Established Camping
Fourche Lake Rec Area
About
USDA Forest Service
Fourche Lake Recreation Area is a beautiful place to be outside. It is located on V Hwy approx. 2.5 miles off of HWY 160 W. There is a beautiful wooden dock to fish off of or just simply look at the lake. There is a vault toilet and picnic tables for picnickers. The dock, path leading to the dock, and bathroom are all handicapped accessible. There is dispersed camping available at 6 established sites with fire rings. There is no water or electric hookup available. There is a boat launch available only electric motors are allowed. Fourche Lake is 49 acres in size and provides opportunities for catching catfish, panfish and bass.
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Pull-Through Sites
Perfection in the Eyes of the Beholder
From Thayer Missouri travel on MO 142 east, turn onto MO V for several miles and look for the Fourche Lake sign on the right, immediate turn to the right. No more than a couple of miles down a well maintained gravel road you will see a boat launch. The road will bear to the left and maybe a tenth of a mile you will see the first campsite. Total peace and tranquility will invade your senses and take over your being.
At Fourche Lake you will find dispersed camping at it's best. A well maintained pit toilet with toilet tissue and a fishing dock. The fishing dock is handicap accessible along with a small day use area with a picnic table but no camping in that small area. The pit toilet is handicap accessible. There are suppose to be six camping sites but we could only work out three. Picnic table, fire pit, no water, electric or trash service. Our fire pit had burned items that do not burn. Please people PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT.
On a calm day you will have wonderful photo ops of a mirror image on the lake. The trees surrounding Fourche Lake provide a beautiful backdrop of perfection. This is a very small campsite and for most of our stay we were the only ones there. Fishermen would come and go and anyone who did camp was very quiet. Boating in the lake is by paddle or electric motor only.
Bring all your camping supplies with you otherwise you will have at least a thirty minute or longer trip in front of you. Remember this roads are narrow, curvy, and hilly. Typical back roads in the Ozarks. If you do need anything when you drive back to the highway turn right and just a matter of a few miles you will find a service station and they might have what you need. They also have gas at a reasonable price considering you are in RURAL Missouri.
If you plan to go fishing make sure you have your license because even if this is a dispersed site we saw a ranger at least once every day. If fishing you will find catfish, bass and panfish. Good luck. BTW swimming is allowed.
The grass was freshly mowed and smelled wonderful. No mosquitoes, flies, tick or chiggers, course we stayed out of the woods. Do not know if that is the norm or we were just lucky. If you hope to use solar and need to recharge the site next to the pit toilet at the round about will give you some sun No trails to be found.
The closest actual town would be Doniphan, Missouri. Check out Doniphan if you are able to pull yourself away from the lake. It is an older Ozark town and the courthouse with its old jail on the ground floor is rather interesting. You will also find a great tubing and or kayaking river. There is a vendor that will rent kayaks or tubes and shuttle you up the river so you can have an amazing time. Pack a lunch and hang out on one of the gravel bars along the river.
I listed that this could be a group site and pull through area because the first campsite has it's own road and is a large site. Easy for more than one rig.
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Small,quiet,free
Small lake with a handful of primitive campsites. Most sites could accommodate a small motorhome or trailer. Fairly level spots. There are bathrooms, but no other facilities. The lake is beautiful, crystal clear! Great spot for fisherman! Swimming is allowed. No cost to stay, first come-first serve. 14day limit.
Location
Fourche Lake Rec Area is located in Missouri
Directions
Take U.S. HWY 160 approx 15.7 miles and turn right at V Hwy. Stay on V Hwy approx. 2.5 miles until you see the sign for Fourche Lake on the left.
Coordinates
36.64277045 N
91.05619381 W