About Council Bluff Recreation Area
The Council Bluff Recreation Area, located next to the largest lake on the Mark Twain National Forest, is perfect for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors. The area provides ample opportunities for camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, swimming and more. The site is large and spread out, the campground and beach are about a 1 mile hike apart, the hike/bike is downhill from the campground to the beach, but uphill coming back. Located in southern Missouri, the Council Bluff Lake was created by a dam built across Big River. It is 440 acres in size and 87 feet deep in some places. The **Wild Boar Campground** and sheltered picnic area are available for individual families or large groups. The **Chapel Hill Beach** is at the eastern end of the campground and provides 1.25 acres of sandy beach. The beach is accessible via a short walkway from the parking area. **Boating and paddling** is a…
- Fees: **Day Use** - $5/day - 20 people - $10/day - 74 people - $50/day **Campsite (Non-Electric):** - Single - $15/night - Double - $25/night -…
- Season: April 24, 2025
- Managed by: USFS - Mark Twain National Forest
- Where: 11 mi east of Viburnum, MO · 37.72262, -90.9378
Things to do:
Official page for this camp (fees, closures, booking)
Weather by month
Typical daily highs and lows (°F), 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Best months: Apr–Jun & Sep–Oct (comfortable days, mild nights, little rain). Nights below freezing: Dec–Feb.
Fly over it in 3D, check today's weather and fire news, plan the drive and print a trip plan.
Trails near camp
| Trail | Open to | From camp | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cb Walk In Campsites 1To 4 | Hiking | at camp | 0.2 mi |
| Cb Walk In Campsites 5 To 8 | Hiking | 0.1 mi | 0.1 mi |
| Wild Boar West Connector Trail | Hiking | 0.1 mi | 0.6 mi |
| Council Bluff Connnector Trail | Hiking | 0.2 mi | 0.5 mi |
| Council Bluff Trail | Hiking | 0.3 mi | 11.9 mi |
| Wild Boar East Connector Trail | Hiking | 0.6 mi | 0.2 mi |
Straight-line distance from camp, from Forest Service, BLM, state and OpenStreetMap trail data.
Good to know
AT&T 4G
From the carriers' FCC coverage maps, which tend to be generous.The Milky Way is bright, with a little glow low on the horizon.
Class 3 of 9, from NASA/NOAA night-light data.Dump station: 12.1 mi
Nearest of each within 25 miles, straight-line.Camps nearby
- Wild Boar Ridge Campground 0.2 mi
- Council Bluff Recreation Area 1 mi
- Panther Branch 3.6 mi
- Ozark Trail Gunstock Hollow 9 mi
- Hazel Creek Campground 9 mi
- Special Use 1 11.8 mi