Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR) has been part of the National Park System since August 27, 1964—the first NPS site created to protect a river system. It safeguards 134 miles of the spring-fed Current and Jacks Fork Rivers across about 80,785 acres (~126 sq. miles) in the Missouri Ozarks. The park is rich in water and stone, with 425+ springs and 400+ caves; Big Spring releases about 289 million gallons a day, and Blue Spring is over 310 feet deep. Free-roaming wild horses are managed under a 1996 federal law, which ties land, water, and wildlife together.
You can learn more about the top threats to the Ozark National Scenic Riverways and the wild horses.
I make small, focused bodies of work inside the Ozark National Scenic Riverways—its rivers, springs, bluffs, and the wild horses that call it home. I film my field days and print the photographs by hand in my darkroom. My goal is simple: handmade photographs that inspire care and protection for Ozark National Scenic Riverways and its wild horses.
Visitor Guide
This page gives you the essentials to visit the Current and Jacks Fork rivers—maps, access, rules, river levels—and how to watch the wild horses respectfully. I’m a local Ozark photographer and conservation advocate; I share this to help protect what makes Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR) special.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways Quick Facts
- Established by law: August 27, 1964 (Public Law 88-492; signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson). First NPS unit created specifically to protect a river system. [read more]
- Size: ~80,785 acres (~126 sq mi). (National Park Service)
- Rivers protected: 134 miles of the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers. (National Park Service)
- Counties: Shannon, Carter, Dent, and Texas (Missouri). (National Park Service)
Nature by the numbers
- Springs and caves: 425+ springs and 400+ documented caves within the Riverways. (National Park Service)
- Big Spring flow: about 286–289 million gallons per day (one of the largest springs in the National Park System). (National Park Service)
- Blue Spring depth: over 310 feet (among the deepest in the U.S.). (National Park Service)
Wild horses (legal status)
- Federal protection signed into law: November 12, 1996 (Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act, Pub. L. 104-333, §804(b); President Bill Clinton). Requires NPS to allow and manage free-roaming horses via agreement with the Missouri Wild Horse League; herd capped at up to 50. [history]
Maps you can use
River levels (check before you float)
- USGS gauges for both rivers (NPS lists the station numbers). Handy for deciding where/when to paddle. [OSNR River Levels]
Visitor centers (start here)
- Seasonal hours vary. Alley Mill (Jacks Fork district) and Big Spring Entrance Station (Current River) are common starting points; check current hours.
Key rules at a glance
- Pets: on a 6-foot leash; never unattended; clean up waste. Don’t tether dogs to boats on the water (drowning risk).
- General planning, camping, floating, and closures: review the park’s “Plan Your Visit” hub and book campsites on Recreation.gov.
- Practice Leave No Trace: keep wildlife wild; pack out trash; be considerate of others.
Seeing the wild horses (ethics first)
I create handmade black-and-white mural photographs to honor and protect the wild horses of Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
- Give distance: observe with a long lens or binoculars; never feed or approach. Wild horses are unpredictable, and we never want anyone to get hurt or make the horses dependent on humans for food.
- Know the story: Congress affirmed free-roaming horses inside ONSR in 1996, and the park works with a nonprofit partner (Missouri Wild Horse League) on stewardship. Your behavior helps that partnership succeed.
Top things to do (quick list)
- Float a spring-fed river, visit historic Alley Mill, hike a bluff trail, photograph springs at first light, find the wild horses, and tour Big Spring.
How I help (and how you can)
- I document and photograph the wild horses and riverways. I am an advocate for respectful viewing and taking care of our beautiful, clean rivers.
- Join my newsletter below for field notes, exhibit dates, and conservation actions tied to the 1996–2026 30-year milestone.
- Consider supporting park partners who conduct education and outreach in the corridor, such as the Ozark Riverways Foundation.
Resources
Ozark National Scenic Riverways Home Page: https://www.nps.gov/ozar/
Plan Your Visit: https://www.nps.gov/ozar/planyourvisit/index.htm
River Levels page: https://www.nps.gov/ozar/planyourvisit/levels.htm
USGS River gage — Current at Van Buren (07067000): https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/07067000/
USGS gage — Jacks Fork at Eminence (07066000): https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-07066000/
USGS gage — Jacks Fork at Alley Spring (07065495): https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-07065495/
Operating Hours & Seasons: https://www.nps.gov/ozar/planyourvisit/hours.htm
Visitor Centers: https://www.nps.gov/ozar/planyourvisit/visitor-centers.htm
Fees & Passes: https://www.nps.gov/ozar/planyourvisit/fees.htm
Permits & Reservations: https://www.nps.gov/ozar/planyourvisit/permitsandreservations.htm
Camping information: https://www.nps.gov/ozar/planyourvisit/camping-information.htm
Park Regulations: https://www.nps.gov/ozar/planyourvisit/park-regulations.htm
Superintendent’s Compendium: https://www.nps.gov/ozar/learn/management/ozark-national-scenic-riverways-superintendent-s-compendium.htm
36 CFR 7.83 (special regulations): https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/7.83
Pets in the Park: https://www.nps.gov/ozar/pets-in-the-park.htm
Leave No Trace (NPS): https://www.nps.gov/articles/leave-no-trace-seven-principles.htm
7 Principles (LNT): https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/
Wild Horses at ONSR: https://www.nps.gov/ozar/learn/wild-horses.htm
Public Law 104-333 (PDF): https://www.congress.gov/104/plaws/publ333/PLAW-104publ333.pdf
Ozark Riverways Foundation: https://www.ozarkriverwaysfoundation.org/
Park Store (America’s National Parks): https://www.nps.gov/ozar/learn/bookstore.htm
Recreation.gov — ONSR gateway: https://www.recreation.gov/gateways/2850
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