Echo Bluff State Park

I have to admit it, I am nervous even posting this because I feel like I’m giving up one of my secret spots and if someday it becomes too crowded it may lose some of its luster.  A few years ago, I followed the development of Echo Bluff State Park closely, and once I saw some photos and read some reports on the park, I just knew I had to visit.  So last year I offered it up to Debbie, suggesting that she and I take the kids for a weekend and check it out.  Well, Debbie took that idea and ran with it, inviting her entire extended family for our inaugural visit in May of 2017.  That trip went so well that the entire group (with a few additions)returned again this year, and we took over 3 of the cabins this past Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.  Again the trip was a success, and we are already booked for next year when I’m sure we will have an even larger group.

Echo Bluff State Park, located near Eminence, MO in the heart of the Ozarks, officially opened in 2016.  The large bluff, the park’s namesake, towers above Sinking Creek and is the anchor to the natural landscape.  The creek is crystal clear and made for wading, skipping rocks, and has plenty of deep holes for fishing or swimming.  The forested hillsides surround the park, giving you the sense that you are in the wilderness.  However, the park is full of modern amenities to include a beautiful lodge, complete with a nice gift shop, restaurant, and meeting rooms.  There are also 9 full service cabins, a few offering multi-floor options to accomodate multiple groups or even larger groups.  Echo Bluff also has a unique playground, amphitheater, picnic shelters, concrete and wooded trails, and a community fire pit.  WiFi is available in most of these public areas, but the only place I had any phone service was in the lodge itself.

Echo Bluff’s has a campground, complete with electric/water sites, electric/water/sewer hookups, and walk in tent sites.  WiFi is available here, as well as a shower house.  All sites can be reserved and from what I hear availability is tough to come by.  The campground is new and there is basically no shade as all of the trees were recently planted.  However, I walked through the campground several times and everyone seemed more than happy to be there.

Our group of 20+ people stayed in the cabins, which were beautiful.  The full size kitchens were adequately stocked with standard dishes, glasses, and utensils and refrigerator.  There was a television, though it wasn’t ever on in our cabin.  We did watch Justify win the Belmont Stakes in one of the other cabins, however, so they must work well.  The cabins are nicely furnished, with comfortable beds, nice patio furniture, and a wonderful shower.  Small gas grills are provided (including the gas), and towels and trash bags are also supplied.  A few of the cabins are handicap accessible.

 

Somehow everyone in our diverse group of all age ranges and interests managed to have a great time, and all found something to do.  As mentioned, the accommodations were comfortable for those limited to minimal physical activity and if needed they could spend the day close to their cabins reading, enjoying the scenery, or playing cards.  Some of us chose to walk or bike the concrete trail through the park, and there are earthen trails through the woods as well.  The common areas provide a place for the kids to play flashlight tag or throw some washers.  The lodge has a comfortable fire place area complete with couches, tables, and chairs where some people hung out and played games.  And of course there was fishing in Sinking Creek.  While we had to work at it a bit, Billy and I managed to catch numerous smallmouth bass from the creek in addition to a few sunfish and rock bass.  A few of the bass were trophies in our book, and the memories made are precious.  Billy is working on a blog post to provide more detail on the fishing in the park.

Echo Bluffs also served nicely as a launching pad for exploring the area.  Current River State Park is literally across the street, Round Spring only a few miles away, and other attractions including Montauk State Park, Peck Ranch, Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry, Alley Mill, Blue Spring, and Rocky Creek are all within an hour away.  As stated in the earlier blog post, we floated the Current River which is only minutes away.  The nearby outfitters will even pick you up and drop you off back at the park.  For the equestrian fans, there is a group of wild horses that roam Shannon County and frequent the park.  We didn’t see them until Sunday morning, but they lingered for several hours and came right up to the cabins.

In case you have not noticed, I really love Echo Bluff State Park.  There are not many places a group as diverse as ours can stay for an extended weekend and still have everyone leave happy.  The park just does a perfect job combining the sense of being in the wild of the Ozarks while providing the comforts of home.  And even though the lodge and cabins were full, and other events were going on throughout the park, I never felt like anything was crowded.  Well, except maybe in the kitchen at dinnertime, but I can live with that.  As much as I don’t want to give up a honey hole, I encourage you to make plans to visit Echo Bluffs State Park one of these days.

Thanks for reading. Get out and enjoy the MO-Outdoors!

For more information, go to:

https://mostateparks.com/park/echo-bluff-state-park