![[Bluff near Meramec State Park]](meramec.jpg)
Floaters nearing Meramec State Park
Meramec River "At a Glance" |
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| Scenery | Ozark hills descending to the Mississippi River, interesting caves |
| Best time | Spring & Fall (Summer) |
| Wilderness | Natural setting amidst moderate development including state park |
| Water Flow | Usually adequate for floating; highest in spring |
| Water Quality | Good to Excellent |
| Campsites | Good natural campsites, mostly on gravel bars |
| Hazards | Some small rapids |
| Logistics | Frequent access; canoe rentals, shuttles available |
| Trip Length | Up to 110 miles |
| Recommendation | Good Ozark float stream near metro St. Louis |
Floaters nearing Meramec State Park
General Description & Characteristics -- The Meramec river is the closest to St. Louis of all our Ozark streams. Because of that proximity, this river is one that many of the residents of that large city have adopted as their favorite float stream. As the Meramec approaches its end (at the Mississippi River), it forms the boundary of St. Louis county. Development has encroached upward along the river and there are many houses along the lower Meramec; however, the upper sections of the river retain much of the scenic beauty and solitude that characterize the Ozark rivers. It is a spring fed stream like many in the Ozarks and flows over a rocky bed. This is the heart of Missouri's cave country. There are some small caves along the river and some larger caves in the area that are developed for public visitation.
Location & Canoeable Mileage -- You can start a float trip just below Meramec Spring, the source of a substantial portion of the flow of the Meramec River. The first access is off highway 8 between St. James and Steelville. This is Woodson K. Woods Access (MDC). From this put in, you can float 110 miles or so to Robertsville State Park near the highway 'O' bridge (just short of the town of Pacific). This will be a trip of 7-10 days depending on flow and your pace. There are many access points along the way so you can tailor the distance of your trip to the time available.
Interesting Features -- Caves and springs! Great Ozark scenery. Rocky shoals with a few riffles. There are quite a few small caves that you can visit only from the river. The most notable of these is Greens Cave, which is in Meramec State Park. This beautiful cave has a 90 foot high entrance that is easily seen from the river. A stream of very cold water runs out of Greens Cave, and you can explore back into the cave for some distance (be sure to have three sources of light before entering any cave). If you like, you can also see some developed caves along the way. Onondaga Cave is in the state park of the same name. It's less than a mile from the river. There is also a cave that has guided tours by hand held lights in Meramec State Park (Fisher Cave). Fisher Cave is a few hundred yards off the river. Meramec Caverns is a commercial cave (with all the tourist amenities) just a few miles downstream from Meramec State Park, and it's also right on the river.
Camping -- Gravel bar campsites are easy to find on the upper section of the Meramec. As you get farther downstream, the campsites are harder to find, and camping is prohibited in some areas of the state park.
Additional Information:
Canoeing Information The Missouri Department of Conservation has put the mile by mile description of the Meramec on their web site. Canoe Rental/Shuttle Service Several outfitters provide services on the Meramec River. A list of them can be found on this web page. River Flow Data
- Meramec River at
- If you have trouble getting data from these links, click HERE
Parks on/near the River Towns/Other Locales on/near the River Meramec Caverns Books Missouri Ozark Waterways (Missouri Department of Conservation book)
More Pictures Canoe Campers Photo Gallery has a picture of Greens Cave entrance Environmental Issues/Organizations Acknowledgments/Contributors Miscellaneous
