Jacks Fork [1] is one of two rivers in Missouri that are part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways system.
Starting in Texas County, Missouri, this spring-fed river flows 46.4 miles (74.7 km) [2] in a general east to northeasterly direction through the heart of the geological area known as the Lower Ozark Natural Division. It is the major tributary of the Current River, ending at its confluence near Eminence, Missouri. At this location, its mean annual discharge is 478 cubic feet per second. [3]
The first 25 miles (40 km) from the Prongs to Bay Creek is deep valley and in the springtime provides Class II water. Due to lack of access, it is the most primitive of the rivers in the region. From Alley Spring to its confluence with the Current River it is a Class I River and is floatable year round with warm water.
The Jacks Fork provides some of the most natural conditions in the region with many caves and natural springs. It is a popular recreation destination for canoeists and kayakers and is generally considered a Class I-II difficulty river.
Jacks Fork has the name of John Jacks, a local Indian pioneer citizen. [4]
The Little Red River is a 102-mile-long (164 km) river in White, Van Buren, Searcy, Stone and Cleburne counties of north-central Arkansas.
The Current River forms in the southeastern portion of the Ozarks of Missouri and becomes a 7th order stream as it flows southeasterly out of the Ozarks into northeastern Arkansas where it becomes a tributary of the Black River, which is a tributary of the White River, a tributary of the Mississippi River. The Current River is approximately 184 miles (296 km) long and drains about 2,641 square miles (6,840 km2) of land mostly in Missouri and a small portion of land in northeastern Arkansas. The headwaters of the Current River are nearly 900 feet (270 m) above sea level, while the mouth of the river lies around 280 feet (85 m) above sea level. The basin drains a rural area that is dominated by karst topography, underlain by dolomite and sandstone bedrock with a small area of igneous rock southeast of Eminence, Missouri. The annual daily mean discharge of the river near Doniphan, Missouri is 2,815 cubic feet (79.7 m3) per second. In 1964, over 134 mi (160 km) of the upper course of the river and its tributaries were federally protected as the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the first national park in America to protect a river system.
The Bourbeuse River is a river located in east-central Missouri, in the Ozarks region, and is one of two major tributaries of the Meramec River, the other being the Big River. The Bourbeuse flows to the northeast from its source near the locale of Dillon just northeast of Rolla in Phelps County, through Maries, Gasconade, Crawford, and Franklin counties, where it discharges into the Meramec River near Moselle. The elevation of the river at its source is approximately 1,140 feet (350 m) above sea level and at its mouth about 463 feet (141 m). The total length of the river is 154 miles (248 km), while the airline distance between source and mouth is 53 miles (85 km). The watershed area is 842.9 square miles (2,183 km2).
The Gasconade River is about 280 miles (450 km) long and is located in central and south-central Missouri.
The Blackwater River is a 79.3-mile-long (127.6 km) tributary of the Lamine River in west-central Missouri in the United States. Via the Lamine and Missouri rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River. The Blackwater River was named from the character of its banks and water.
Roubidoux Creek is a tributary to the Gasconade River in the Ozarks of south central Missouri named after French-Canadian fur trader Joseph Robidoux. It is 57.4 miles (92.4 km) long. Due to its colder water temperatures, it is listed as a trout stream. Roubidoux Spring is a landmark that is nestled just south of downtown Waynesville. The creek cuts north through Fort Leonard Wood before crossing underneath Interstate 44 and into the city limits of Waynesville.
Barren Fork is a tributary of the Eleven Point River in Oregon County in the Ozarks of southern Missouri.
Bay Creek is a stream in Oregon County in the Ozarks of southern Missouri. It is a tributary of the Warm Fork Spring River.
Mill Stone Branch is a stream in Oregon County in the Ozarks of southern Missouri. It is a tributary of Warm Fork Spring River. The stream headwaters are located at 36°37′50″N91°35′46″W and the confluence with the Warm Fork is at 36°37′17″N91°34′02″W.
Twomile Creek is a stream in Oregon County in the Ozarks of southern Missouri. It is a tributary of the Warm Fork Spring River.
Sweetwater Creek is a stream in western Reynolds and northeastern Shannon counties of the Ozarks of southern Missouri. It is a tributary of the Logan Creek.
Deslet is an unincorporated community in eastern Shannon County, in the Ozarks of southern Missouri, United States. The community was located along the west floodplain of Carr Creek, approximately two miles north of the confluence of the southerly flowing Carr Creek with the Current River.
Gang is an unincorporated community in eastern Shannon County, in the Ozarks of southern Missouri, United States. The community was located on Blair Creek, approximately four miles north of its confluence with the Current River.
Mahans Creek is a stream in southeastern Shannon County in the Ozarks of southern Missouri. It is a tributary of Jacks Fork.
Clear Springs is an unincorporated community in southern Texas County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. The community is located on Missouri Route Y, one mile east of Missouri Route 137. The spring is on the South Prong Jacks Fork, 1.5 miles south of the community site.
Guild is an unincorporated community in southeast Texas County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. The community was located on a ridge just west of Stillhouse Branch and approximately 1⁄2 mile south of the South Prong Jacks Fork. The community of Hattie was about 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) to the northeast on the South Prong. Access is via Missouri Route NN from Howell County and Mt. Olive Road. The former Mt. Olive School was located to the east across Stillhouse Branch.
Nagle or Nogle is an extinct town in southeast Texas County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. The GNIS classifies it as a populated place. The community was located just east of Missouri Route 137 and north of the North Prong of Jacks Fork Creek. The local road, Nagle Drive, serves the area just east of Route 137.
Varvol is an unincorporated community in southern Texas County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. The community is on the South Prong of Jacks Fork at the intersection of Missouri Route HH and Varvel Road. The community of Sargent is approximately 3.5 miles to the west on Varvel Road and Willow Springs in adjacent Howell County is about seven miles south on route HH and Missouri Route 137. Varvel School was about three miles east along the north bank of the river.
Big Creek is a stream in Shannon, Reynolds and Dent counties in the Ozarks of southern Missouri. It is a tributary of the Current River.
Spring Valley Creek is a stream in Texas and Shannon counties of the Ozarks of southern Missouri. The stream is a tributary of the Current River.