Silver Mines

About

Silver Mines Campground occupies a scenic stretch of the St. Francis River in Missouri's Mark Twain National Forest. The river is the only waterway in the state classified as whitewater, drawing kayakers during spring high water, including participants in an annual kayaking competition held the third weekend of March. Beyond paddling, visitors enjoy swimming in calmer sections, fishing, and hiking the 2-mile Silver Mines Trail that follows both riverbanks and connects to the Millstream Gardens Conservation Area. The campground encompasses 70 individual sites spread across four loops: Riverside, Prospect, Summit, and Spring Branch. Eleven sites offer 30-amp electric hookups, while the remainder are non-electric. A group site accommodates up to 74 people. All sites include picnic tables and fire rings with grills. Facilities include potable water from faucets and ADA-compliant vault toilets. The recreation area takes its name from the Einstein Mine, which extracted silver, tungsten, and lead from 1877 until operations ceased in 1946. The exposed Precambrian granite and felsite rocks along the riverbed create dramatic scenery, particularly in fall when foliage colors peak. Nearby attractions include Elephant Rocks State Park and Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park.

Directions

From Fredericktown: From the intersection of MO Hwy 72 and US Hwy 67, head west on Hwy 72 approximately 4.3 miles to State Hwy D near Oak Grove. Turn left onto Hwy D and travel approximately 2.9 miles to the entrance on the right.