Six Fun Things to Do in Missouri’s Pulaski County

From Mother Nature to the Mother Road, Missouri’s Pulaski County offers plenty to experience and explore. Put these activities on your to-do list.

 

GRAB A PADDLE
Located in south central Missouri, Pulaski County is a prime locale for paddling. One hundred floatable miles of the Gasconade River — one of the world’s most crooked rivers — flow through it. Also, the Big Piney River cuts through 33 miles of the Ozark landscape, fed by multiple springs that keep the water level consistent year-round. Outfitters abound, making it easy to get out on the water and enjoy these rivers.

 

CATCH A FISH
With all the cool, spring-fed water flowing through Pulaski County, the area has become an angler’s paradise. Fish for trout in the White Ribbon section of Roubidoux Creek in downtown Waynesville or in Stone Mill Creek in Fort Leonard Wood. Head to the Gasconade and Big Piney rivers to catch hard-fighting native smallmouth bass. Both are considered among the best smallmouth fishing in the state.

 

TAKE A RIDE
There is no shortage of rural roads in this area, so if you like to bike, you’ve come to the right place. The Nasty Pulaski Gravel Grind takes advantage of the rolling, winding, undulating terrain to put together a wild, leg-quivering bike race every October. Intrepid riders that choose the longest of the three routes, The Full Nasty, will experience 83.5 miles and over 5,500 feet of elevation change. (Ouch!)

 

GET YOUR KICKS
Few things are as quintessentially American as U.S. Route 66. Known as the Mother Road, Route 66 stretched from Chicago to Los Angeles in its heyday, and 33 miles of it run through Pulaski County. Get a taste of this nostalgic treasure at the new Route 66 Neon Park in St. Robert, or drive over the Devil’s Elbow Bridge and through many of the small towns along this famed highway.

 

DIVE IN
Roubidoux Spring near downtown Waynesville pumps out 37 million gallons of cool water daily, making it a popular swimming spot during the dog days of summer. Additionally, if you’re into scuba diving, you’ll want to check out the massive cave system beneath the spring, which attracts cave-certified divers from around the world.

 

REST AND REFUEL
All this adventuring is bound to leave you hungry, thirsty, and in need of a bed. For artistic soul food, stop in at Honey Chile’ Please in St. Robert. (Get the blackberry fried chicken if it’s available.) For something a little more retro, there’s Flo’s 66 Diner and the Route 66 Diner, also in St. Robert. If it’s a cold beer you’re craving, head to Piney River Taproom or Hoppers Pub in downtown Waynesville. (The latter has 66 beers on tap.) When it’s finally time to rest up, check in at the newly renovated Hampton Inn in St. Robert or rent a cabin at Boiling Spring Campground or Gasconade Hills Resort.

Author: Kyle Wayne Stewart is a frequent contributor to Terrain.

Top image: Devil’s Elbow Bridge. (Visit Pulaski County)