## Overview

 Red Bluff Campground is named for towering red bluffs along Huzzah Creek, carved by the elements over the past 10,000 years. The area used to be home to timber mills, but now provides a serene spot for camping and enjoying nature. Early settlement of the area surrounded the Boyer Mill constructed around 1830. Railroads created a thriving timber industry till the supply was depleted. The land was purchased by the U.S. Forest Service in 1940 and has been used as a recreation area. Red Bluff is located in the Potosi-Fredericktown Ranger District of the Mark Twain National Forest. Large, red bluffs on the opposite side of Huzzah Creek, gravel bars along the creek, a mixture of pools and riffles and natural vegetation provide a backdrop for a very relaxing camping experience. Wading and swimming in Huzzah Creek are enjoyed by visitors. The water can be swift-moving at times and rocks and drop-offs are not marked. Fishing is also popular in the area and anglers can expect to find bass, sunfish, suckers, and catfish.\_\_ Three new camping loops were constructed above the Huzzah Creek floodplain \_\_\_ Ridge Top Loop, Creek Loop, and Group Loop - each of which have modern restrooms, water, and electricity on 2023. A new shower house, a dump station, and second pavilion were also added for visitor convenience. Camping spurs are variable in size and layout to accommodate recreational vehicles and trailers of all types.\_\_\_\_ A fourth camping loop, Pines Overlook, was renovated but remains a non-electric loop.\_\_\_\_ 
## Recreation

 Most sites are within 100 yards of Huzzah Creek, where tubing and swimming are enjoyed by visitors. The water can be swift-moving at times and rocks and drop-offs are not marked. Fishing is also popular in the area and anglers can expect to find bass, perch and catfish. The Red Bluff Trail lies within the boundaries of the campground. It is a 1.2-mile loop that winds through a pine plantation and big oak timber, into an adjoining hollow before returning to the campground. The short trail provides an opportunity for visitors to enjoy a variety of ecological communities, while reaping the benefits of a half-hour of hiking.
## Facilities

 The campground offers several large sites available for tent and RV camping. Individual picnic sites are available as well, some of which have shelters. An accessible group picnic shelter can also be reserved and can accommodate up to 75 people. Additional sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. The roads within the campground are paved.
## Natural Features

 Large, red bluffs on the opposite side of Huzzah Creek, gravel bars along the creek, a mixture of pools and riffles and natural vegetation provide a backdrop for a very relaxing camping experience at the campground. Red Bluff is located in the Potosi-Fredericktown Ranger District of the Mark Twain National Forest. 
## Nearby Attractions

 This campground is located in southeastern Missouri, approximately one mile from the town of Davisville.

Red Bluff Campground

**Campground Review: **

We camped at Red Bluff at the beginning of the off season, so it was a lot quieter than I bet it can be in full swing. As everyone else will tell you, the sites on the bluff provide a fantastic view! Right now there are about 5 sites up there, but they are under construction for what appears to be adding an additional loop with a view and I heard rumor of electricity being added up there too. Because we wanted air conditioning, we opted for the lower sites near the river. We camped at site# 28 and it was just right. We were not on the river but close enough to hear it. With the camper parked to the left, we could not really see or hear the neighbors from that direction well. To the right we had a large and long site with a tree line and hill between us and the neighbors. We could see them through the trees but it was not like we were “hanging out together” close at all. Sites 27 and 28 faced the woods so another angle where you felt secluded. A few sites down was a little spot that you could walk right down into the water. It was a tad too cold for us but the heat of the day made us really want to wade in. It was crystal clear and you could see a gravel bar not far from there. I believe in another area of the grounds you can walk out onto one. They do have double sites, some of which were huge! The fire pit we had was awesome, it had a ring that lifted up or down onto a raised concrete circle and had a grill that you could turn out and away if not in use. We are actually going to look for a ring like that for our home. This site also had what we were calling a cooking station. It was a tall covered set of shelves. We put our cook stove on it. The site also had a lantern holder which we used to tie up the dog when we needed to too. While there were flood level signs everywhere and you coud see where flash floods had happened on the lowest level of camp, our site was high enough to not need to worry. One day while we were there we went to Dillard’s Mill- a nearby park with an old water powered grain mill on site. It was peaceful and pretty, no swimming there anymore though. Lots of picnic areas. There is no ATV use on the camp grounds, so we went up to an area of the forest that you can ride in. It was not far from camp. The camp host was very friendly. The only thing that could have made this ground better was a dump station. Maybe that is in the plan with the construction too. I was hesitant to try here at first because of all the raccoon complaints but we did not see even one the entire time. So don’t let those comments deter you! All in all a great site and we will be back with the kids, maybe hit the bluff next time.

  

**Product Review: **

As a Ranger for the Dyrt, sometimes we get products to test from their partners. This radio is a fun and handy addition to our now growing Midland collection. It does ALL the things. We liked and utilized the NOAA Weather Alert Radio to help us to decide when was a good time to take our ATV’s for a ride through the National Forest. We used the AM/FM radio at the site for some tunes around the fire and the flashlight to take the dog for a nightly walk. The handle and shoulder strap made it easy to carry. Since we are new ATV owners, we were especially looking to test the range for this radio (because separation and possible emergencies seem inevitable lol). My brother in law lives near the campground so we set him up on his porch with the base camp and headed away to the ATV trails at the National Forest entrance. Every so often we would stop and check in “breaker niner niner…John can you hear me?” Sure enough, clear as day we got back a “YUP that’s an affirmative over”. So we got to the end of our trail, which we had mapped as 1.5ish miles as the crow flies and home could hear us, we got a response, then we spoke again and no response back (though he was trying). Occasionally in our trek the responses from home were a tad crackly but we still clearly got what was being said. There were so many features on this thing that we were not able to test them all in our weekend getaway, but I would recommend it if you have multiple radios from Midland in use. It has 5 ways to charge it, one being hand crank so it can be used in an emergency and a USB connector to recharge your phone with. My husband was excited about the eVox Hands free operation option. This will be great for camping and emergencies! We give it 5/5 stars for our needs.  

  

https://midlandusa.com/product/xt511-base-camp/

Ranger Review: Midland Radio XT511 GMRS Base Camp Radio at Red Bluff Camp

The campground hosts are always very nice and the restrooms are clean! Pit toilets only, but they really aren't bad. The sites are all separated enough from each other that you don't feel like you are camping with strangers. The sites are close to the Huzzah creek, some of them right on it. It's a beautiful and well maintained campground that our whole group loved, even if it did rain the entire weekend!

Quiet Place to relax by the Water

This campground is in a small village that is my ancestral home. As a kid I spent my summers just up the road at my grandparents’ house. That being said, you don’t go to this campground to be comfortable. It’s fairly primitive. One loop is mostly rocks. It didn’t used to be that way but there was a devastating flood a few years back and now if you camp in that loop you’re likely going to be on rocks. Unfortunately the far end of the other loop is mostly rock now too. There are vault toilets, a grand total of three in the campground. They are usually kept clean. No showers. Water is at the spigot. The campground host doesn’t bother with quiet hours. The raccoon population is out of control. Basically if you’re camping here it’s just for the crystal clear waters of the Huzzah Creek. There are large boulders to jump from, some small fish to catch, tadpoles to observe, and lots of pretty shells to dig out of the rocky beach. The river will keep the kids busy all day. Most of the sites on the straights are grassy. The loops tend to be rocky. Ample shade at most sites as well as an abundance of ticks, chiggers, and horseflies. 

Admittedly Biased

We stayed at site 21\. We were supposed to be at a different site but didn’t Iike it when we got there and the campground host let us choose another unreserved site. This site was completely shaded, primitive, a mix of rocky and grassy and mostly level. It rained on us all weekend and I tried not to freak out because this area is known for flash floods (that’s why it’s so rocky). The spigot was right next to our site so that was handy. There are two vault toilets, one in the center of the loop and the other down the path in the picture. Lots of ticks, LOTS of brazen raccoons, horseflies galore. No cell service. At all. You come here for the Huzzah Creek, which is a glorious place especially for kids.

Rocky and Raccoony 

This summer we stayed at site 26 which is a double electric site. Lots of shade and several level spots for tents. It’s right next to the vault toilet, whose stench only wafted over to the campsite a few times, and right across from the spigot. There were maybe five other campsites booked while we were there (weekdays in mid-July). As ever the creek was beautiful. Parents take caution, the water can be very shallow in some spots and suddenly drop off to six or seven feet deep. It was teeming with tadpoles and crawdads and various fish this summer. The raccoons weren’t quite as aggressive this summer but we still had a couple fights wake us up. My sons like to stay up late and do battle with the raccoons. Also, not a single tick on any of us this year. This may have been one of our most enjoyable summers camping in my ancestral home.

Quiet, relaxed camping 

Smaller campsite located in Mark Twain National Forest. RV hook ups and tent sites. Views in the bluff area or stay across from Huzzah Creek for easy access to swimming.

Small and Inviting, Peaceful 

Took me a bit to find where to pay for my site. If you can get a site at the top loop. You're a little further away from the other sites and the view is to die for. Wake up early and watch the fog roll through the valley

Beautiful view

For our annual cousin campout in our ancestral home of Davisville we reserved site 24 and the group site (2) directly behind it. It was beautiful and perfect (a long walk from parking on the group site to cooking on the group site). Unfortunately it was in a flash flood hazard zone and hurricane Barry was dumping rain on us. There are new campsites under construction, farther back from the river. We’ll still try to get the old sites in the future but it will be nice to have another option if the weather isn’t cooperating. The Huzzah creek is rocky but beautiful. You have to be careful because there are sudden drop-offs, it can be two feet deep and then you take a few steps and it’s seven feet deep. The campground host is diligent but he slips around like a shadow in the night, don’t let it freak you out. I just hope with the new sites and even a shower house Red Bluff doesn’t get crowded. It would break my heart. 

Beautiful but hazardous 

We stayed at sites 45 and 46 in the pines overlook loop with our 2 tents. There really is only room for one tent at each site in the grass. The mountain views were outstanding! The camp friendly host "Buddy"  has dry firewood cheaper than the uncovered wood up the road from the locals. Shaded, grassy, and very private except for the occasional visitors who drive up the road to see the overlook near these two campsites. There is a vault toilet close by, but at the overlook site we could not find the water spigot, but we brought water with us for dispersed camping anyway. There are plenty of trails and a short drive down to the cool Huzzah river creek. Outstanding!

Pines Overlook Loop BEST Mark Twain NF tent sites

we came across this place by mistake, we just passed our turn off and came acrossed it.

anyway, our fav was the group camp area. just gorg and  there were paths that went to the creek with beautiful clear water.