Council Bluff Campground
The campground is open for the 2026 season from April 23 through October 26. The water system at Wild Boar Ridge Campground is currently out of service. Water and showers are available at Chapel Hill Beach, which opens May 21 and closes Mondays except holiday weekends. Outside firewood is prohibited to prevent invasive pest spread.
Heat Advisory issued August 30 at 11:03PM CDT until September 4 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
* WHAT...Heat index values up to 105 expected. * WHERE...Portions of south central, southwest, and west central Illinois and central, east central, northeast, and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...From noon Monday to 8 PM CDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.
Forest Order 09-05-21-26-03 National Forest System Road 566 Closure
This is a temporary closure for FS Road 566 up to Coy Bald Trailhead to avoid risk of entrapment from flooding waters during the peak rain season. Access to the Coy Bald Trailhead requires crossing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land—and traversing the Cane Creek low‑water crossing, a…
Weather Conditions
Please check weather conditions prior to visiting. Forecasts can be found:National Weather Service - Springfield, MO Severe Weather Potential National Weather Service - Springfield, MO (Facebook) Safety Tips are available: Brave the Elements Ready.gov - Floods Severe Weather Tornadoes
About
Council Bluff Recreation Area sits alongside the largest lake in Mark Twain National Forest, about 80 miles southwest of St. Louis. The 440-acre Council Bluff Lake, created by a dam across Big River and reaching depths of 87 feet, anchors this developed recreation area. Wild Boar Ridge Campground offers 39 single sites, 7 double sites, 9 walk-in primitive sites, and 4 group sites that accommodate up to 50 people each. Sites accommodate RVs up to 40 feet and feature picnic tables, lantern posts, and campfire rings with grills. The 12-mile Council Bluff Trail encircles the lake with connector spurs to the campground, offering scenic views of the water and surrounding Mark Twain wilderness. The Ozark Trail connects at Trace Creek mile 15. Chapel Hill Beach provides 54,000 square feet of sandy swimming area about a mile downhill from the campground, along with flush toilets, drinking water, and coin-operated showers. Boating is limited to no-wake speeds, with two boat ramps available. Anglers target bass, bluegill, catfish, and crappie. Waterfowl hunting is permitted on the lake, and the Enough Fields offer upland game opportunities.
Directions
From Potosi, go south 10 miles on Highway 21. Turn right onto C Highway and go approximately 6 miles. Turn left on Highway DD for about 8 miles to the entrance on the left. GPS: 37.72261, -90.937792. Do not search GPS for just 'Council Bluff' as it may route you to the north side where roads are rough.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | — |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | Yes |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | — |
| Price | $15 - $50 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | 40ft |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | — |
| Pull Through Sites | — |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (573) 766-5765 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | None |
Photos
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