Best Tent Camping near Bourbon, MO
Brazil Creek Recreation Area, located in Mark Twain National Forest, offers primitive tent camping sites along a crystal-clear creek near Bourbon, Missouri. The area features a rustic setting with dispersed tent campsites and limited facilities. Courtois Creek Dispersed Camping provides another option for tent campers seeking a backcountry experience, with sites positioned directly alongside the water.
Tent campers should prepare for truly primitive conditions at these walk-in tent sites. Brazil Creek includes a single vault toilet but lacks drinking water, electricity, or other amenities. According to one visitor, "This is a bare bones campground with a place to camp and a fire pit, that's it. No facilities, no water, no bathroom, no lights." Most tent camping areas feature informal fire rings built from rocks, with only one site at Brazil Creek offering a metal fire ring and picnic table. Cell service is extremely limited or non-existent in these areas, so having physical maps is essential.
The natural setting creates an appealing experience for tent campers seeking solitude. Sites at Brazil Creek provide access to the Berryman Trail for hiking, with the creek offering a place to cool off. A reviewer noted that the stream is "ice cold and good for sticking sore feet in." The Courtois Creek area provides scenic waterfront tent camping but requires vehicles with adequate clearance, as the access road features challenging terrain with puddles and narrow passages. Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for fishing, hiking, or simply enjoying the quiet forest atmosphere. While primitive in nature, these tent camping areas allow visitors to experience authentic Ozark wilderness with direct creek access and forest immersion not available at more developed campgrounds.
