See all 15 routes on Jacks Fork River
Missouri | Missouri Ozarks
Jacks Fork RiverBay Creek River Access to Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing
Bay Creek-to-Eminence continuation that links the upper Bay Creek float into the classic Alley Spring-to-town finish, using current NPS float-time rows, public access support, and the direct Eminence gauge conservatively.
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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 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.
Access map
Put-in
Bay Creek River Access / Backcountry CampgroundBay 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 / EminenceThe 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.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing in Eminence, then drive west on Highway 106 and County Road 106-425 to Bay Creek. Inspect Bay Creek first because the gravel road, remote campground layout, and weather can add friction before an already longer day.
Additional access notes
- 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.
More route and safety guidance
- The direct Eminence gauge was below the 200 cfs conservative floor during this run, so expect scrape-prone riffles and slower-than-normal travel, especially before you reach the stronger Alley Spring water.
- Bay Creek is a remote gravel-road put-in, while the Chilton finish sits in the town-access corridor with private banks nearby. Use only signed public accesses and check current park alerts before leaving vehicles.
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
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Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
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.
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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 |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Rain timing | Checking |
| 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 lower-Jacks trip rows |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| 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.
- 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 check during route review · 2026-07-09USGS 07066000 at 174 cfs / 1.90 ft
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 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.
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