Roaring River State Park
13653 State Hwy F, Butterfield, MO
Cassville, MO
A great turquoise spring wells up at the foot of a bluff and rushes off through the Ozark hills as one of Missouri's best-loved trout streams.
Roaring River begins in dramatic fashion, as a great spring welling up at the foot of a limestone bluff, its water a startling blue-green, cold and clear. Millions of gallons rise here each day, gathering into a pool and then rushing off down the valley as Roaring River, one of the most beloved trout streams in Missouri. The park that surrounds it has drawn anglers, hikers, and families into the deep southwest Ozarks for generations.
The cold, constant water makes this rugged corner of Missouri ideal for trout, and the state has stocked and managed the stream for over a century. Around it rises classic Ozark country, steep wooded hills, rocky bluffs, and hollows, laced with trails and studded with the handsome stone buildings raised here during the Great Depression.
What Guests Love
- The vivid blue-green spring welling up at the base of a bluff, the source of the whole river
- Cold, clear water stocked with trout, a favorite of anglers across the region
- Wooded Ozark trails climbing to bluff-top views over the valley
- The handsome Depression-era stone buildings built by the Civilian Conservation Corps
Worth Knowing
- The water is cold year-round, straight from the spring, so wade with care
- Trout fishing has its own state seasons and permit rules; check them before you cast
- Trails climb steep, rocky Ozark terrain, so wear good shoes and carry water
- It is a popular park in summer; arrive early on holiday weekends
Details
Cassville, MO
Learn about Roaring River State Park
The spring and the river
The heart of the park is the spring, where water that has traveled underground through the region's limestone emerges at the base of a bluff. The Ozarks are honeycombed with such springs, fed by rain that sinks into the porous rock, flows through hidden channels, and reappears cold and filtered. Roaring River's spring pushes out millions of gallons a day, feeding the stream that gives the park its name.
Because the water comes straight from underground, it stays cold and steady through every season, which is exactly what trout need. That cold flow turns Roaring River into a rare thing in the Ozarks, a reliable cold-water fishery, and the pools and riffles below the spring are stocked and fished heavily through the trout season.
Trout and the fishing tradition
Roaring River is one of Missouri's premier trout parks, and its opening day each spring is something of a local ritual, with anglers lined shoulder to shoulder along the banks at first light. The state operates a hatchery here that raises and releases rainbow trout into the stream, keeping the fishing lively through the season.
Fishing is managed under state seasons, zones, and permit rules, so it pays to check the current regulations before a trip. Beyond the serious anglers, the clear pools and stocked runs make this a welcoming spot for families and first-time fishers to try their luck in a beautiful setting.
The Ozark hills and trails
The park spreads across rugged Ozark terrain, steep hills cloaked in oak and hickory, rocky glades, and shaded hollows. A network of trails climbs from the valley floor to bluff-top overlooks, passing through dry, rocky glades where prickly pear and lizards bask, and cool north-facing slopes thick with ferns.
This is rich country for wildlife, home to white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and a great variety of birds, with the chance of spotting an armadillo, increasingly common in the southern Ozarks. The mix of glade and forest packs a lot of habitat into a compact park, and the higher trails reward the climb with long views over the wooded valley.
A park built during the Depression
Much of the park's character comes from the 1930s, when the Civilian Conservation Corps, a Depression-era work program, built roads, trails, and a set of enduring stone structures here. Their masterpiece is the rustic stone lodge and the buildings around the spring, made of local rock and timber and still in use today.
That craftsmanship gives Roaring River a settled, timeless feel, of a place made for people to gather at the water's edge. The combination of the natural spring and the human-built stonework, both grown into the landscape, is a big part of why the park has been loved for so long.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Cassville
Cassville
About 7 miles north
The nearest town and gateway to the park, a small Ozark community with basic services and a historic square.
Table Rock Lake
About 25 miles east
A large, clear Ozark reservoir popular for boating, fishing, and swimming near Branson.
Branson
About 45 miles east
A famous entertainment town of theaters, shows, and lake attractions in the southwest Ozarks.