Greer Crossing Recreation Area
As you exit the highway, the campground is located to the left with campsites located off of a loop road that circles through the campground. If you stay straight you will get to the boat launch and day use area.
This campground is primarily used by people using the river. It’s a nice flat, level area immediately adjacent to the highway.
This campground is a hub that puts you in the vicinity of Greer Mill, Greer Spring, and numerous other historic mills and springs. There are several historic sites in the area also. These sites are not within walking distance, but are a reasonable drive away along Highway 19.
When you access the site from the river, it will be located on the right-hand side.
Camping
The campground is set back away from the water’s edge. A campground host is on site in the summer. Sites, which offer seclusion and privacy, each with a table, fire ring, and lantern post.
Picnicking and Boating
A picnic area is near the boat access. The boating access is one of the most popular launch sites for people floating the Eleven Point.
Hiking
There is one trail available for hikers; a 4-mile trail that follows the river and through typical Ozark hills up to McCormack Lake then circles back for a 2 mile walk back to Greer. This trail runs along the river and then back along the hillside above the river.
Fishing
Fishing is plentiful, there are rainbow trout, small mouth bass, and sunfish, just to name a few.
General Information
Camping
16 single and 3 double sites with tables, fire rings, lantern posts, seasonal drinking water/ trash bins, vault toilets.
RV Camping
No hookups available at this location.
Size Restrictions
Vehicle + towed Trailers cannot exceed 60" in length.
Pavement Type of Parking
Asphalt
January - December
Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
Camping Discount
- There is a 50% discount for camping for anyone with an Interagency Access or Senior Pass.
- The discount applies only to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass holder, not to any additional fee or campsite(s) occupied by members of the pass holder's party.
When Visiting the Eleven Point Wild and Scenic River
At Access Sites and Camps/Campgrounds:
- No overnight camping in day use areas at any time of year.
- Dogs must be on a 6 foot leash in the day use area
- No trash containers at all sites; please pack out all your trash.
- Fireworks are prohibited.
- Park only in designated parking areas. Campsite parking allows for two vehicles per site.
- Please don’t damage the historic structures.
- No OHVs/ATVs/UTVs are allowed to operate within this Recreation Area.
On The River
- Follow the Leave No Trace Principles
- No glass or polystyrene on the river.
- The river can rise rapidly, be aware of changing conditions.
At Float Camps and Campgrounds
- Only dead and downed wood for campfires
- No more than 8 people are permitted at single sites (16 for double sites).
Overnight Use:
Single Site: $10 per night
Double Site: $20 per night
Boating
When boating with your dog, follow all Missouri State boating laws.
- Use care when getting your dog in and out of the boat to ensure their safety.
- Consider both you and your dog wearing a life jacket.
- Provide shade for your pet.
- Remember to bring their food and water as it may be unsafe for them to drink lake water.
Camping
- Keep dogs on a six-foot, or shorter, leash when they are not inside a tent.
- Store dog food in bear-resistant containers and feed your pet away from the campsite.
- Pick up and bag your dog’s waste. Place it in a provided trash receptacle or pack it out.
- Do not leave your dog unattended at any time.
- Keep your dog in your tent at night.
- Ensure that there is ample water available for your pet.
Trail Use
Dogs are allowed on hiking trails, as long as they are kept on a leash. Unleashed dogs can pose a danger to your pet, the natural resources of the area, and other forest visitors.
Wildlife
- Do not allow them to interact with wildlife
Address: #66 Confederate Ridge Road Doniphan, MO 63935
Phone: 573-996-2153
Hours: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday; District Offices closed 1 - 1:30 for lunch (Closed on federal holidays)
Office Email: sm.fs.marktwainnf@usda.gov
Getting There
Latitude / Longitude
Latitude: 36.79356389
Longitude: -91.32854167
Elevation
774 feet
Directions
From Winona, MO
- take Hwy 19 south 17 miles to Forest Road 3188,
- Take a left at junction of Hwy 19 and Forest Road 3188
- This is the entrance to the recreation area.
Note: If you are on the bridge you have gone to far, the site is just north of Eleven Point Bridge right before the bridge.
Parking
Day Use/Boat Launch: 25 vehicles/10 vehicles with trailers
Facility and Amenity Information
Accessibility
Facilities are accessible – toilets, tables, fire rings, lantern posts
Restrooms
Restrooms are available at this site.
Water
Potable water is available at this site.
Water is usually available from April 1 to November 1, please call the district office for updated information on when water is available.
Picnic Tables
Picnic tables are available at this site.
Nearby Trails
Recreation Opportunities
Picnicking - Single Info
There are 5 sites with tables and pedestal grills. Drinking water, trash receptacles and vault toilets are available. Fishing is nearby as well as access to the Eleven Point National Scenic River.
No. of Sites
5
Day Hikes Info
Eleven Point River Section of the Ozark Trail
The first 10 miles pass through very rugged slopes and flowages associated with the Eleven Point National Scenic River. Several fine views of the Eleven Point valley are present.
From the Greer Recreation area, at mile 10, the trail parallels the Eleven Point River on its way to McCormack Lake. There is a fine picture opportunity at the mouth of Greer Spring and an excellent bluff view of the river near mile 12.
A spur leads to McCormack Lake at mile 13.
Elevation desc
Varies with area
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
Backpacking Info
Eleven Point River Section of the Ozark Trail
The first 10 miles pass through very rugged slopes and flowages associated with the Eleven Point National Scenic River. Several fine views of the Eleven Point valley are present.
From the Greer Recreation area, at mile 10, the trail parallels the Eleven Point River on its way to McCormack Lake. There is a fine picture opportunity at the mouth of Greer Spring and an excellent bluff view of the river near mile 12.
A spur leads to McCormack Lake at mile 13.
Elevation desc
Varies with area
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
Boating - Motorized Info
A single-lane concrete boat ramp provides easy access for boats. Motors are limited to 25 hp.
Size Restrictions
None
Motor Type
25hp
Boating - Non-Motorized Info
Greer Crossing is a popular point for launching canoes, and also for taking canoes out. Popular float trips include:
- Thomasville to Greer = 16.6 miles, can usually be floated March through June, when water is relatively high;
- Greer to Turner Mill = 4.9 miles; passes through Mary Decker Shoal*.
- Greer to Riverton = 19 miles; excellent 2-day float, can often be completed on one long day.
*A shoal is an area of shallow water, typically faster moving water than the rest of a river, a shallow rapid.
Miles are starting from Thomasville and are as the river flows:
16.6 Mi. from Turner Mill is Greer Crossing is the Highway 19 River Access. On the left is the access point, a picnic area, campground and hiking trails.
17.0 Mi. The River forks here. The left fork is known as the Stair Step Hole” named after the historic concrete steps on the steep left bank. The right fork is known as the “Motor Chute” named because its deep water allows motor boats to pass through.
17.2 Mi. Located on the left is Graveyard Hollow.
19.4 Mi. Little Hurricane Creek enters from the right.
19.6 Mi. On the right bank in the flat below Little Hurricane Creek is the location where Simpsons Mill, one of the first along the Eleven Point, was built before the Civil War. The mill ground grain and sawed timber for early settlers, and was used by the Confederate Army as a recruiting station.
20.1 Mi. Mary Decker Shoal, a chute type rapids with many large boulders scattered over the stream bed. A rock dam once existed at this point during the lumber boom. Logs floated down the river from Boom Hole were taken from the river, loaded onto rail cars and hauled to the Ozark Land and Timber Company mill at Winona.
20.4 Mi. Hurricane Creek enters from the left. Hydrological studies show that some of the water from the Hurricane Creek flows underground to Big Spring in Carter County 17 miles to the east. The river butts up against a 300 foot high bluff and turns sharply to the right.
21.5 Mi. Turner Mill Access on the left or north is a day use picnic area with a boat launch. It was the site of a community that contained a general store, post office, school, Turner’s Mill, several houses and a population of almost 50. The mill operated from 1850’s to the early 20th century. Turner Mill South on the right is a major landing/launch area.
Class of Rapids
No rapids, but there are shoals
Fishing - River/Stream Info
Fishing the Eleven Point Wild and Scenic River is a very popular recreation activity on the Mark Twain National Forest.
The river sees a variety of users and is shared by canoes and boats, swimmers, trappers, and anglers. Please use caution and courtesy when encountering another user.
Be aware that 25 horsepower is the maximum boat motor size allowed on the Eleven Point River from Thomasville to "the Narrows" at Missouri State Highway 142.
The Varied Waters
Different fish live in different parts of the river depending upon the water temperature and available habitat.
- The upper river, from Thomasville to the Greer Spring Branch, is good for smallmouth bass, longear sunfish, bluegill, goggle-eye (rock bass), suckers, and a few largemouth bass. This area of the river is warmer and its flow decreases during the summer.
- The river and fish communities change where Greer Spring Branch enters the river. The spring more than doubles the volume of the river, adding millions of gallons of clear, cold spring water each day. This cold water makes it possible for Rainbow Trout to do well in this part of the river. Five and one-half (5-1/2) miles of river between the Greer Spring Branch and Turner Mill South Access is a Blue Ribbon Trout Area (BRTA).
- From Turner Mill to Riverton the water stays cold and is managed as a White Ribbon Trout Area (WRTA). Twelve inch (average) trout are stocked in the WRTA by the Missouri Department of Conservation from March to October. From Greer to the Arkansas state line you will also find numerous smallmouth bass, goggle-eye, suckers, longear sunfish, chain pickerel (pike) and an occasional walleye.
Baits and Tackle
Fish in the Eleven Point River are caught with a wide variety of tackle and with various baits. Worms, salmon eggs, cheese, canned corn, plugs, soft plastic lures, hard lures, grasshoppers, and artificial flies have all been used for fishing. Other types of live bait may be used for fishing.
When using live bait, special rules, limits, and capture methods also apply. Game fish or their parts may not be used as bait. In the BRTA, only flies and artificial lures may be used. Natural bait, scented bait, and soft plastic cannot be used in this area. Fish gigging is also prohibited in the BRTA.
Gigging
Gigging for fish is a time honored activity in the Ozarks that dates back to a time when good fishing equipment was not available. Hand made gigs for fishing are still made today. Suckers are the fish most often gigged. Gigging has certain seasons and limits. Some areas are also closed to gigging year round. Consult the latest copy of the Wildlife Code of Missouri if you wish to try your hand with this specialized type of fishing
Rules and Regulations
To protect and manage Missouri's fine fish populations, rules and regulations (the Wildlife Code of Missouri) have been enacted to insure that future generations will be able to enjoy the outdoor world. However, be aware that regulations may change each year. To prevent illegal fishing practices and possible citations, review and study the latest fish and game regulations published by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
MDOC Special Waterbody Regulations for the Eleven Point River (html)
MDOC Fishing Prospects for the Eleven Point River (html)
Fishing Mode
Canoe, kayak, wading
Fish Species
Fish Species - Daily Limits - Minimum Size in inches
- Largemouth (Black Bass) 6* 12"
- Smallmouth (Black Bass) 1* 15”
- Sunfish (Longear and bluegill) 50 none
- Rock Bass (Goggle-eye) 15 8”
- Suckers 50** none
- Drum 50** none
- Walleye and Sauger 4 18”
- Chain Pickerel (Pike) 6 none
- Rainbow Trout (White Ribbon Trout Area) 4 none
- Rainbow Trout (in Blue Ribbon Trout Area) 1 18"
* you may take a total of 6 Black Bass daily, but only one may be a Smallmouth Bass ** the limits are 20 fish total while gigging
Water Temperature
30 - 65 Degrees
Fishing Method
Rod & /Reel, Flyfishing
Water/Flow Level
varies w/ rainfall
Recreation Groups
The Eleven Point National Wild and Scenic River meanders through the picturesque Ozark hills of southern Missouri.
