Ozarks

Photographer Matt Faupel and his friend in adventure, Brian Grace, spent three days last spring floating the Upper Jacks Fork River, from the Prongs to Bay Creek, a river distance of 25 miles. Come along, and let Matt be your guide to the discoveries.

Bell Mountain offers a 12-mile loop with 1,683 feet of elevation change, respectable for the Midwest. Bell Mountain also offers something that you can’t get anywhere else in the country: the chance to see, in person, the result of more than one billion years of geologic time playing out.

Bass River Resort has been family-run for more than 50 years, going back to when Robert Bass founded a small canoe rental on the Courtois Creek. Since then, it's grown into an Ozark destination in its own right. Here are just 7 of the ways to make the most of summer weather at Bass River Resort.

Parks and trails lace Missouri like cracks in cobblestone, places where you can escape from urban life and commune with nature among windswept glades and shady forests. It’s a wild world from sweeping vistas atop Bell Mountain to waters of the Eleven Point River flowing into the early morning mist. As inviting as the whip-poor-will’s call in the dark, Missouri’s wilderness beckons exploration.

Greene County held its first of many fairs. The Southwest Missouri Fair lasted three days and drew people from many surrounding counties. Many visitors stayed for the entire event and brought tents for the evenings. Some even brought their servants. Today the event is called the Ozark Empire Fair.

Bunker Hill Retreat has been around for more than 70 years, but few people know about it. Hiding in plain sight, the resort on the Jacks Fork River is one of those places you hesitate to tell others about because you want to keep it for yourself.

Here's our guide to Missouri campsites for summer 2018. Where are you pitching a tent this summer?

The Ozarks and Missouri River wilderness regions are particularly captivating. One of the best ways to experience hidden bluffs, elusive creeks, and historic cabins is by horseback.

After some investigating, I found Karen Daniels, senior historic preservation specialist for the Missouri Department of Transportation. She’s the expert on the state’s roadside parks.