Greer Spring and Trail

The Basics

Greer Spring
MO Highway 19
Alton, MO

Phone: (573) 996-2153 (Eleven Point District Office)

Closest Towns: Alton, Winona

Directions: From Alton: Travel North on MO Hwy 19 approx. 7.8 miles. The parking area will be on your left.

From Winona: From US Hwy 60, travel South on MO Hwy 19 approx. 18.1 miles. The parking area will be on your right, about a mile south of the Eleven Point River bridge.

About Greer Spring

The second largest spring in Missouri, Greer Spring flows into the Eleven Point National Scenic River, and actually doubles the size of the river! Starting at the base of a steep, shaded ravine, Greer Spring averages over 200 million gallons of water per day. The spring actually emerges from two locations a few hundred feet apart. The upper outlet exits a small cave, Greer Spring Cave, while the larger, lower outlet is a huge spring boil in the middle of the spring branch. From here, the waters flow approx 1.25 miles towards the eleven Point, dropping at a gradient of 62 feet.

From the parking area alongside MO Scenic Hwy 19, a 0.9 mile trails leads visitors through the forest and down to a viewing platform overlooking the spring. The trails descends approx 250 feet from the trailhead to the platform, at a fairly gentle gradient.

Several mills have been built at this location in the past, with the last one still standing near Hwy 19, on private property. Due to the steep nature and ruged access to the actual spring, the last mill was built up on the hill above the spring, over a half mile away. Power was conveyed from the spring to the mill using a series of cables and pulleys from the spring to the mill.

While the spring itself is on National Forest land, the surrounding area and the mill are on private property. Please respect private property rights, and DO NOT trespass.

Due to the delicate and rugged/dangerous nature of the spring branch and its environment, fishing, boating, floating or wading are NOT allowed in the spring or spring branch. Years ago, a person was killed attempting to float the spring branch.

Along the trail, please keep all pets on a leash, and please DO NOT smoke while on the trail or at the spring. Bottles, cans, or other disposable items are prohibited, except in the parking area. This is a day-use only area; camping and campfires are NOT allowed.

What's Nearby


Parks & Nature
Eleven Point National Scenic River

Trails

Camping
McCormack Lake Rec Area

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