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Missouri | Missouri Ozarks
Jacks Fork River
Bay Creek River Access to Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing
Check current paddling conditions for this Jacks Fork River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
Gauge
Recent trend
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Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Best window today
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Today by hour
Short-route forecast
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Quick facts
Plan
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Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Launch at Bay Creek and take out at Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing in Eminence for the continuation that links the upper Bay Creek float into the classic lower Jacks finish. Use the direct Eminence gauge conservatively and expect the route to feel scrape-prone when the gauge is near or below the 200 cfs floor.
Put-in
Bay Creek River Access / Backcountry CampgroundOpen mapBay Creek is a remote NPS backcountry campground/access reached by gravel road from Highway 106, while Joshua T. Chilton is an MDC-listed cooperative landing in the Eminence town corridor. Inspect both endpoints before launching.
Take-out
Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing / EminenceOpen mapThe route passes through the developed Alley Spring area before continuing to Eminence. Stay with the signed public accesses and lawful river corridor rather than using private banks near town.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Bay Creek is a remote NPS backcountry campground/access reached by gravel road from Highway 106, while Joshua T. Chilton is an MDC-listed cooperative landing in the Eminence town corridor. Inspect both endpoints before launching.
- The route passes through the developed Alley Spring area before continuing to Eminence. Stay with the signed public accesses and lawful river corridor rather than using private banks near town.
- Endpoint coordinates are carried from the adjacent implemented Bay Creek and Joshua T. Chilton routes rather than an NPS coordinate table. Follow current signs, posted closures, and the actual landing layout on arrival.
- The current park alerts feed showed no live closure naming Bay Creek, Alley Spring, or Joshua T. Chilton on the review date, but same-day alert and road-condition checks still matter before you leave vehicles.
Watch for
- Dragging and shallow riffles when the Eminence gauge is below the 200 cfs conservative floor, especially on the upper Bay-Creek-to-Alley part of the day.
- Fast riffles, wood, strainers, and limited easy exits above Alley Spring, followed by heavier canoe, tube, and motorboat traffic into Eminence.
- High or rising water after storms, cold spring water near Alley Spring, fishing lines, swimmers, and crowded landings in peak season.
- Private banks near Eminence and long-day fatigue if you start the route in marginal water or too late in the day.
Route gallery
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Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Jacks Fork at Eminence, MO |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 200 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Data confidence behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Rivers.MOHERP Eminence gauge rating and lower-Jacks trip rows |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official route shapeBay Creek to Eminence, about 12.1 mi / 5 hr
The current NPS float-times page still lists Bay Creek to Alley Spring as 5.8 miles / 2 hours and Alley Spring to Eminence as 6.3 miles / 3 hours, which supports a combined Bay-Creek-to-Eminence public day route of about 12.1 miles / 5 hours.
- Public put-inBay Creek, river mile 74
The current NPS park brochure still lists Bay Creek as a Jacks Fork river access with picnic area and primitive campsites west of Eminence off Highway 106.
- Public take-outJoshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing in Eminence
MDC still identifies Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing in Eminence as a Jacks Fork River access where boats may be used under the cooperative-area regulations.
- Gauge checkUSGS 07066000 at 174 cfs / 1.90 ft
A same-day Water Services IV refresh returned 174 cfs and 1.90 ft at 2026-07-09 06:30 PM CDT for Jacks Fork at Eminence, the direct gauge chosen for this route.
- Low-water floor200 cfs minimum-only
Rivers.MOHERP rates the Eminence gauge Good beginning at 200 cfs, and the adjacent implemented Alley-Spring-to-Chilton route already uses that same conservative floor. The app keeps only the 200 cfs minimum-only model here.
- Closure checkNo Jacks-specific endpoint closure in current park alerts JSON
The current Ozark National Scenic Riverways alerts feed showed active notices for Akers Ferry, campground reservations, and unrelated area closures, but no live alert naming Bay Creek, Alley Spring, or Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing as closed endpoints for this route on the review date.
- Coordinate supportBay Creek River Access to Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing
This route reuses the same Bay Creek and Joshua T. Chilton access anchors already implemented on the adjacent Bay-Creek-to-Alley and Alley-Spring-to-Chilton routes, keeping the endpoint interpretation consistent across the corridor.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
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Quick answers
Jacks Fork River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Jacks Fork River?
Paddle Today watches Jacks Fork at Eminence, MO and uses 200 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Jacks Fork River route start and end?
This route starts at Bay Creek River Access / Backcountry Campground and ends at Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing / Eminence, about About 12.1 mi by current NPS segment totals on the water.
Is this Jacks Fork River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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