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 Extended (Chadwick Motorized Trail System)
The closure of Trail 119 of the Chadwick Motorized Trail System has been extended due to delays with the culvert replacement. This order supersedes the previous order. The closure of Trail 119 begins on Trail 101 about halfway between KC Pavilion Trailhead and Cobb Ridge Campground and extends…
Beaver Lake Temporary Closure
Beaver Lake, located within the Poplar Bluff Ranger District, will be temporarily closed to facilitate dam repair work.
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
Community Posts
No posts yet. Be the first to share your experience!