River

River/Gravel Bar/Stream

River

Three miles of the Meramec River flow through SNR. Geologically the Meramec, like other Ozark rivers, is classified as an entrenched meander and has been downcutting through the ancient Ozark rocks since the last uplift about 1 million years ago. This downcutting produced the spectacular bluffs and steep hills and valleys in the southern half of SNR. The gradient of the river through SNR is gentle enough for pleasant canoeing with stretches of faster water to make it interesting. The Meramec is host to a great variety of fish, turtles, and freshwater mussels. green herons, great blue herons, and bank swallows are often seen by hikers and canoeists along the river. Muskrats and beavers live here and their tracks and those of raccoon and deer are common in the mud along the river.

The Meramec River can be reached by parking at the Trail House, #8 on the SNR map , and walking down the two-and-a-half-mile loop Goddard River Trail to the gravel bar at its southern most point.

Stream

A number of streams flow through SNR. All are intermittent except Brush Creek, which flows from west to east in the northern half of SNR. These stream bottoms are a good place to study the exposed rock strata and the erosion and deposition of soil and rock. Species of plants requiring moist conditions or good drainage are found along the stream and stream bank. Brush Creek has a well-drained floodplain where walnut, paw-paw, and wild black cherry trees grow in addition to the bottomland species. Children have a universal fascination with creeks. Here they may explore their own world and adventure in all seasons among the fallen trees and exposed roots and gurgling water.

Brush Creek is intersected twice by the Trail House Loop Road. For a close encounter with the creek take a 3/4-mile walk down Brush Creek Trail, #3 on the SNR map. Walk south from Pinetum Lake or walk north from the Trail House. At the intersection of the trail and the creek a bridge spans the creek or visitors may use the stepping-stones for a more adventurous route.

Gravel Bar

Several large gravel bars are located on the three-mile stretch of the Meramec River which flows through SNR. The shape and size of these gravel bars are constantly changed by the powerful force of flood waters. Annual plants and trees spring up from seeds left by the receding water. Their roots stabilize the new deposits of silt and gravel. Later floods tear out most of the young sycamore and silver maple, but the deeper rooted willows hang on.

People of all ages enjoy exploring the gravel bars. Here is an endless variety of chert, sandstone, and limestone rocks, piles of driftwood, animal tracks, frogs by the hundreds, the sight and sound of swift, free-flowing, clear water.