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Established Camping

Council Bluff Recreation Area

8 Reviews

Council Bluff Recreation Area, near Belgrade, Missouri, is a rustic campground that invites you to unwind in nature. With its spacious sites surrounded by trees, it’s perfect for those who enjoy a bit of solitude while camping.

The area offers basic amenities, including drinking water and pit toilets, but keep in mind that there are no electric hookups or showers on-site. Visitors have noted that the campground is often quiet, with plenty of shaded spots to set up your tent or RV. One camper mentioned, “There were so many sites and very few campers,” highlighting the peaceful atmosphere.

For outdoor activities, you can easily access nearby trails for hiking or biking, and the lake is just a short walk away for swimming or picnicking. The beach area is a great spot to relax, though it’s worth noting that some facilities may be closed during the off-season. As one reviewer put it, “Great place for a picnic and enjoy the beach and swim.”

If you’re planning to visit, be prepared for a more back-to-basics experience. While some campers mentioned the need for updates in certain areas, the natural beauty and tranquility of Council Bluff make it a worthwhile destination for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle.

Description

US Forest Service

Mark Twain National Forest

Overview

The Council Bluff Recreation Area is perfect for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors. The Wild Boar Campground and sheltered picnic area, available for individual families or large groups, is next to the largest lake in the Mark Twain National Forest. The area provides ample opportunities for camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, swimming and more.

Recreation

Boating is a popular pastime on the lake, but all boats on the lake must operate at a no-wake speed. Visitors can access the water via the two boat ramps located at the lake. Canoeing, swimming and fishing are also available. Anglers can expect a catch of a variety of freshwater fish, including bass bluegills, catfish and crappies. The 12-mile Council Bluff Trail encircles the lake, with spurs to the campground. Hikers can enjoy scenic views of the lake and a look at the Mark Twain wilderness. Waterfowl hunting is permitted on Council Bluff Lake and the nearby Enough Fields provide upland game opportunities. A variety of wildlife makes its home in the heavily wooded area.

Facilities

The Wild Boar Ridge Campground offers multiple single-family, large group and walk-in sites, available for tent and RV camping. Each is equipped with tables, lantern posts and campfire rings or campfire circles, with grills. The large group sites can accommodate up to 50 people and a nearby picnic pavilion can hold up to 75. The pavilion is paved, with a roof overhead and is equipped with multiple tables and grills. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Electricity is not available, but some sites will accommodate RVs up to 40 feet in length. Some sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The beach provides accessible flush toilets, drinking water and coin-operated showers. A small play area with a slide and climbing structure is adjacent to the beach.

Natural Features

Located in southern Missouri, the Council Bluff Lake was created by a dam across Big River. It is 440 acres in size and 87 feet deep in some places. The Chapel Hill Beach is at the eastern end of the campground and provides 54,000 square-feet of sandy beach. Visitors can either walk or drive to the lake.

Nearby Attractions

The Trace Creek section of the Ozark Trail is located just west of the recreation area.

Fee Info

Group site rates: $50 - $100

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Location

Council Bluff Recreation Area is located in Missouri

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Potosi, take Highway P south for 10 miles to C Highway junction. Continue on C Highway for less than a mile to DD Highway junction. Turn left on DD Highway and continue for approximately 7 miles to the recreation area entrance.

Address

STATE HWY. DD
Belgrade, MO 63622

Coordinates

37.7083333 N
90.9416667 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Poor
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Good
  • T-Mobile
    Available

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets

For Vehicles

  • Water Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

Drive Time

Reviews

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63%
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4.5

out of 5

8 Reviews

C
Reviewed Aug. 9, 2022

Only a few campers

There were so many sites and very few campers. This was our first time there and will go back again. The sites are separated by trees and very well shaded. We were in site 43 and our 28' trailer fit great and only needed minor level adjustments. Three issues during our stay: no water at all, limbs along the road are overgrown, and the campsite needs some updating. When I called the ranger station about the lack of water they advised to use Silver Springs and one other campground to fill up. We went to a nearby convenience store to get water. Site 43's buried terracing railroad ties are rotted and should be replaced before someone gets hurt. Other than stupid people leaving trash in the fire pit the site was nice and had a great level spot for our table and chairs. Putting my hammock under the trees with a fan next to me was great. You can walk to the lake from the site, but knowing there are people fishing and probably unrecovered hooks we drove a few minutes to swim at the beach.

I'm guessing the heat and lack of water kept a lot of people away this past weekend. We brought and used our generator a lot to run the A/C and cool off the trailer.

I dumped at Washington State park and they have a water tower where the elbow nozzle can unscrew for my hose. I would probably fill up with potable water from there before going to Council Bluff next time.

I saved raccoons from being trapped in the trash cans twice. They are able to open them and fall in but can't get out. I put a large limb in for them to climb out. The trash cans need to be animal proof.

Site43
Month of VisitAugust
Cheryl M.
Reviewed Oct. 7, 2021

Thumbs up!

Stayed at Wild Boar cg Mark Twain NF. 10/4/21 large sites. All had good shade. Sites 41 and 42 not the best. Beach area closed off season. Dumpsters available, vts clean and stocked. Water shut off. Got there on a Saturday, cg nearly empty. Double and group sites also an option

Site16
Month of VisitOctober
Kerri L.
Reviewed Jun. 16, 2020

Basic but beautiful

The campground and lake are both beautiful. It has basic camping utilities. We ourselves like to rough it but unfortunately no fires were allowed...that kinda sucked. People traveling with pets won't be able to stay due to no pets allowed...but other than those down sides it was nice

Stacie E.
Reviewed Aug. 9, 2018

Beautiful area to enjoy!

Great place for a picnic and enjoy the "beach" and swim.

Canoes and kayaks available to rent for a fee.

Clean restrooms and shower house available.

Picnic areas have tables and BBQ pits. Some under small shelters. Most are shaded.

There is a day use fee of $3.00.

You have to park in the parking lot and walk a little way to get to the picnic area and the beach. If you have a small cart or wagon it beats carrying a cooler and all of your stuff!

Matt S.
Reviewed Sep. 4, 2016

Checkout the lake and trails at Council Bluff Rec. Area

The campground is pretty good if you like rustic camping. The toilets are pit toilets and there are limited amenities. The campsites are surrounded by woods and has a good feel if you like to pitch your tent in the woods.

The showers are not in the campgrounds, you have to drive to the lake. All of the modern facilities are at the lake. If you have time, hit the 12 mile trail that goes around the lake. Avoid the feral hogs that inhabit the area. I din't see any but they are known to be up there.

You are supposed to have a National Park pass but there was no one there to check them, everything seems to be done on the honor system. You have to pay $3 a day to park your car in the lot if you are going to go backpacking or if you are going to spend the day at the beach.

The beach was beautiful with a large green space and pavilions for a picnic. This campground and park is probably worthy of 3.5 stars.

  • Review photo of Council Bluff Recreation Area by Matt S., September 4, 2016
  • Review photo of Council Bluff Recreation Area by Matt S., September 4, 2016
  • Review photo of Council Bluff Recreation Area by Matt S., September 4, 2016
  • (16) View All
Megan K.
Reviewed Apr. 16, 2015

Easy access to trails!

The Council Bluff campground is easy to navigate and has really easy access to trails. There are drop toilets close to the sites, and the beach is a fairly short walk (~1mi) to the farthest campsite. Mountain biking and running from the campsite to the trails is very convenient, especially if you snag a site that is farther from the campground entrance. I love this place!

Showing results 1-8 of 8 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to camp at Council Bluff Recreation Area?

Camping at Council Bluff Recreation Area can cost between $15.00 and $100.00 depending on the site.

Does Council Bluff Recreation Area have RV hookups?

According to TheDyrt.com, Council Bluff Recreation Area has water hookups.

What is the max vehicle length at Council Bluff Recreation Area?

Council Bluff Recreation Area allows vehicles up to 40 feet.

How hard is it to get a campsite at Council Bluff Recreation Area?

Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Council Bluff Recreation Area. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Council Bluff Recreation Area, try setting up a text message Alert at TheDyrt.com/alerts

Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Council Bluff Recreation Area?

There are 57 campsites at Council Bluff Recreation Area and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert at TheDyrt.com/alerts

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