See all 15 routes on Jacks Fork River
Missouri | Missouri Ozarks
Jacks Fork RiverAlley Spring Access to Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing
Popular lower Jacks Fork day float from Alley Spring into Eminence. NPS names Alley Spring to Eminence as the classic summer float, MDC confirms the Joshua T. Chilton public landing, and the direct Eminence gauge gives a conservative low-water check.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
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.
Access map
Put-in
Alley Spring AccessAlley Spring is an NPS river access with campground and ranger-station context; follow the signed launch and parking layout rather than informal bank paths.
Take-out
Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing / EminenceJoshua 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.
Road 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.
Additional access notes
- The Jacks Fork has a park-boundary gap around Eminence. Stay with public accesses and lawful stops rather than using private banks near town.
More route and safety guidance
- Use the signed Alley Spring access and the MDC-listed Joshua T. Chilton landing in Eminence. Keep a shuttle and take-out plan for the cooperative landing; do not substitute a private bank or informal town shoreline near Eminence.
- At or below the 200 cfs conservative floor expect shallow riffles and scraping. High or rising water, fresh wood, swimmers, boat traffic, and cold spring water can change the risk quickly; inspect the landing and bends before committing.
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
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Measurement notes and coverage
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River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Jacks Fork at Eminence, MO. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Jacks Fork at Eminence, MO |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
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| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 200 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Rivers.MOHERP Eminence gauge rating and Alley Spring-to-Eminence trip rows |
| Gauge source | Checking |
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| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- NPS route shapeAlley to Eminence, 6.3 mi / 3–4 hr
NPS's estimated float-time table, updated August 30, 2024, lists Alley to Eminence as 6.3 miles and 3 hours. Its older Jacks Fork paddling page lists 4 hours and explains that float time varies with river flow; the route card uses a 3-to-4-hour planning range.
- Older NPS float-time estimateAbout 4 hr
The NPS Paddle Jacks Fork River page, last updated in 2021, gives a 4-hour estimate for this popular summer section without a distance. NPS says float times vary with flow.
- Public put-inAlley 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.
- Public take-outJoshua 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.
- Access coordinates37.147975, -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.
- Gauge check during route review · May 30, 2026USGS 07066000
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Low-water floor200 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.
- Route characterClass 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.
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