Roaring River State Park in southern Missouri is an anglers paradise in the Ozarks! It is a busy and packed park that caters to the fisherman who can stand on the bank or up to their knees in waders. The creek is spring-fed and the fish are bred right at the top of the creek where the spring emerges. Swing by southern Missouri and visit this unique gem in the Ozarks!
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Pros
- Angler’s heaven with tons of fishing
- Swimming areas and fish hatchery
Cons
- Very busy
- Loud
- Few options outside of fishing
Camping at Roaring River
I camped in a non-electric riverside spot on the southeastern part of the park. It’s a green site as outlined in the visual aid above. The spots are very close together and you must be ready for close neighbors. Luckily, I had good neighbors and all went well through the evening. A storm that caused a lot of people to leave early probably helped too.
The Area Around Roaring River
The fish hatchery is the main attraction at the park. It’s a beautiful 1930 CCC design and spawns trout which isn’t endemic to Missouri. It’s possible due to the cold water which comes out of the spring which has been dammed and managed to spawn this cold-water fish. You can feed the fish with the approved food in bubblegum jars around the area. The spring area and the hiking trail up to the top of the cliff are very fun and interesting to investigate.
Roaring River State Park Ratings
Bathroom
The bathroom was ok at the tent area on the SE side of the park. Expect it to get a lot of use during the summer busy season because it was very packed when I was there. There were cleaners there every day and I didn’t have any issues. Be ready for an alternate spot if you can’t deal with a crowded bathroom area in the summer.
Campsites
Expect the campgrounds to be busy during the spring and summertime. The sites were also very near each other. You’re probably not going to enjoy this side of the park if you’re coming for peace and quiet. This is your spot if you want to fish from sun up to sun down.
Activities
The fish hatchery is the main attraction in the park besides actual fishing. There is a swimming pool and a small swimming area in the creek, fishing is the obvious main attraction. There are some towns and other historic points in the area but will require driving and planning.
Location
Southern Missouri is a beautiful place. The Ozark area in northern Arkansas and southern Missouri is beautiful. There are creeks, national forests, and hiking trails all throughout this area. This would be a great spot if you’re willing to drive to go see those areas. There isn’t much directly around the area.
AT&T Cell Service
There was no cell service but there was campground WiFi.
Conclusion on Roaring River SP
Roaring River State Park in southern Missouri is a wonderfully unique state park. It has unique attractions that wouldn’t be found anywhere else. The river and the fishing seem to be top-notch by the sheer amount of people there trying their hand at fishing. The camping is down and dirty and mainly focused on packing in the people who come to fish. It’s also a fascinating spot to learn about fish spawning and the cool spring which comes out of the side of a cliff. Enjoy!
Camping anf Hiking seem like a lot more than just fishing
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