Timbuktu Campground — Echo Bluff State Park

I’ve been coming to the Current River area for over 60 years, before the National Scenic Riverways, when Round Springs, Alley Springs, Big Springs, and Montauk were all state parks. They were great places for camping, swimming in the Current River, and canoeing. This new State Park at Echo Bluff is everything I would eliminate from a campground. Sites are packed close together, everything is concrete. No privacy, no shade , no natural beauty. A big modern lodge, cabins and townhouses. I made reservations for two weeks expecting a state park experience. Sorely disappointed! We left early. The staff mostly didn’t bother us. But we watched the cop that sat along the road partway down a steep hill almost every day and gave out tickets for exceeding the 20 mph limit. Showers/bathrooms were new, but not centrally located. Probably would not go back.

Love tent camping! Secluded and shaded. I want a few years back and it was lovely can’t wait to see if there have been updates!

Echo Bluff State Park is nestled in the heart of Missouri's Ozarks. This natural haven offers a perfect retreat for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. The park boasts a stunning blend of scenic beauty, recreational activities, and comfortable amenities.

The first thing that strikes you about Echo Bluff State Park is its breathtaking natural beauty. The towering bluffs, dense forests, and the pristine Sinking Creek that meanders through the park create a picturesque landscape that's a joy to explore. Hiking trails like the Signal Hill Trail and Current River Trail offer hikers stunning vistas and the chance to encounter local wildlife.

For those looking to relax, the park offers a range of options. The modern campground facilities are well-maintained and provide all the comforts of home, while the cozy cabins offer a rustic yet comfortable escape. The Echo Bluff Lodge is a standout feature, offering a beautiful setting for meals and relaxation with its panoramic views of the park.

One of the highlights of Echo Bluff State Park is its accessibility to the Current River. Canoeing, kayaking, and fishing are popular activities, and the park provides easy access to the river. It's also a designated Missouri Trout Park, making it a paradise for anglers.

In conclusion, Echo Bluff State Park is a haven for nature enthusiasts and those seeking a peaceful getaway. Its natural beauty, outdoor activities, and comfortable accommodations make it a must-visit destination in Missouri. Whether you're an avid hiker, a water sports enthusiast, or simply looking for a tranquil escape, Echo Bluff has something to offer everyone.

First, the park hosts were so friendly, helpful and hard working. They kept everything spotless! Bathrooms and showers were a 10. Grounds were a 10. Location and surroundings were gorgeous. Sites were spacious and there’s not a “bad” site in the whole park. It was Peaceful and quiet at night. We walked through the walk in tent camping area and it was amazing. Sites were big, private and spread out through the woods with wooden platforms. Path through the area was gravel and very well maintained. The Betty Lea Lodge was close and had an awesome store and gift shop. We will definitely be back!

Great place to stay. Easy to get checked in staff is super helpful. Quiet campground not a lot of loud music and people. Other campers are super friendly and nice. Bluffs at at the lodge are amazing to see. Will definitely be coming back!!

I took the day off on Friday so we could have a full weekend of camping. We originally planned to go to Buffalo River in Arkansas, but there was a lot of rain in the area so we decided to check out Echo Bluff State Park instead.

I’m glad we did! It was beautiful and our campsite 🏕️ was perfect. There was a wooden platform that kept us drier than we might have been when it rained Saturday night and some water got in a few of the seams of our tent 😅

We tried to catch some fish in Sinkin’ Creek Friday and Saturday but no luck. The cool water felt wonderful both days but chasing away the copperheads 🐍 Saturday that were likely scaring away the fish 🐟 was so not fun 😂 neither was finding a tick on my arm but we found it soon enough to get it off without issue. We also successfully avoided all the poison ivy 🌱

Bf made some delicious steaks 🥩(as always 🤤) hot dogs 🌭, sausages and bacon 🥓

I don’t know where we’ll go next but I know it will be just as fun! And despite everything, we plan to return here at some point soon!!!

Also there is WiFi in the rv area and at the lodge. Otherwise absolutely no service for ATT or Verizon and I would imagine several others

We heard about this amazing park, great camping. We tried to find photos of the tent sites, found a few videos of people showing one, but not camping there. We liked the wood platform so reserved spot 7 for 3 nights. Luckily we brought our own wagon because they weren’t allowing their large wagons to help you carry your gear to the campsite, apparently a COVID protection rule. The campsite No. 7 was at the highest point on a rocky hill to walk up. We only heard about concrete to everything. No. The people catered to at Echo Bluff State Park are the people RVing. The huge concrete area for RVs looked so packed and crowded. It was over 100 degrees down there, 20 less at our campsite. We spent a lot of time down IN the sinking creek. We loved the creek. It was such a great way to cool off and get some Wi-Fi signal. NO wi fi at campsites other than No. 1, very close to the RVs and parking area. The space between campsites was good: although, one night we had problems with people being up late and being loud. The second night was problems with people shining their flashlights into our camp until 3 a.m. it was ridiculous. So we didn’t see any people come by that would enforce the rules at the camps. We will go back the end of July this year, but we know what to ask about and request when we get there this time. We can say the site itself was private feeling. We just didn’t anticipate our far neighbors being so bad.

This is really the gem of Missouri state parks. Rv sites are all full 30/50 amp with water and sewer. All spots have plenty of room but are back in. The pads are perfectly level and are concrete. Camp hosts are helpful and kind. The lodge is in walking distance and offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food is pretty good also! They offer inside dining but the best place to eat and enjoy the outdoors is on their huge deck. Wonderful place all around and Missouri really has done this one the right way!

This may be one of my favorite campsites!! Our campsite was very private and I appreciated the cart the park supplied to move our gear to the site. We had some skunk visitors overnight. There’s a great River to swim in, phenomenal ranger led programs, a great playground and nice trails. It makes for a great trip but book early because sites fill up.

This campground is very nice. Easy to find and well kept.

The area the campground is located in is spectacular. Worth staying in the area. We, personally, like more of a woodsy feel. This campground felt very sterile. You are not sheltered at all by the forest trees.

 Pros

-- The rivers and streams meandering through the park and all the quiet swimming spots they offer-

--Well-marked trails

--Campground is clean and well maintained (it's brand new, so not surprising)

--WiFi is crazy fast-

-The lodge (I'm not normally a"lodge" sort of person, but we stopped in and it was nice to have) 

Cons:--Campground has almost no tree cover-- not its fault, because it's a brand new park, but good to be aware of

--Campsites are packed pretty close together, so there's minimal privacy 

Echo Bluff is a new park; it opened in 2016. If you're into finding little spots to swim or just hanging out in a gently flowing, crisp, clean river this is the spot. One thing that we noticed is that people tended to go in the water right near the campground, so when we hiked a bit, or even just went behind the lodge, there were PLENTY of places where we were the only ones there. 

The trails were well maintained. I normally would've gone for a bike ride, but didn't have a chance to. That said, the roads winding through the hills here looked great. The campground itself is fine. It's not a place you come for the campground, though; the park is what Echo Bluff is all about. 

Overall people were quiet and respectful, but we did have a few times at night and early one morning when a couple of people seemed to assume that everyone at the campground wanted to hear"Boot Scoot Boogie" at full volume(incorrect). 

So....Come for the park, stay at the campground. Go in the water!!!!

This is a really nice spot for tent camping - even though it’s clearly geared towards RV camping. Make sure to book a walk-in campsite if you’re tent camping, otherwise you’ll be in the lot with the RVs (no trees, no privacy etc see first picture). You’ll have to carry your gear to your site, but not too far. Each walk in site is fairly isolated and separate from the other site by trees. Each site has a wood tent pad, picnic table, and fire ring with grate. If you want you could even go to the lodge (walking distance) for a meal and skip the cooking! Book your spot in advance as it seems like they fill up quickly.

Facilities are well kept, clean and well maintained. Enjoy going down to Sinking Creek to let the kids play in the water and fish. Camp store is pretty well stocked and all the folks that work there are very friendly. Nice floats available on the Current River with Pick-up and drop-off right at your camp site. Only downside is no mature trees yet, so no shade.

This was our second trip to Echo. What a great place. Super clean camp ground and shower houses. Plenty of Rivers to choose a float trip. Current River is always fun. Can just wade and play in Sinking Creek right at the camp ground.

Was a great secluded tent camp site. Liked that they had wagons to help haul our gear to the site. Family of 7 so we have plenty of stuff to haul. Was a really fun time. Spent lots of it in the water and got to see some wild horses so that was exciting.

It is a beautiful state park and very clean. It's like someone went into the middle of a forest and took out a section of trees. All around the park are beautiful bluffs of trees.

This place literally has everything you can want from walk in tent sites to an entire lodge with all the amenities. Campsites are all well manicured and offer everything from basic sites to full RV hook ups. The only negative is that we have experienced are that you need to reserve your side months in advance because this campground is so popular. And the only other negative is that all of the campsites are out in the open with no shade. But other than that it’s easy to see why the state park is a perfect representation of how much pride Missouri takes in its conservation and park system.

This place is pretty new and they didn’t spare any expense. Lodge and campgrounds were great. Camp host at RV park was awesome and helped us a couple times.

 This campground is pretty new. The RV sites are spaced out pretty well and the bathrooms were very clean . Don’t be surprised if some of the wild horses that are in the area visit while you’re camping there.

We stayed on site 021 and were pleasantly impressed. High end camping. Not the wilderness. Great level concrete sites with plenty of room for kids to play. Very friendly a accommodating host. Beautiful scenery with plenty to do. Kayaking, canoeing, rafting, swimming, hiking! Walk in campsites are conveniently located nestled in woods. Current river is spring fed and cold! Great flapping trip!

This is a great state park. Sites are level and have cement pads with full hookups. Not much shade now but they have planted trees between sites. Bathrooms are clean. There is also a lodge with store and restaurant just down the street. There are cabins there that can be rented also. And the real treat is the wild horses. Came right up to our site - but please do not feed or try to pet. The rangers will have to move them if they get to used to people.

Also local river rafting companies will pick you up at your site

Clean, friendly staff, beautiful surroundings

This is the third year for this campground so the trees are small but if you have an awning or some kind of shade mechanism, all is good. It is beautiful, the creek is awesome, the lodge is beautiful, and the food is fantastic. Everything is fantastic about this park!

Echo Bluff State Park in Ozark National Scenic Riverways near Eminence, MO is a brand new “old camp”. 

Opened in 2016 the history is rather interesting. From 1929 until the 1980s, Camp Zoe was a children’s summer camp, founded by Russell S. and Margaret McMahan Louis County teachers. There is one of the structures still on site with plaques and information. More recently, it was home to music festivals — and an open-air drug market. I didn’t find any plaques in relation to that. However when the government gained control of the land in a court proceeding it was decided to bring more business into Shannon County by opening a very nice campground for people not wanting to rough it. 

And “BAM” you have very pricey accommodations from lodge rooms, to cabins and two story condos. The campground is pretty nice too but lacking in shade and privacy. There are walk-in (uphill) sites and nice wagons provided to transport your gear. Not my favorite style of camping. Completely full and busy, which is why it got a 4 instead of 5 star. This may be your type of camping and you would say a 5 star. Reserve ahead, I mean way ahead.

There is a huge pavilion that can be reserved that overlooks the area. It has a large fire pit and mega size grill, one of the trails meanders below the pavilion. This would be a nice venue for an extended family get together.

This is a very nice, new, recreation creation. The playground was given two thumbs up by my granddaughter. Then the river, which you can see from the lodge and playground was given 12 paws and 2 thumbs by dogs and grandkids alike. Crystal clear ice cold water that you can walk across to the sheer wall of rock. Bring your water shoes, the rocks aren’t fun to walk on.

A very cool feature , if you are lucky , you will see the wild horses that roam the area. They are not for petting, so use caution. 

Aside from the abundance of people we enjoyed Echo Bluff SP.

This is the newest state park in MO. The campground is located at the bottom of a steep grade hill in an open area. New trees have been planted throughout the campground with established mature trees surrounding the outer boundaries. Basic and premium sites are available for RV’s and trailers along with a separate area for tent camping only. Pull type wagons are provided for tent campers to haul their belongings to their campsites. Restrooms and showers are conveniently located within the campground. A Clearwater creek is a short walk from the campground where swimming and floating may be enjoyed. The “Current River” is also less than a mile away and canoe rentals offer free pickup at the campground. One of the most unique aspects of the campground is the periodic presence of wild horses who roam freely throughout the campground and park. There are several well established hiking and biking trails.

Went here hoping to see the wild horses. We didn't see any but still loved this park. Nice hiking trails and clean cool creek to splash in. Will go back again and maybe see the wild horses next time.

was a great park. staff was super friendly! very clean. was able to see wild horses as well. water, electric, and even wifi.

The newness of Echo Bluff means that all of the facilities are clean and in working order. Camp spots are spacious, and the restaurant is great to eat and watch the sunset. Floating sinking creek is amazing, with deep pools to swim in and great fishing. The only difficult part is actually getting in to camp since the park is in such high demand. I suggest planning several months in advance. Also in close proximity to Alley Spring, which is a must see.

Established in 2016 the rv sites do not have shade, but are all concrete with great amenities. There is a beautiful lodge on the property and cabins/townhomes/hotel rooms are availble, too. A past governor had this built basically as a family rememberance and is not your typical state park.

The area is know for floating and there is live water in the park for playing. Our lab loved it!

Wild horses are in the area and three stay in this camping area. You will likely see them(or maybe almost bump in to them) when you open your door.

Fantastic wifi. No cable.

We really enjoy this park.