path along the river all the way to Millstream Gardens Conservation Area.
You can easily add another 4.2 miles by hiking the Turkey Creek Trail as well as the Tiemann Trail in the Millstream Gardens Conservation Area. Then, hike your way back to the Silver Mines Recreation Area.
Camping at the Silver Mines Recreation Area Campground
The campground consists of 4 loops. There are single and double primitive sites as well as single and double electric sites. The area is capable of accommodating both recreational vehicles and tents. Furthermore, the sites are large, and shade is plentiful.
It is important to know that the campground does not have a shower house or any modern bathroom facilities with running water. However, vault toilets are available for your convenience. Additionally, the campground does not have a dump station, so you’ll need to plan accordingly. You’ll also want to bring enough garden hose to fill your water tank as no water hookups are available.
Learn more about the Silver Mines Recreation Area campground here, including fees and hours of operation!
White Water
The St. Francis River is a popular white-water destination. The upper portion is much calmer than the lower portion, which boasts the most dangerous rapids in the state of Missouri. White water competitions are held here every year in the spring with people coming from miles around to participate in and watch the action.
Wanna scratch your itch for adventure? The interactive maps below will show you the put in and take out locations for both the upper and lower sections of the St. Francis River. Use the minus sign to zoom out.
For the upper section of the St. Francis River:
For the lower section of the St. Francis River:
Learn more about white-water opportunities and events on the St. Francis River!
Fishing
Fishing opportunities here are plentiful up and down the river. What’s more, you can fish here year-round. However, there is a $5.00 day use fee for the recreation area, and you’ll have to abide by the hours of operation unless you are camping. Additionally, you’ll need a fishing permit from the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Wading & Swimming at the Silver Mines Recreation Area
We really enjoy wading, swimming, and playing in the water here. It’s even exciting to just sit in the shallow water and look at all the rocks. However, you need to be very careful of sudden drop offs and underwater debris. I highly advise a good pair of water shoes here. Additionally, you need to be careful of deceptive currents. They can be far stronger than they appear. You should always wade and swim with caution no matter where you are.
