Greer Crossing Recreation Area

Campground 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.

River and Stream Fishing

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.

1. 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.
2. 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).
3. 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.

A printable version of the fishing information for the Eleven Point River is available to download (pdf)

MDOC Special Waterbody Regulations for the Eleven Point River (html)

MDOC Fishing Prospects for the Eleven Point River (html)

Day Hiking

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.

Backpacking

The Eleven Point River Section of the Ozark Trail passes through this recreation area.

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.

Picnicking

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.

Boating - Motorized

A single-lane concrete boat ramp provides easy access for boats. Motors are limited to 25 hp.

Boating - Non-Motorized

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.