Blue Spring
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Not required
Entry fee: No Ozark National Scenic Riverways entrance fee. Blue Spring is a river on the Current River in Shannon County, Missouri. See every spot on the Current River.
Closures and warnings
NPS prohibits wading, swimming, and fishing in Ozark Riverways springs and spring branches. The spring issues from a deep cave shaft at the base of a dolomite bluff. As of September 30, 2026.
NPS notes Ozark spring water is generally not much cleaner than surface streams; do not assume spring boil water is safe to drink untreated. As of September 30, 2026.
Before you swim
| Swimming allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Water type | River |
| Entry | Walk in |
| Jumping | Prohibited |
| Water clarity | NPS describes Blue Spring as vivid blue most days; dissolved limestone and depth tint the boil (average about 82 million gallons per day). |
Access
| Road | Paved |
|---|---|
| Road note | Blue Spring on the Current River is on Missouri Highway 106 about 14 miles west of Ellington and 14 miles east of Eminence (not the Blue Spring on the Jacks Fork near Mountain View). |
| Parking | Blue Spring trailhead / day-use parking off Highway 106 |
| Fee | No Ozark National Scenic Riverways entrance fee |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Managed by | NPS Ozark National Scenic Riverways (MDC natural-area inholding at the spring) |
| Note | MDC natural area around the spring; Riverways manages river access nearby |
|---|
Common questions
Common questions
Is Blue Spring open?
NPS prohibits wading, swimming, and fishing in Ozark Riverways springs and spring branches. The spring issues from a deep cave shaft at the base of a dolomite bluff. As of September 30, 2026. NPS notes Ozark spring water is generally not much cleaner than surface streams; do not assume spring boil water is safe to drink untreated. As of September 30, 2026.
Can you swim at Blue Spring?
Yes, swimming is allowed at Blue Spring. NPS notes Ozark spring water is generally not much cleaner than surface streams; do not assume spring boil water is safe to drink untreated. As of September 30, 2026.
How do you get to Blue Spring?
The road in is paved. Blue Spring on the Current River is on Missouri Highway 106 about 14 miles west of Ellington and 14 miles east of Eminence (not the Blue Spring on the Jacks Fork near Mountain View). Parking: Blue Spring trailhead / day-use parking off Highway 106.
Do you need a reservation for Blue Spring?
No reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Blue Spring?
The fee is No Ozark National Scenic Riverways entrance fee.
Nearby
Camping nearby
Public land
Just outside: Ozark National Scenic Riverways (0.2 mi) .
Sources
3
- https://www.nps.gov/ozar/index.htm (accessed September 29, 2026; backs access.roadNote / access.roadSurface / identity, access.permitRequired, swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed / waterType / entryType, manager / access identity, kind classification, county / state placement)
- https://www.nps.gov/ozar/learn/nature/springs.htm (accessed September 30, 2026; backs manager / access.roadNote / swimmerNotes.waterClarityNote / hazardNote / access.amenities.note, healthNote / swimmerNotes.jumpingProhibited)
- https://www.nps.gov/ozar/planyourvisit/fees.htm (accessed September 30, 2026; backs access.fee / waterbodyName)
More: Missouri swimming holes