Jacks Fork River Ranch, Lodging, Retreat Fun!

Step Into Nature!

Come to the Jacks Fork River in Ozark National Scenic Riverways Park and visit our Crystal Creek Ranch, which encompasses about one thousand acres near Eminence, Missouri by the Jacks Fork and Current Rivers. We offer lodging, free self-guided ranch tours, a small animal area, walking trails, fee fishing, field trips, and facilities for group or individual activities and retreats. Visit our horse drawn equipment and farm primitives museum, and join us on a "Step into Nature".

The Jacks Fork is a tributary of the Current River and represents the best of the nature of Missouri's awesome Ozark Streams. Crystal Creek Ranch is the presentation of that nature thru the beauty and diversity of the flora, fauna and land. Come and experience learning about and interacting with animals, plants, the Jacks Fork River and the ranch environment to foster more of an understanding of our historical relationship with nature. Crystal Creek Ranch is an opportunity to grow spiritually thru the Christ Consciousness by experiencing the closeness, majesty, and natural rhythms of God, nature, and ourselves.

"The Jacks Fork River is a true Missouri "jewel" of a stream, and has been deemed one of the worlds

"ten most scenic floating and fishing streams" by Life Magazine."

(The following is an electronic reprint excerpt from the
Missouri Department of Conservations " Missouri Nature Viewing Guide.")

A tributary of the Current, the Jacks Fork River is one of the wildest and most scenic of all Missouri Ozark streams. Clear waters roaring down the valley are surrounded by steep walls and massive cliffs. As you float, allow time for snorkeling and to explore some of the caves along the way. Watch for wood ducks and other waterfowl in the calmer backwaters. In fall, the forests are an array of color.

Jacks Fork Summary

Land Area (of watershed) = 445 sq. miles.

Location (Counties) = Howell, Shannon, and Texas Counties.

Source Headwaters = the confluence of the North Prong and South Prong streams northwest of Mountain View, Mo.

Course = easterly for 49.1 miles to its confluence with the Current River northeast of Eminence, Mo.

Geology = primarily dolomites and sandstone/dolomites, some limestone.

Topography = Karst (caves, springs, losing streams, and sinkholes).

Springs = 22 noted but many more present, the largest is Alley Spring, with a flow of 125 cubic feet per second.

Average Gradient = 7.1 feet/mile.

Land Use = forest/woodland cover within the Jacks Fork Watershed approx. 76%, grassland/cropland approx. 23%.

Urban areas with a population of over 500 persons = the cities of Eminence, Missouri (573 persons) and Mountain View, Missouri (2,036).

Population density = approx.15 persons per square mile.

Annual precipitation = average 43.21 inches.

Average daily flow = 466 cubic feet per second at Eminence, 304 cubic feet per second at Alley Spring.

Biotic Community = 67 species of fish, 19 species of mussels, 5 species of crayfish. Sport fish species include: chain pickerel, shadow bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, & warmouth.

Randolph Homestead | Sheepherders Wagon | Tree Retreat | Russ Noah Log Cabin | Ranch House

HCR 3 Box 55, Eminence, MO 65466

(573) 226-2222 / (573) 226-5642