Big River and Mineral Fork

Big River

The Big River, like its sister tributary of the Meramec, the Bourbeuse, is slow.  It differs mainly in that it flows through a more heavly populated area, yet there are many pleasant palces along it.  Upper sections near the "lead belt" are subject to many of the effects of urban population and are not recommended even when there is enough water to float there.  Sections both above and below Washington State Park are more attractive, and the park makes an excellent base of operations for base camped floats.  Old mills and mill sites add interest. The area is so close to St. Louis that it can be reached in little more than an hour's driving from that city.

Difficulty I
Gradients general - 2.4; Hwy. E to Hwy. 21 - 3.6; to Pine Ford Bridge - 2.2; to Byrnesville - 1.9; to Meramec River - 1.5.
Counties St. .Francois,  Washington, Jefferson.

Name Latitude Longitude Feature Type Description Ramp Camp
0.0 37.953081 -90.552432 Other Access Cherokee Landing, private access on county road running north from Bonne Terre. No No
1.8 37.965075 -90.573908 Other Feature Hwy. E Bridge.  Access difficult due to steep slope. No No
6.9 37.985852 -90.606068 Other Feature Three Hill Creek on left. No No
9.1 38.006986 -90.622685 Other Feature Coles Landing.  Ford, reached from north side.  Private access. No No
10.6 38.015254 -90.612298 Spring Spring on right about 20 feet from river and 2 feet above river level. No No
12.0 38.031753 -90.617395 Other Feature Private access on right. No No
12.2 38.036149 -90.619511 Other Feature Mill Creek on left. No No
12.8 38.041754 -90.618602 Other Feature Blackwell Bridge.  No public access. No No
15.6 38.074969 -90.624819 Other Feature Missouri Pacific R.R. Bridge No No
15.7 38.075036 -90.628323 Other Feature Vineland Road Bridge (bridge out).  No public access. No No
16.9 38.085557 -90.659592 Other Access Hwy. 21 Bridge.  Private access on east bank.  Difficult access on west bank. No No
20.0 38.086841 -90.681476 Other Access Washington State Park Access (MDNR State Parks) and on left.  Park is noted for its Indian petroglypys, about 0.5 mile up road on the left near campground. Y No
20.7 38.091446 -90.682531 Other Feature Big River Heights Road Bridge, northeast of state park boundary.  Private access. No No
21.8 38.101605 -90.680391 Other Feature Mineral Fork, on left. No No
23.3 38.121984 -90.675446 Other Access Mammoth Access on left.  Bridge. Y No
28.5 38.159998 -90.704029 Other Feature Old Hwy. H Bridge.  No Access. No No
28.7 38.161918 -90.708079 MDC Access New Hwy. H Bridge.  Merrill Horse Access on left. Yes No
30.7 38.177591 -90.718828 Other Feature Calico Creek on left. No No
34.0 38.211271 -90.706176 MDC Access Brown's Ford Bridge.  Brown's Ford Access on left. Yes No
38.6 38.231099 -90.736970 Other Feature Engleford Road.  No public access. No No
43.4 38.240631 -90.712607 Other Feature Private access and campground. No No
45.0 38.234380 -90.684651 Other Feature Pine Ford (Hwy. Y) Bridge. No access. No No
50.7 38.270595 -90.669064 Other Feature Dry Creek on right. No No
52.3 38.274921 -90.652620 Other Feature Ball Memorial Park on left upstream of bridge. No No
52.4 38.275776 -90.649392 Dam Morse Mill Dam. Portage right.  Break in dam at left near foundation of old mill is danagerous but a concrete sluice just right of this may be used to slide canoes down when the water is low enough to stand on the dam. No No
52.5 38.275853 -90.648743 Other Feature Hwy. B Bridge. No No
54.0 38.284700 -90.638086 Other Feature Cabins on left. No No
55.0 38.296377 -90.632276 Other Feature Klondike Road Bridge. No No
55.7 38.305092 -90.638747 Other Feature Jones Creek on left. No No
62.4 38.346701 -90.626834 Other Feature Hwy. BB along river on right. No No
63.2 38.349115 -90.643697 Dam Cedar Hill Bridge and mill dam.  Portage left. No No
63.5 38.348232 -90.649569 Other Feature Hwy. 30 Bridge. No No
68.9 38.391048 -90.639535 Dam Private dam.  Portage right. No No
69.0 38.392546 -90.636839 Other Feature Byrnesville Bridge. No No
73.0 38.420186 -90.589684 Other Feature Hwy. W. Bridge. No No
74.6 38.422193 -90.588495 Dam Byrnes Mill Dam. Portage right. No No
80.9 38.446666 -90.597784 Other Feature Town of Hoene Spring on left. No No
82.8 38.469421 -90.622075 Other Access Twin River Bridge.  Private access on right. No No
83.2 38.473593 -90.616119 Other Feature Meramec River No No

Mineral Fork

This tributary of the Big River is often floatable.

Difficulty I
Gradients general - 9
Counties Washington.


Name Latitude Longitude Feature Type Description Ramp Camp
0.0 38.042357 -90.833100 Other Access Hwy. F Bridge.  Private land.  Parking difficult. No No
3.0 38.055257 -90.813370 Other Feature Arnault Creek on right. No No
6.2 38.085434 -90.775194 Other Feature Sycamore Creek on left. No No
8.7 38.091599 -90.752052 Other Feature Site of old Hwy. 47 Bridge.  Private access and camping. No No
10.2 38.089639 -90.721467 Other Feature Private slab bridge across creek. No No
11.0 38.095215 -90.709031 Other Access Kingston Access on Right.  No ramp.  Walk down trail to gravel bar. No No
13.8 38.101605 -90.680391 Other Feature Big River.  Private camp at confluence.  Next access at Mammoth Bridge. No No

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