Missouri Outdoor Sports: Hiking, fishing, hunting, bicycling in Eminence MO

Eminence was named one

of the 50 Best Outdoor

Sports Towns!

Hiking | Fishing | Hunting | Bicycling

* Select an activity above or scroll down to browse through all.

The outdoor activities in Eminence are endless, from hunting and fishing to bicycling and hiking...choose your adventure!

Hiking

Eminence offers many beautiful places to hike suited for outdoor enthusiasts of all levels. Wildflowers are at their height at the beginning to mid-July and Fall offers extraordinary colors and sights to take in.

Missouri's Ozark Trail is an outstanding resource for hikers, backpackers, and mountain bikers. In 1977, a group of people comprised of land managers, trail users and private landowners envisioned a long distance trail beginning at Castlewood State Park (near St. Louis), traversing southwestward through Missouri's most scenic areas and connecting with the Ozark Highlands Trail at the Arkansas border. Today 300 miles of the Ozark Trail are completed including an eastern loop that traverses through the scenic St. Francois Mountain region (the oldest mountain range on the North American continent). The Ozark Trail is for families, groups and individuals of all ages. It can be walked for as little as an hour with no specialized equipment or for several days with sophisticated backpacking gear. Historically, the trail was developed for hikers, backpackers and horseback riders, but now there are also sections open for mountain bike use.

Maps and brochures of the completed trail sections are available from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Ozark Trail Coordinator by calling 1-800-334-6946. Or you visit the Ozark Trail Association site by clicking on the picture at the right. This site offers maps for all trail sections in several printing formats and up-to-date information about the trail progress. (300 miles)

City of Eminence Walking Trails - As part of the Eminence City Golf Course, over 2.4 miles of walking trails are offered for your use, free of charge. These trails range from a short level loop (3/8 of a mile) to longer distances of 1 or 2 miles, with shorter distances in between. The walking surfaces range from wood chips to limestone chat and paved asphalt. You can enjoy the beauty of nature while still traveling on safe, maintained paths.

Alley Overlook Trail - Begins right outside the door of the Alley Mill. This steep trail takes you to an overlook where you can look down into the Alley Spring. Can be combined with the Spring Branch Trail for a nice nearly one mile loop. One way trail. (1.5 miles)

Alley Spring Branch Trail - Begins with a nice walk around the Alley Spring, follows the spring branch back to the parking lot. One-way

trail. (0.3 miles)

Big Spring Branch Trail - Begins with a loop around the Big Spring and follows the spring branch to the bridge. One way trail, moderately rocky. (0.3 miles)

Blue Spring Trail - Begins at the Powder Mill campground and leads to the beautiful Blue Spring. Powder Mill is about 14 miles east of Eminence on Route 106. One way. (0.5 miles)

Lick Log Trail - Located on Fox Pen Road (County Road 205) about two miles north of Eminence on Route 19. Stay to the right on Fox Pen Road. A nice loop trail maintained by the Missouri Conservation Department. (1 mile)

Fishing

The trophy trout section of the Current River extends from Montauk State Park to the Cedar Grove Campground. Trout under 15" must be released and the daily limit is 3 fish. Rainbow and brown trout, some exceeding 8 pounds, are caught from this section of the river every year. Only artificial lures are permitted for trout fishing, soft plastic may not be used.

The Current and Jacks Fork Rivers are nationally acclaimed smallmouth bass fishing streams. On the Jacks Fork River, the 25 miles from Highway 17 bridge to Highway 106 bridge at Alley Spring has been designated as a trophy smallmouth bass area by the Missouri Conservation Department with only one 18 inch bass allowed per fisherman, per day. Fishing opportunities increase on the Current River with a larger volume of water, and you can find smallmouth, largemouth, Kentucky spotted bass, chain pickerel, and an occasional walleye. For the panfish fisherman, there are goggle-eye and punkinseeds in both rivers. These species are seasonally nomadic, and the best way to hunt for them is in a boat or a canoe. Spinning tackle is the most common fishing method on these popular rivers, but many fly fishing enthusiasts work them with fly rods and tackle.

People have been gigging fish on the Current and Jack's Fork Rivers for many centuries and the tradition is still carried on today. In the early days, giggers used lighted pine knots to see suckers on the bottom of the river at night. These two crystal-clear rivers are home to a great population of smallmouth bass besides suckers. Although you can gig suckers in the daytime, you actually can see the fish better at night. The well-camouflaged suckers stay on the bottom, and you only can see them when they move. Presently, Missouri's gigging season for fish in streams and impounded waters runs from September 15 through January 31.

*Fishing license is required.

For more information visit

The MO Dept. of Conservation Fishing Page.

Hunting

Public hunting lands abound in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, and on Missouri Conservation Department and National Forest Service lands. Hunting has a strong tradition in the Ozarks and it is extremely popular due to the wooded hills that cover a great part of this area.

Deer populations remain high. During deer season, friendships are rekindled and families are reunited. There is an annual migration of hunters to the deer woods and deer camps, and every hunter in the region is stirred by this ritual. The rut falls during deer season, and due to the rough terrain, the most common hunting methods are stand hunting and still hunting.

Turkey populations are at historical averages. The pursuit of wild turkeys in the area is second only to deer season and local hunters and enthusiasts from the lower 48 states come to the Ozarks to hunt them every year. These shy birds are vulnerable early in the season before they get together with harems of hens, but they are very difficult to harvest afterwards. Calling is the most popular method for hunting wild turkeys.

The terrain and vast woodlands support a good small game population. Squirrel and rabbit populations ebb and flow, but we generally have a good population of both. Watch for squirrels along the wooded creek and river bottoms. Rabbits can be found in the edge habitat found near brushy fields, broken woodlots and borders. Like the rest of the Ozarks, our quail population is at a low level. But, there is a national trend to reestablish quail habitat and it is just a matter of time until they return to the forefront in small game hunting communities.

*Hunting permit is required.

For more information visit

The MO Dept. of Conservation Hunting Page.

Bicycling

Explore the Ozarks on a mountain bike! See spectacular wilderness beauty off the beaten path. Eminence is a main stopover point for the "Bicycling Across America Tour."