At Echo Bluff State Park, visitors can explore the natural beauty of the Missouri Ozarks, all from the comfort of one the state’s truest—and newest—hidden gems.
Located in Eminence, Missouri, just a three-hour drive from St. Louis, Echo Bluff is the most recent state park to debut in Missouri. It offers sweeping views of its namesake bluffs. Joe M. Pereira, national director of sales and marketing for Guest Services, the hospitality management company that manages services at Echo Bluff, describes the park as one of the best-kept secrets in the state. “It amazes me how many people still don’t know about it,” Pereira says.
Whether you visit in autumn, as the foliage turns brilliant hues of orange, yellow, and red, or in the summer, when float season is in full swing at the nearby Current River, you’re in for a relaxing, scenic stay. Although the great outdoors are all around you, the accommodations at Echo Bluff are truly luxurious, especially for guests who stay in the cabins or at the Betty Lea Lodge. Featuring 16 guest rooms and four suites—each with a balcony—each room at the lodge includes a fireplace, flat-screen TV with satellite service, complimentary wifi, microwave, mini-fridge, Keurig coffeemaker, and much more. Due to its modern amenities and idyllic location, the lodge is a popular destination for weddings and family reunions.
“The state of Missouri did an incredible job building the Lodge,” Pereira says. “The rooms are beautiful; they’re very well-appointed and all a great size. The lodge is really conducive for family reunions and weddings, as the setting is so pretty; the views are so nice, and at night you can gaze up at the stars. When you go to Echo Bluff, it’s really for some outdoor activity, peace of mind, and relaxation.”
Meanwhile, the park’s 13 cabins, which are pet-friendly, are available in two-, three- and four-bedroom configurations. Like the lodge, the cabins are outfitted with upscale kitchens and bathrooms, comfortable beds, dining and kitchen areas, outdoor decks, and more. If you’re looking for more rustic accommodations, Timbuktu Campground features 60 full-service RV sites and a dozen tent sites. Guests can also grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner at the Creekside Grill, which serves everything from pizza to steak, or stop in the Sinkin’ Creek Mercantile to buy snacks, souvenirs, and supplies for a float trip or hike.
Guests will likely meet general manager Stefan Mende during their stay. If you’re planning an event at Echo Bluff, you’re bound to work with sales manager Jo Small. Mende and Small have both worked at Echo Bluff for more than a year. Pereira says they and their teams have met every challenge presented during the pandemic to keep accommodations and activities safe and comfortable for guests. This includes working with a professional cleaning company to ensure all accommodations are thoroughly cleaned between guest stays, as well as regular cleaning of common spaces and high-touchpoint areas. Face masks are also required in common areas for staff and guests.
“You have people who are coming down for the weekend, who are able to relax and have a really nice dinner at the lodge, whether inside or outside, and then you have people in the RV park and campground,” Pereira says. “Families visit from all across St. Louis and the state. The grounds provide for everything, and the way the park is set up, you have space—and that’s what we’re all looking for right now, just the space to take off your mask and go for a walk.”
Before you plan your next adventure at Echo Bluff, learn more about the seasonal and year-round activities happening at the park and the surrounding area—and then enjoy a relaxing, renewing retreat in the Missouri Ozarks. Here are just 10 options.
Year-round Activities
1. Fishing: Echo Bluff offers ample opportunity for fishing, especially for anglers seeking the local favorite, the goggle-eye, or the smallmouth bass.
2. Hiking: The state park features 4.23 miles of hiking trails, plus the nearby 8-mile Current River Trail. If you exhaust all of those trails, head to the adjacent Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry. Part of the Pioneer Forest, Missouri’s largest privately owned forest, Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry features more than 30 miles of wilderness trails. For visitors looking for a less intensive jaunt, Echo Bluff offers more than 2 miles of concrete pathway within the park.
3. Mountain Biking: Spend a morning or afternoon at Echo Bluff zipping past 4.23 miles of majestic Missouri scenery from the seat of a mountain bike. You can bring your own bike or rent bikes on-site.
4. Enjoy a Book: Spend a leisurely day reading by Sinking Creek or next to a cozy fireplace with a book borrowed from the Lobby Library in the lodge. Simply head to the Great Room, take a book, and remember to return it before heading home.
5. Communal Fire Pit: Whether keeping warm on a chilly fall evening or capping off a long summer day, the fire pit at Echo Bluff is ideal for unwinding under the stars. Buy s’mores supplies from Sinkin’ Creek Mercantile, and tell stories with the whole family around the fire.
6. Wild Horse Watching: No matter your age, catching a glimpse of the wild horses famous in Shannon County is a sign of a truly great trip to Echo Bluff. The band of 20 horses, which trot around the Current and Jack’s Fork rivers, are protected and maintained by the Missouri Wild Horse League.
Spring and Summer Activities:
7. Tubing and Rafting: Missouri is lucky to have more than 30 rivers suited to floating, tubing, rafting, or canoeing. When you stay at Echo Bluff, a day on the nearby Current River is easily within reach; a local company, Carr’s Canoe Rental, even offers equipment rentals as well as drop-off and pickup from the river. Take a 4-mile float on the Current in a tube, or try an 8-mile journey on a raft with your family.
8. Kayaking and Canoeing: Similar to tubing and rafting, Carr’s offers canoes and kayaks for the Current River. The company rents out equipment and will drop you off and pick you up, as the river is about a 12-minute drive from the park. Take an 8-mile trip in a canoe or a single or tandem sit-on-top Jackson kayak.
9. Children’s Adventure Playground and Splash Pad: Kids will love Echo Bluff’s “mini water park,” as Pereira describes it, otherwise known as the Children’s Adventure Playground and Splash Pad. The rustic playground’s aesthetic mirrors the beautiful nature surrounding it, while the splash pad is sure to cool off kiddos on hot days.
10. Swimming in Sinking Creek: Situated behind the lodge, Sinking Creek offers something for everyone: wading, swimming, snorkeling, or just soaking in its tranquility from the lodge’s outdoor deck. Water shoes are recommended, as they are in most state rivers and creeks.
This post was created by SLM Partner Studio on behalf of Echo Bluff State Park. To learn more, visit echobluffstatepark.com.
