James River Island Recreation Area

A channel of the Missouri River seen from James River Island

NPS Photo/ H. Freund

James River Island, located at the confluence of the James and Missouri Rivers, is an ideal location to experience everything that makes Missouri National Recreational River special. With towering cottonwoods and a rich understory, the island is teeming with wildlife. Deer, foxes, rabbits, and many types of bird call James River Island home. If a scenic experience is what you are after, James River Island is the place for you!

Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery noted the confluence of the James River and channel islands within the area in their journals when the expedition passed through the area on August 27th, 1804, and again on September 2nd, 1806. This is in the same area that James River Island can be found today. Additionally, the journals speak of contacting tribes at the mouth of the James River to invite them to council at Calumet Bluff, near the present day Lewis and Clark USACE Visitor Center.

On September 22nd, 2025, the National Park Service acquired 676 acres of James River Island within the 59-mile District of Missouri National Recreational River. The purchase was made from a voluntary landowner using the Land Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The LWCF was created by Congress in 1964 to fund conservation efforts using oil and gas revenues, not taxpayer dollars. Work will take place over the next several months to develop a long-range management plan for the island.

 

Public Access Map for James River Island

NPS Photo/ H. Freund

Recreational Activities

James River Island provides unique and unparalleled recreational opportunities, as well as a place to simply pause and reflect. Situated along the Missouri National Recreational River Water Trail, the island offers opportunties for island camping, hiking, hunting, and other recreational activities. At this time, there are no designated sites for camping, but dispersed camping is allowed from Memorial Day to Labor Day. As part of the National Park Service System, the island is ideally suited as a stopover point for boaters navigating the river. Similarly, James River Island provides a natural setting to hike trails or set out on one’s own to explore and enjoy the riverine backdrop. Look for updates on more recreational opportunities as MNRR develops a management plan for the island.

While MNRR owns approximately 691 acres of James River Island, there are still portions of the island that are privately owned. Please respect private property by not trespassing on those portions of land.

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