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See all 3 routes on Jacks Fork River

Missouri | Missouri Ozarks

Jacks Fork River

Alley Spring Access to Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing

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Today

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Quick facts

On-water distance About 6.6 mi Alley Spring Access to Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing
Difficulty easy This is a Class I lower Jacks Fork day with shoals, clear pools, bluff scenery, heavy summer boat and tube traffic, and motorboat allowances below Alley Spring. It is easier than the upper Jacks Fork, but low water, crowds, private banks near Eminence, and rising water still require judgment.
Shuttle Car shuttle Stage the take-out at Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing in Eminence, then drive west on Highway 106 to the Alley Spring access area. Summer weekends can be crowded, so inspect parking, landing room, and any posted park or city rules before launching.
Permits None noted No route-specific private-vessel paddling permit is known. Follow Ozark National Scenic Riverways rules at Alley Spring, MDC/cooperative-area rules at Joshua T. Chilton, Missouri boating laws, no-glass/no-polystyrene rules, and any posted closures or advisories.
Camping Options nearby Treat this as a day float. Alley Spring has developed campground context, but this route ends at Eminence; do not assume private banks, commercial campgrounds, or gravel bars near town are available for camping without a separate legal plan.
Season Mar-Nov NPS says paddling is available year-round but summer is busiest, and portions of the Jacks Fork can be limited by low water. Alley Spring adds dependable water below the spring, but dry spells can still expose shallow riffles and storms can quickly change current, wood, and landing conditions.

Plan

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Access plan

Access, shuttle, and map

Launch at Alley Spring and take out at Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing in Eminence for the NPS-listed classic lower Jacks Fork day. Use the direct Eminence gauge as a conservative low-water check and expect heavy recreation traffic in peak season.

Directions Apple Maps OpenStreetMap
Start

Put-in

Alley Spring Access Open map

Alley Spring is an NPS river access with campground and ranger-station context; follow the signed launch and parking layout rather than informal bank paths.

Finish

Take-out

Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing / Eminence Open map

Joshua T. Chilton is an MDC-listed Jacks Fork access operated under a cooperative agreement; posted owner or local rules may apply beyond the MDC-listed boating regulations.

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Access caveats

  • Alley Spring is an NPS river access with campground and ranger-station context; follow the signed launch and parking layout rather than informal bank paths.
  • Joshua T. Chilton is an MDC-listed Jacks Fork access operated under a cooperative agreement; posted owner or local rules may apply beyond the MDC-listed boating regulations.
  • The Jacks Fork has a park-boundary gap around Eminence. Stay with public accesses and lawful stops rather than using private banks near town.

Watch for

  • Shallow riffles and scraping when the Eminence gauge is near or below the 200 cfs conservative floor.
  • Heavy canoe, kayak, raft, tube, and motorboat traffic in summer, especially between Alley Spring and Eminence.
  • High or rising water, fresh wood, faster bridge approaches, and harder landings after storms.
  • Cold spring water, bluff jumps and swimmers, fishing lines, private banks near Eminence, and changing gravel at the take-out.

Route gallery

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Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.

The Jacks Fork River winds below wooded Ozark hills with a gravel bar along the clear channel.
Jacks Fork River corridor Photo by Chris M Morris via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: CC BY 2.0

Sources

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Outlook Tomorrow and weekend

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Data behind the score Gauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge site Jacks Fork at Eminence, MO
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Ideal range Needs paddler reports
Known low-water floor 200 cfs
High threshold Not calibrated yet
Data confidence behind the range Local route guidance
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Main source behind this score Rivers.MOHERP Eminence gauge rating and Alley Spring-to-Eminence trip rows
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Notes What to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • NPS route shape Alley to Eminence, 4 hr

    NPS says the most popular summer float on the Jacks Fork is Alley Spring to Eminence and lists the estimated float time as 4 hours.

    Source

  • Public put-in Alley Spring, river mile 69

    The NPS park brochure lists Alley Spring as a Jacks Fork river access with campground, ranger station, picnic area, and hiking trails.

    Source

  • Public take-out Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing

    MDC identifies Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing in Eminence as a Jacks Fork River access and says boats may be used there under the cooperative-area regulations.

    Source

  • Access coordinates 37.147975, -91.444906 to 37.152717, -91.353486

    Southwest Paddler publishes coordinates for Alley Spring Access and Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing on the Jacks Fork.

    Source

  • Direct gauge USGS 07066000

    The route uses the Jacks Fork at Eminence gauge at the take-out corridor. Rivers.MOHERP surfaced same-day May 30, 2026 Eminence-gauge conditions during review.

    Source

  • Low-water floor 200 cfs minimum-only

    Rivers.MOHERP rates the Eminence gauge Good beginning at 200 cfs and lists lower-Jacks trip rows, including Alley Spring-to-Eminence at 183 cfs marked Good. The app keeps a conservative 200 cfs floor and does not claim an ideal range.

    Source

  • Route character Class I lower Jacks Fork

    CurrentRiver.net maps Alley Spring to Two Rivers as 13.6 miles, places Eminence 6.3 miles below Alley Spring, and describes this lower Jacks Fork map section as Class I-II with the take-out at Eminence on river right.

    Source

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Quick answers

Jacks Fork River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Jacks Fork River?

Paddle Today watches Jacks Fork at Eminence, MO and uses 200 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.

Where does this Jacks Fork River route start and end?

This route starts at Alley Spring Access and ends at Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing / Eminence, about About 6.6 mi on the water.

Is this Jacks Fork River route good for beginners?

This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.

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