A PERFECT 573 SPRING DAY TRIP
- Thomas Smugala
- Feb 23
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 25
The best thing about the 573 is the water—beautiful, crystal-clear water with no smell. Everyone in the area is just a stone’s throw from the Current and Black rivers, Sam A. Baker State Park, Clearwater Lake, Rocky Falls, and some of the biggest springs in the country. Ahhh… the springs. Ride along with us on our 573 spring day trip to check them out.
Beautiful, crystal-clear water with no smell.
Big Spring
Our first stop was Big Spring. The name says it all—Big Spring is big. I had no idea we had anything this fantastic in the state. The amount of water that gushes up from its depths is mind-boggling. The staggering roar of the water is incredible. The closer you get to this natural treasure, the more impressive it becomes.
Big Spring is the largest spring in Missouri and is even thought to be one of the largest in North America.
Big Spring is the largest spring in Missouri and is even thought to be one of the largest in North America. It pumps out about 276 million gallons of cool, 58-degree Fahrenheit water each day. It literally creates a river that then flows into the Current River.
Big Spring literally creates a river.
ALLEY SPRING
Our next stop was Alley Spring, the seventh-largest spring in Missouri. The spring is said to be 155 feet deep, with veins reaching more than 3,000 feet below the surface.
Just outside the natural area is Alley Spring Gristmill, built in 1894. Today, it houses a small history museum. The cool waters flow from Alley Spring for about a half-mile before entering the Jacks Fork River. This incredibly beautiful spring is encircled by a nicely paved walking path.
Alley Spring is set up for daytrippers. Plenty of trails both rough and paved.
ROCKY FALLS
Rocky Falls is a stunning natural wonder carved from ancient volcanic rock. This dramatic shut-in features a cascading waterfall that drops about 40 feet over reddish-brown rhyolite porphyry formed 1.5 billion years ago, plunging into a refreshing, clear pool perfect for swimming.
Rocky Falls is a stunning natural wonder carved from ancient volcanic rock.
The hard igneous rock resists erosion, creating the narrow chute characteristic of Ozark shut-ins, while the softer surrounding dolomite allows wider valleys elsewhere. Visitors enjoy a short, easy trail, picnic areas, and seasonal beauty—vibrant redbuds in spring and peak flow after rains.
Springs form when rainwater seeps into the soil, travels through porous rock or underground aquifers, and then emerges through cracks, faults, or openings in the land. They often appear where the water table meets the surface. Springs range in size from small trickles to large flows that form streams or rivers. The water is usually clear and cool because it has been filtered through layers of soil and rock. Many communities rely on springs for drinking water and agriculture.
TIME FOR A PICNIC LUNCH
Say what you want about picnics and hard salami—I don't care. Sure, there are plenty of delicious restaurant options around the springs, but who could pass up crashing out on a rolling hill and having an old-school picnic? Sawing like a lumberjack into this super-hard salami is a glorious thing—the fat and protein will keep me fueled for the rest of the trip. Don’t judge me. One bite of fresh baked bread, cheddar cheese, and hard salami with a sip of Chambourcin from Edg-Clif Winery, and bingo—zero cares remaining. 573: picnic perfection.
...fresh baked bread, cheddar cheese, and hard salami with a sip of Chardonel from Edg-Clif Winery, and bingo—zero cares remaining.
BLUE SPRING
Blue Spring, nestled within Ozark National Scenic Riverways near Eminence along the Current River, is renowned as the state’s deepest spring at over 310 feet—one of the deepest in the United States. Known to Native Americans as the “Spring of the Summer Sky,” its vivid turquoise-to-deep-blue hue comes from its immense depth, dissolved minerals, and reflection of the sky.
The sixth-largest spring in Missouri, it gushes about 90 million gallons of crystal-clear, constant 58-degree water daily, creating a mesmerizing pool framed by forested bluffs and rocky ledges. A short, easy trail (about 250 yards) leads from the parking area to viewing platforms and a boardwalk, offering stunning overlooks ideal for photography, quiet reflection, or picnics.
A serene natural gem for hikers, nature lovers, and anyone seeking tranquility.
ROUND SPRING
Next stop was Round Spring. Similar to a Mexican cenote, Round Spring is literally a caved-in cave.
A captivating natural wonder.
Round Spring, nestled in Missouri's Ozark National Scenic Riverways along the Current River, is a captivating natural wonder about 13 miles north of Eminence. This massive spring gushes an average of 26 million gallons of crystal-clear water daily from a nearly circular, 55-foot-deep pool—its perfectly round shape giving it the name. The water flows beneath a natural bridge before joining the Current River.
It was a Missouri state park from 1932 until 1964, when the people of Missouri donated it to the National Park Service to become one of the star attractions of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
Homeport Inn -Last stop on the 573 Spring Day Trip!
OK, you may be tired after a hard day trip—time to relax. Homeport Inn is located between Ellington and Eminence, Missouri, offering a unique Ozarks experience. Just four miles from the Current River and nestled within the Current River Conservation Area, it provides unlimited opportunities for outdoor adventure and relaxation.
Unlimited opportunities for outdoor adventure.
Spring is on the way! The 573 Spring Day Trips are calling. So GET OUT THERE! Do something. Do anything. Visit some places. Walk around and see your world unfiltered by a fake, retouched version of the world. Get out there—573 Magazine commands you!
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