Council Bluff Recreation Area
Photo · U.S. Forest ServiceThe place
The Council Bluff Recreation Area is perfect for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors. The Wild Boar Campground and sheltered picnic area, available for individual families or large groups, is next to the largest lake in the Mark Twain National Forest. The area provides ample opportunities for camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, swimming and more. Recreation Boating is a popular pastime on the lake, but all boats on the lake must operate at a no-wake speed. Visitors can access the water via the two boat ramps located at the lake. Canoeing, swimming and fishing are also available. Keep reading
Anglers can expect a catch of a variety of freshwater fish, including bass bluegills, catfish and crappies. The 12-mile Council Bluff Trail encircles the lake, with spurs to the campground. Hikers can enjoy scenic views of the lake and a look at the Mark Twain wilderness. Waterfowl hunting is permitted on Council Bluff Lake and the nearby Enough Fields provide upland game opportunities. A variety of wildlife makes its home in the heavily wooded area. Facilities The Wild Boar Ridge Campground offers multiple single-family, large group and walk-in sites, available for tent and RV camping. Each is equipped with tables, lantern posts and campfire rings or campfire circles, with grills. The large group sites can accommodate up to 50 people and a nearby picnic pavilion can hold up to 75. The pavilion is paved, with a roof overhead and is equipped with multiple tables and grills. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Electricity is not available, but some sites will accommodate RVs up to 40 feet in length. Some sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The beach provides accessible flush toilets, drinking water and coin-operated showers. A small play area with a slide and climbing structure is adjacent to the beach. Natural Features Located in southern Missouri, the Council Bluff Lake was created by a dam across Big River. It is 440 acres in size and 87 feet deep in some places. The Chapel Hill Beach is at the eastern end of the campground and provides 54,000 square-feet of sandy beach. Visitors can either walk or drive to the lake. Nearby Attractions The Trace Creek section of the Ozark Trail is located just west of the recreation area.
The sites · 57
| Loop | Site | Type | Max rig | Electric | ADA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHAP | 1 | group shelter nonelectric | 20 ft | — | |
| COUN | 003 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| COUN | 013 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| COUN | 017 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| COUN | 037 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| GRPA | 001 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| GRPA | 005 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| GRPA | 007 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| GRPA | 009 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| GRPA | 011 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| GRPA | 015 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| GRPA | 039 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| GRPA | 041 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| GRPA | 043 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| GRPA | 045 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| GRPA | A | group standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| GRPA | B | group standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| GRPA | C | group standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| GRPA | D | group standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| L1WK | 001 | walk to | 20 ft | — | |
| L1WK | 002 | walk to | 20 ft | — | |
| L1WK | 003 | walk to | 20 ft | — | |
| L1WK | 004 | walk to | 20 ft | — | |
| L1WK | 005 | walk to | 30 ft | — | |
| L1WK | 006 | walk to | 20 ft | — | |
| L1WK | 007 | walk to | 30 ft | — | |
| L1WK | 008 | walk to | 30 ft | — | |
| L1WK | 009 | walk to | 20 ft | — | |
| L2SG | 019 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| L2SG | 021 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| L2SG | 023 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| L2SG | 025 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| L2SG | 026 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | — | |
| L2SG | 027 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| L2SG | 028 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | — | |
| L2SG | 029 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| L2SG | 030 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | — | |
| L2SG | 031 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| L2SG | 032D | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | — | |
| L2SG | 033 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| L2SG | 034 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | — | |
| L2SG | 035 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | — | |
| MANAGEMENT SITES | 002 | management | 30 ft | — | |
| MANAGEMENT SITES | 006 | management | — | — | |
| MANAGEMENT SITES | 014 | management | — | — | |
| MANAGEMENT SITES | 016 | management | — | — | |
| MANAGEMENT SITES | 018 | management | — | — | |
| MANAGEMENT SITES | 020 | management | — | — | |
| MANAGEMENT SITES | 022 | management | — | — | |
| MANAGEMENT SITES | 024 | management | — | — | |
| MANAGEMENT SITES | 036 | management | 4 ft | — | |
| MANAGEMENT SITES | 038 | management | 2 ft | — | |
| MANAGEMENT SITES | 040 | management | — | — | |
| MANAGEMENT SITES | 042 | management | 30 ft | — | |
| MANAGEMENT SITES | XXX | management | 30 ft | — | |
| MANAGEMENT SITES | XXX26 | management | — | — | |
| MANAGEMENT SITES | XXX27 | management | — | — |
Booking
Recreation.gov default: most campsites can be booked six months prior to arrival date. Most campgrounds go on sale at 7am PT / 8am MT / 10am ET, but not always; check the facility Seasons and Fees tab. Some locations also offer shorter supplemental booking windows.
Book on recreation.govFees
Your representative
This campground sits in MO-08. This member’s public-lands record →