USDA Forest Service · Missouri
Council Bluff Recreation Area
USDA Forest Service · Missouri, United States
- Sites
- 57
- Hookups
- 1 with water, 33 no hookups
- Season
- April 23 to October 26
- Cost
- Group site rates: $50 - $100
- Max RV length
- 40 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,332 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · T-Mobile none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- WILD BOAR (NFSR 3002) · asphalt · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Mark Twain National Forest
- Nearest town
- Belgrade
- Address
- STATE HWY. DD, Belgrade, MO, 63622
- Phone
- (573)766-5765
- Activities
- Camping, Fishing, Hunting, Swimming, Wildlife Viewing
54 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
The Council Bluff Recreation Area is perfect for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors. The Wild Boar Campground and sheltered picnic area, available for individual families or large groups, is next to the largest lake in the Mark Twain National Forest. The area provides ample opportunities for camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, swimming and more.
Recreation
Boating is a popular pastime on the lake, but all boats on the lake must operate at a no-wake speed. Visitors can access the water via the two boat ramps located at the lake.
Canoeing, swimming and fishing are also available. Anglers can expect a catch of a variety of freshwater fish, including bass bluegills, catfish and crappies.
The 12-mile Council Bluff Trail encircles the lake, with spurs to the campground. Hikers can enjoy scenic views of the lake and a look at the Mark Twain wilderness.
Waterfowl hunting is permitted on Council Bluff Lake and the nearby Enough Fields provide upland game opportunities. A variety of wildlife makes its home in the heavily wooded area.
Facilities
The Wild Boar Ridge Campground offers multiple single-family, large group and walk-in sites, available for tent and RV camping. Each is equipped with tables, lantern posts and campfire rings or campfire circles, with grills.
The large group sites can accommodate up to 50 people and a nearby picnic pavilion can hold up to 75. The pavilion is paved, with a roof overhead and is equipped with multiple tables and grills.
Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Electricity is not available, but some sites will accommodate RVs up to 40 feet in length. Some sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The beach provides accessible flush toilets, drinking water and coin-operated showers. A small play area with a slide and climbing structure is adjacent to the beach.
Natural Features
Located in southern Missouri, the Council Bluff Lake was created by a dam across Big River. It is 440 acres in size and 87 feet deep in some places.
The Chapel Hill Beach is at the eastern end of the campground and provides 54,000 square-feet of sandy beach. Visitors can either walk or drive to the lake.
Nearby Attractions
The Trace Creek section of the Ozark Trail is located just west of the recreation area.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38° | 26° | 2° | 65° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 47° | 29° | -8° | 74° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 59° | 40° | 14° | 79° | 7 of 11 |
| April | 67° | 46° | 30° | 84° | 3 of 11 |
| May | 76° | 59° | 42° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 84° | 66° | 52° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 86° | 70° | 61° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 84° | 68° | 59° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 82° | 64° | 50° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 66° | 47° | 31° | 82° | 1 of 10 |
| November | 57° | 38° | 12° | 76° | 4 of 10 |
| December | 46° | 31° | 9° | 65° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Hazel Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi
- Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park · Missouri State Parks · 12 mi · 85 sites
- Red Bluff Campground · USDA Forest Service · 14 mi · 85 sites
- Taum Sauk Mountain State Park · Missouri State Parks · 16 mi · 12 sites
- Berryman Campground · USDA Forest Service · 16 mi
All public campgrounds in Missouri · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-05-22. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.