My Corner Online

 

Falling Springs

 

 

Falling Springs is located in the Mark Twain National Forest.

There are picnic tables, a pond, a marsh area, a waterfall coming straight out of the rocks, a mill built in the 1920's, and a log cabin that is over 100 years old.

I would take the effort to travel here a second time, but this time with my lunch and plans to sit a while.

 

During my visit in August, I had the most magical Disney-like moment with the butterflies. I tried to capture it in the video, but there was no way to capture all the butterflies encircling me at one time. As they circled me, they lifted further and further into the sky. The sound of the falling water behind me added to the moment. Seriously, I thought these things only happened in creative digital art! It is a moment I will never forget.

 

Falling Springs is considered on the "Eleven Point River area" online, but for me I would still consider it within distance of the Current River area and Eminence, especially if you live in the south and travel to Eminence from Highway 60.

Directions to Falling Springs are easier than it seems. The road is directly off of Highway 19 south of Winona and Highway 60. Highway 19 can be confusing because it separates as it crosses Highway 60. Go west for a short bit on Highway 60 from the Winona exit and you will find Highway 19 south. Travel about 9.6 miles and you will see the sign for Falling Springs on your left. This is a gravel road. Google maps shows it as FR3170 (that would be "forest road"), but as I remember it, it only had three digits on the sign (maybe Oregon County 156). That was confusing. However, in a very short distance there is an intersection and a sign which indicates Falling Springs is to the left. FR3170 continues to the right, but to the left you turn onto FR3164. About 2 miles down you will come to an intersection where you will turn right and quickly see the Falling Springs Cemetery. Keep going around the bend about another .3 miles and the park will be easily spotted. There are many gravel roads to sites in Shannon County and some of them are more scary for non-four-wheel drive vehicles, but this one felt a bit safer and easier to travel.

 

Visiting Falling Springs and Turner Mill and Spring on the same trip make for a great day as they are near each other off of Highway 19, although Falling Springs is in Shannon County and Turner Mill and Spring is in Oregon County. Greer Springs is also on that stretch of Highway 19 on the other side of the road.

 

Falling Springs is 9.6 miles from Highway 60 and Turner Mill and Spring is 15 miles from Highway 60.

 

I have read online that in the winter when the falls freeze, it makes for an amazing photography opportunity.