I wrote about this same subject several years ago, but I thought I would do it again because of its unique and extraordinary nature.
Last weekend, my wife Wendy and I revisited one of our favorite places in the Missouri Ozarks.
It’s Blue Spring, located adjacent to the Current River about 14 miles east of Eminence off of Route 106.
Blue Spring’s pool emanates from underneath a dolomite bluff. While the pool isn’t very large, it’s incredibly more than 310 feet deep, making it one of the deepest springs in the United States. To put that in perspective, if the Statue of Liberty could be placed in Blue Spring, her torch would be five feet below the surface of the water.
That’s deep.
Because of the vividly blue color of the spring’s waters (apparently caused by a combination of dissolved limestone and an influence from the amazing depth), Native Americans aptly called it “Spring of the Summer Sky.”
Blue Spring sends about 87 million gallons of water per day into the Current River, making it the eighth-largest spring in Missouri.
While it’s surrounded by Ozark National Scenic Riverways territory owned by the U.S. National Park Service, Blue Spring is actually state land overseen by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Reaching it requires negotiating a fairly lengthy gravel entrance road (that boasts an extremely steep portion), and then walking about 1/3 of a mile on a nice, easy trail that first parallels the Current River and then follows the spring branch.
At the spring, a sturdy wooden boardwalk and platform allow visitors to enjoy staring into the colorful water, and several low stone walls create peaceful sitting areas next to the pool. Numerous types of aquatic plants and countless aquatic snails enjoy life in the spring’s crystal clear water (which remains at about 52 degrees Fahrenheit year round).
The sound of the spring branch’s flowing water adds a charming touch to the numerous attractive natural visuals.
Not surprisingly, the area around Blue Spring was used as a lodge and retreat until 1960 when it was sold to the MDC. Now it’s a protected zone, and swimming and wading are even prohibited.
Anyway, if you haven’t seen Blue Spring, I would recommend making a point of getting there. It’s a stunning place to visit – any time of year.
