Exploring Missouri’s Roaring River State Park

While Roaring River State Park may be most well known as a great place for fishing, we discovered that it contains many opportunities for recreation for all. This rugged park in southwestern Missouri is home to one of the deepest explored natural springs in the entire United States. In 2021, divers explored the the spring to a depth of 472 feet with no end in sight.

This depth of 472′ became the record for the deepest explored spring in the United States. (A 2023 dive in Phantom Spring Cave in Texas is believed to have reached 570 feet, but was not officially confirmed. ) Read on to learn about how to explore Roaring River State Park.

History of the Park

The reliable gushing water of Roaring Spring lead to the building of several mills at this site over the years. The name of the spring came from the roar the 20 million daily gallons of water once made when bubbling up from below the rock shelter where the spring surfaces. After a dam was built in 1865, the mill pond covered the spring so that it no longer “roars.”

The early 1900s saw Roaring River as a popular resort area with travelers drawn to its beauty. A St. Louis doctor and soap manufacturer purchased the property around the spring and donated it to the state for a park in 1928. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) arrived at the park in the 1930s and did major work. They built the fish hatchery, picnic shelters, trails, and cabins. Many of these are still in use today.

Activities and Attractions

Roaring River is one of the most well appointed state parks. There are numerous opportunities for recreation from trout fishing to hiking. Kids will enjoy the nature center or feeding the fish at the historic hatchery. Fish feeders are available and there are change machines if you forget your quarters.

We don’t fish, but our kids did love feeding the fish. The hatchery was renovated a few years ago.

View Roaring River Spring
Taking a walk to see the spring is a must do. This easy walk follows a concrete path to the cave opening where Roaring Spring emerges. A waterfall can also be found flowing from the top of the bluff above the cave. This is a beautiful and peaceful spot.

Photography
Roaring River has some great opportunities for photography. The river cascades down several small rapids throughout the park.

Playgrounds
Two playgrounds are located at the park, one by the CCC lodge and one in the day-use area. Both appear in good condition. A promise of play time at a playground is always a good motivator to get kids hiking! Kids may also love climbing on the giant tree below the dam.

Nature Center
Roaring River State Park has a nature center with exhibits on the area’s history plus animal and nature exhibits. Kids can do a scavenger hunt for a prize.

Hiking

The park has seven different hiking trails from a short but steep 0.2 mile climb to a longer 4.4 mile rugged hike to an old fire tower. We have hiked five of the trails during our two visits to the park: Deer Leap, River Trail, Springhouse, Devil’s Kitchen Trail, and the Fire Tower Trail.

Deer Leap Trail

• Distance: 0.20 mile each way
• Difficulty: 3/5. Short but steep
• Scenic Value: 4/5. Great view from the overlook

The Deer Leap Trail can be accessed from either the parking area by the old CCC lodge or from the walkway near the spring. If starting from the spring, follow the trail up the steps. It is steep and rugged, but it is a short climb.

The trail follows along a wooden boardwalk before emerging to an overlook platform with a great view of the spring pool and hatchery.

The trail then heads back downhill and passes over the top of the dam on the way to the lodge.

River Trail

• Distance: 0.70 miles each way
• Difficulty: 2/5. Some mild ascents and rugged surface but fairly flat
• Scenic Value: 3/5. Nice views of the river and spring wildflowers

The River Trail starts near the CCC lodge and runs along the river to the campground. The trail was built by the CCC in the 1930s. The trail starts out mostly level before beginning to ascend higher up the hillside with views of Roaring River below.

Beautiful wildflowers can be found along this trail in spring.

The path levels out again and passes near some interesting bluffs. The sun was setting so we only went a little further past the bluffs before turning around.

Devil’s Kitchen Trail

• Distance: 1.5 mile loop
• Difficulty: 3/5. Moderate climbs, rugged path in areas
• Scenic Value: 4/5. Several small caves and creeks, interesting rock formations

Devil’s Kitchen is a great trail. It’s not to long but explores some rugged features of the park. The trailhead is located in the picnic area across from the CCC Lodge. An interpretive brochure can be picked up from the park office to correspond with numbered features along the trail.

The path quickly starts to switchback up the hill above the valley. The trail is a loop, we chose to turn right and hike counter-clockiwse. Along the way, the trail passes some interesting rocks and small caves.

Some of the hill climbs will get your heart rate up as you follow the trail up to the ridge.

The path turns and heads downhill before leveling out and passing a small spring.

Soon the best part of the trail comes into view. Huge rocks known as the devil’s kitchen area are located just off the trail. At one time the rocks formed a stone shelter used by Civil War guerrillas and outlaws. Now the shelter is partially collapsed but it still a really neat area to explore.

The trail continues past the rocks towards the road. The path runs parallel to the road and the river as it winds back to the trailhead. Some spring wildflowers can be found along this final stretch.

Springhouse Trail

• Distance: 0.4 mile loop
• Difficulty: 3/5. Moderate uphill climb, but short trail
• Scenic Value: 3/5. Passes a spring

The springhouse trail is a short loop that leaves from the edge of the parking lot at the Inn and Conference Center. The trail has a moderate climb uphill as it passes the remains of an old homestead and springhouse. There are some nice seasonal wildflowers in some areas of the path.

Fire Tower Trail

• Distance: 4.4 mile loop
• Difficulty: 3/5. Moderate climb and rugged in some areas
• Scenic Value: 3/5. Views of woodlands, glades, and meadows.

The fire tower trail is the longest at the park and leads to an old lookout tower from the 1930s. This 4.4 mile loop has several trail heads, including one from the nature center. If you only want to hike to the tower and back, the shortest option is to take the Deer Leap Trail to the white connector. This connector provides access to the fire tower loop. We decided to hike this way due to limited time, making about a 2.5 mile out and back total hike.

At one point not long into the connector trail from Deer Leap, there was a trail split. Left appeared to be the trail while right looked more like a social trail along the bluff. We started on the left trail and even saw what looked like an old trail marker on the tree before losing the trail. It turns out that trail to the right was the correct trail.

Once on the correct connector, it was an easy to follow path until it reached the Fire Tower Loop. We took a left turn through the woods before reaching the tower.

The tower was actually one of the more sturdy ones we have seen with metal stairs and railing. Even though a portion of the railing was damaged from what I assume was a tree falling on it, it still felt very safe to climb. The railing at the top, however, was not quite as high as I would like so use caution.

You don’t get a real good view as the trees are taller than the tower. I’m not sure if it was taller at some point or if the trees were just shorter when it was built.

After admiring the tower, we chose to retrace our steps instead of hiking the whole loop. I would love to hike the entire loop at some point which includes views of glades, streams, and rocky bluffs.

Lodging and Camping

Roaring River has a range of options for overnight stays. There is a campground with both basic and electric/sewer/water site as well as a showerhouse. A park store is available for any camping needs. The park has several cabin options including some with a river view. There is also the stone and timber Emory Melton Inn and Conference Center which offers motel style rooms plus a full service restaurant.

Our choice for our stay was the the historic CCC Lodge. The lodge was completely renovated a few years ago to add several units on the upper two levels.

We chose the two bedroom unit on the third floor. The unit was spacious and clean. It boasts a wonderful river view from the windows. Other units on the second floor have a shared balcony.

Additional Things to Know

• The park grounds are open sunrise to 10 p.m.
• A park map may be printed here.
• The Nature Center is open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday through Monday.
• Trout fishing is open March 1-October 31. Fishing licenses and tags are available in the park store.
• The park can be very busy in summer as it is a popular fishing spot. Visit during a weekday or off season if you want a quieter visit. We stayed on a Wednesday and it was very quiet.
• Lodging reservations can be made here.

Have you visited this scenic park? If not, plan a visit to see the scenic beauty and rugged trails at this historic park.

Happy Hiking!