Markham Springs Recreation Area

Poplar Bluff, Missouri
(View other Poplar Bluff area campgrounds)

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Ownership: US Forest Service
Official website: fs.fed.us
Posted by: MountainMan on January 2, 2006

Description

Located along the Black River, Markham Springs Recreation Area gets its name from the former owner, M. J. Markham, who acquired the property in 1901 from the DeHavens estate. In the 1930’s, Rudolph Fuchs built the present wheel house to produce electricity for his house. Power was obtained by building a dam in a semi-circle below a large spring forming a small pond. The pond is approximately 2 acres in size and 20 feet deep. Six springs flow into a beautiful blue-green pond producing 5 million gallons of water a day. The water was to pour through a chute on the wheel to produce electricity; however electricity arrived to the site before the wheel ever needed to do its job. The area had an undershot wheel providing power to a grist mill in the late 19th century. There is also a bubbling spring; a smaller outlet of Markham Spring outside of the pond area that has air with it, rising in soft sand forming the unique “air bubbles”.

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Directions

From Poplar Bluff, MO, go 14 miles north on Hwy 67. Turn west at Hwy 49 for 9 miles and enter the FS 2997 at the entrance sign.

Activities

Picnic Area: 15 picnic sites, each with table and pedestal grill.Trails: River Trail, Canebrake Trail, Bubble Springs Trail and Eagle Bluff Trail.Boating/Canoeing: Concrete boat launch and parking available.Fishing: Primarily bass, sunfish, walleye and catfish are available.

Guidebooks


Services

1 loop with 11 electric sites (6 dbl and 5 single) that include a table, fire ring and lantern post at each site, shower building and accessible vault toilet, additional camping loops with grill or fire ring, table and lantern post at each site.

Reservation info

Open Year-Round (water from May 15-September 25)Camping May 25-October 14

Fees

Campsites are $10(single), $18(double). Electric sites are $15(single), $30(double). Day use fee is $2 per vehicle, ($1 with Golden Age or Golden Access Passport) or $20 for season day use pass year round.

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