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.
Forest Closure - Bridge Replacement at Paddy Creek
Paddy Creek Recreation Area, National Forest System Road 211, Big Piney Trailhead Spur Trail (03-016-D), Paddy Creek Trail Loop (Trail 03-016-C), and a section of the Big Piney Trail (03-016-A) will be closed from December 1, 2026 until December 31, 2027 while a bank on the creek is restabilized…
Forest Order - Trail 119 Closure (Chadwick Motorized Trail System)
The closure of Forest Trail 119 in the Chadwick Motorized Trail System will serve to ensure the protection of people who visit the Mark Twain National Forest by preventing access to the trail during the removal of a culvert. The Closure Order and Map can be accessed in the green links below.
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…
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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