Council Bluff Recreation Area
Campground · Missouri · 42 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Mark Twain National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 42
- Bookable sites
- 40 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 75
- People per site
- 1,282 ft
- Elevation
Overview
The Council Bluff Recreation Area is perfect for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors. The Wild Boar Campground and sheltered picnic area, available for individual families or large groups, is next to the largest lake in the Mark Twain National Forest. The area provides ample opportunities for camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, swimming and more.Recreation
Boating is a popular pastime on the lake, but all boats on the lake must operate at a no-wake speed. Visitors can access the water via the two boat ramps located at the lake.Canoeing, swimming and fishing are also available. Anglers can expect a catch of a variety of freshwater fish, including bass bluegills, catfish and crappies.
The 12-mile Council Bluff Trail encircles the lake, with spurs to the campground. Hikers can enjoy scenic views of the lake and a look at the Mark Twain wilderness.
Waterfowl hunting is permitted on Council Bluff Lake and the nearby Enough Fields provide upland game opportunities. A variety of wildlife makes its home in the heavily wooded area.
Facilities
The Wild Boar Ridge Campground offers multiple single-family, large group and walk-in sites, available for tent and RV camping. Each is equipped with tables, lantern posts and campfire rings or campfire circles, with grills.The large group sites can accommodate up to 50 people and a nearby picnic pavilion can hold up to 75. The pavilion is paved, with a roof overhead and is equipped with multiple tables and grills.
Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Electricity is not available, but some sites will accommodate RVs up to 40 feet in length. Some sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The beach provides accessible flush toilets, drinking water and coin-operated showers. A small play area with a slide and climbing structure is adjacent to the beach.
Natural Features
Located in southern Missouri, the Council Bluff Lake was created by a dam across Big River. It is 440 acres in size and 87 feet deep in some places.The Chapel Hill Beach is at the eastern end of the campground and provides 54,000 square-feet of sandy beach. Visitors can either walk or drive to the lake.
Nearby Attractions
The Trace Creek section of the Ozark Trail is located just west of the recreation area.The facts
- 42 bookable sites
- 57 sites in total, including non-bookable
- 1 site for day use only
- Vehicles up to 40 ft
- Up to 75 people per site
- Loops: CHAP, COUN, GRPA, L1WK, L2SG, MANAGEMENT SITES
Site types
- 28 Standard Nonelectric
- 15 Management
- 9 Walk To
- 4 Group Standard Nonelectric
- 1 Group Shelter Nonelectric
Amenities
- Fire pits
- Picnic tables
- Grills
- Shade
- Pets allowed
- Water hookups — not available
- Campfires allowed — not available
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, sewer hookups.
57 campsites at Council Bluff Recreation Area
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Grade | Access | Water | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHAP | Group Shelter Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | — | Hike In | Lakefront | 20 ft | 75 | 🐾 |
| 003 | COUN | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 13 | 🐾 |
| 013 | COUN | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 13 | 🐾 |
| 017 | COUN | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Moderate | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 13 | 🐾 |
| 037 | COUN | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 13 | 🐾 |
| 001 | GRPA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | — | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 005 | GRPA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 007 | GRPA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 009 | GRPA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 011 | GRPA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 015 | GRPA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 039 | GRPA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 041 | GRPA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 043 | GRPA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 045 | GRPA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| A | GRPA | Group Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 74 | 🐾 |
| B | GRPA | Group Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | — | — | 30 ft | 74 | 🐾 |
| C | GRPA | Group Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 74 | 🐾 |
| D | GRPA | Group Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 74 | 🐾 |
| 001 | L1WK | Walk To | Parallel | — | — | — | — | 20 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 002 | L1WK | Walk To | Back In | — | — | Hike In | — | 20 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 003 | L1WK | Walk To | Parallel | Paved | — | Hike In | — | 20 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 004 | L1WK | Walk To | Parallel | Paved | — | Hike In | — | 20 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 005 | L1WK | Walk To | Back In | Paved | — | — | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 006 | L1WK | Walk To | Parallel | Paved | — | Hike In | — | 20 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 007 | L1WK | Walk To | Parallel | Paved | — | Hike In | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 008 | L1WK | Walk To | Parallel | Paved | Slight | Hike In | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 009 | L1WK | Walk To | Parallel | Paved | — | Hike In | — | 20 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 019 | L2SG | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 021 | L2SG | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 023 | L2SG | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 025 | L2SG | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 026 | L2SG | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | Drive In | — | 40 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 027 | L2SG | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 028 | L2SG | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 40 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 029 | L2SG | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 030 | L2SG | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | Drive In | — | 40 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 031 | L2SG | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 032D | L2SG | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 40 ft | 13 | 🐾 |
| 033 | L2SG | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 034 | L2SG | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 40 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 035 | L2SG | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 002 | MANAGEMENT SITES | Management | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 8 | |
| 006 | MANAGEMENT SITES | Management | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | — | 8 | |
| 014 | MANAGEMENT SITES | Management | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | — | 8 | |
| 016 | MANAGEMENT SITES | Management | Back In | Paved | — | Drive In | — | — | 8 | |
| 018 | MANAGEMENT SITES | Management | Back In | Paved | Moderate | Drive In | — | — | 8 | |
| 020 | MANAGEMENT SITES | Management | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | — | 8 | |
| 022 | MANAGEMENT SITES | Management | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | — | 8 | |
| 024 | MANAGEMENT SITES | Management | Back In | Paved | Slight | — | — | — | — | |
| 036 | MANAGEMENT SITES | Management | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 4 ft | 13 | |
| 038 | MANAGEMENT SITES | Management | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 2 ft | 8 | |
| 040 | MANAGEMENT SITES | Management | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 042 | MANAGEMENT SITES | Management | Back In | Paved | Slight | Drive In | — | 30 ft | 8 | |
| XXX | MANAGEMENT SITES | Management | Back In | Paved | — | — | — | 30 ft | 8 | |
| XXX26 | MANAGEMENT SITES | Management | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX27 | MANAGEMENT SITES | Management | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Getting there
From Potosi, take Highway P south for 10 miles to C Highway junction. Continue on C Highway for less than a mile to DD Highway junction. Turn left on DD Highway and continue for approximately 7 miles to the recreation area entrance.
37.70833, -90.94167 · 37°42'30.0"N 90°56'30.0"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 2.7 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 3.0 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 10.5 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
Fees and stay limits
Group site rates: $50 - $100
From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Council Bluff Recreation Area
- Can you reserve a site at Council Bluff Recreation Area?
- Yes, Council Bluff Recreation Area is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Council Bluff Recreation Area have?
- 57 sites in total, of which 42 can be booked.
- What is the maximum RV length at Council Bluff Recreation Area?
- 40 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Council Bluff Recreation Area?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Council Bluff Recreation Area.
- Does Council Bluff Recreation Area have hookups?
- No hookups are recorded here.
- Are campfires allowed at Council Bluff Recreation Area?
- Campfires are not allowed at Council Bluff Recreation Area.
Camping near Council Bluff Recreation Area
- Red Bluff Campground 14.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Sutton Bluff Recreation Area 16.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Highway K 28.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Loggers Lake Campground 29 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Silver Mines 29.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Council Bluff Recreation Area 1 mi · Campground
- Hazel Creek Campground 9.8 mi · Campground
- Berryman Campground 16.5 mi · Campground
- Brazil Creek Trailhead 19.8 mi · Campground
- Mark Twain National Forest Day Use Pass 22.1 mi · Activity pass
- Loggers Lake Recreation Area 28.2 mi · Campground
- Marble Creek Recreation Area 28.2 mi · Campground
Contact
- Phone (573)766-5765
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-05-22.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
Comments