Echo Bluff is an outstanding state park located in south central Missouri. It is located about 15 miles north of Eminence, MO off of Highway 19. It used to be a summer camp, but it became a state park in 2016. Within the park, there is a lodge, campground, cabins, hiking trails, and a creek to cool off on a hot summer day. There are also wild horses that visit the park. In addition to all the great offerings inside the park, a highlight for us is that it’s located near Ozark National Scenic Riverways sites. We really enjoy exploring these sites. To read more about our experiences in Ozark National Scenic Riverways, click here.
Hiking
Echo Bluff has trails located entirely within the park boundaries and it also has trails that extend out of the park to other points of interest. We’ve hiked both.
Painted Ridge Trail
- Quick Facts
- Length: Approx. 3 miles
- Trailhead: Across from the campground or at the pavilion at the top of the bluff
- Link to State Park Trail info PDF
When we hike the Painted Ridge Trail, we usually start from the campground. This is convenient because we can walk right out of our camper to the trailhead. The trail is technically divided into a north and south loop. When we hike it, we usually combine them into one large loop. Starting at the campground means you’re starting at the bottom of the bluff and hiking up to the top, so there is some elevation gain. Along the bluff there are points of the trail that have bike ramps for mountain bikers. At the top of the trail, there is a large pavilion with an overlook. You can see the bluff and Sinking Creek from here. There is also a road leading to the pavilion, so you can enjoy the view without having to make the hike.
From the pavilion at the top of the bluff, we continue on down the other side of the bluff and end on the opposite side of Sinking Creek from the lodge and campground. Then we turn around and head back up the bluff toward the pavilion and eventually back down to the campground.
Current River Trail
The Current River Trail passes through Echo Bluff State Park. It is about 4 miles one-way to Round Spring south of Echo Bluff and about 4.5 miles one-way to Current River State Park northwest of Echo Bluff (starting from the campground in both cases). We’ve hiked to both destinations from Echo Bluff. In either direction, the trail wanders through the woods up and down the hills. Hiking to Current River State Park requires crossing Highway 19. Hiking to Round Spring requires crossing the Current River on a pedestrian bridge alongside Highway 19.
Other Activities
Chilling/floating in Sinking Creek is a popular summer activity in the park. We also arranged a canoe float trip on the Current River from Akers to Round Spring. This was a 19-mile float. Carr’s Canoe rental will pick you up from your campsite or cabin/lodge, drive you to the start of your float, and drop you back off at the end of the day.
We enjoy walking around the grounds near the lodge. There is a nice playground and an amphitheater for outdoor presentations/concerts in this area. There are also old buildings left from the Summer camp days. The wild horses often frequent this area, so we’re always keeping an eye out for them.
Camping/Lodging
We really like the Echo Bluff campground (Timbuktu Campground). We’ve camped there several times. The sites are concrete and level with electric and water hookups or full hookups. Additionally, there are some walk-in tent camping sites. Click here to read more about our experiences staying at Timbuktu Campground.
We’ve never stayed in the lodge, but we have been to the general store inside the lobby. It looks like it would be a really nice place to stay. On a future trip, I’d like to eat at the restaurant inside the lodge.
