News Release

Temporary Closure of Powder Mill River Access to Vehicles

Damage to the Powder Mill access road caused by flooding and the flow from the Powder Mill Spring Branch, which was altered by the 2017 flood.

News Release Date: May 18, 2018

Contact: Russ Runge, 573-323-4861

EMINENCE, MO: The Powder Mill River Access on the Current River along Highway 106 is temporarily closed to vehicles due to a washout of the paved road near the access point. This closure does not affect walk-in use of the river access, which remains open to foot traffic.  


The Powder Mill River Access was badly damaged during the April 2017 flood, which also destroyed the adjacent Powder Mill Campground. Even though the flood caused the Powder Mill Spring Branch to change course and flow across the paved road on its way to the Current River, the road was still passable by vehicles using the river access. Since that time, however, the constant flow of the spring branch and two additional floods have eroded the pavement and cut into the roadway base. This has caused a section of pavement to collapse and wash out, creating a significant hazard for vehicles.

Because the roadway is now impassable and unsafe for vehicle travel, barricades have been placed across the road near the closed Powder Mill restroom facility. There is no estimate for how long it will take to correct this safety hazard and reopen the road to the access point. The channel of the spring branch will need to be evaluated to determine the best way to divert it from the road and then the roadway repairs will be completed. 

River users can still walk to the Powder Mill access point from the parking area near the closed restroom to use the gravel bar, or to carry their gear for floating. Vehicles can continue to use the parking lot near the trailhead for the Ozark Trail at the Powder Mill Center. In addition, park managers are working to improve an alternate access point directly across the river near the old Owls Bend School for vehicle access. This will provide a launch point for jet boats and floaters.   

For more information about the Riverways, call [phone]; visit the park’s Facebook page, or website at www.nps.gov/ozar.


Ozark National Scenic Riverways preserves the free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork Rivers, the surrounding resources, and the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people.

-NPS-

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