On my first trip back home to St. Louis from Los Angeles in more than a decade, I went on a hunt…read morefor the summer home/hunting cabin that belonged to my grandparents. I had not been there since I was 13, one week after my mother died in 1989. The area was in a flood plain on the bank of the Big Piney River near the tiny town of Devil's Elbow, MO. I knew it was off Highway Z near I-44. I remembered along the way I used to look for a very high wooden railroad truss bridge, a Hillbilly General Store, the Bobber Cafe, some old, dilapidated buildings, a very old steel truss bridges, a tiny cemetery, a restaurant I used to call The Purple Cow (actually called Sirloin Stockade in Rolla) and the cabins and outbuildings where childhood friends of mine and old cronies of my grandfather lived. I had only the memories of a child guiding me. GPS was useless, both because I did not know the name of the road, nor could I get a GPS signal. This was one cool, melancholic adventure back in time. I found the steel truss bridge. It was closed. I was lost. I found Sheldon's Market and Post Office. The nice young woman inside skeptically listened to my story. I dropped some names of my grandparent's friends who had died more than 20 years ago. She did not recognize the names. She called her cousin. He did not recognize the names. As I was beginning to lose hope and started to think my grandparents' home had washed away in the floods so long ago that no one even remembered, a very nice woman drove up in her car. She asked us what we were looking for and we shared my story with her. She remembered my grandparents! She led us to the house (the long way because the bridge was closed.) She told us that her nephew (or cousin?) had started up a canoe rental business next door. We saw that the "neighborhood" (6 houses on concrete stilts) had been pretty beaten by time and harsh weather. We rented a canoe for $40. The proprietor drove us up the river 6 miles and we dropped in. The weather was gorgeous and we enjoyed a lazy float down the Big Piney River. There are sandbars in the middle where you can fish, look for crawdads, sunbathe, and enjoy the peace and tranquility. I remember my grandfather used to lose his mind when speedboats would fly down the river in the summertime because they chewed up the bottom, eroded the shores, and disrupted his silence. There was none of that on our Monday on the river. Just hawks soaring overhead, a cool breeze, the sound of our paddles, and calmness. We only saw one other couple in kayaks. So refreshing for a couple of Angelenos to spend an afternoon in rural Missouri just BREATHING clean air. There are some rope swings overhanging the water right before you dock again back at Route 66 Canoe Rental. Use them. So much fun. We pulled the canoes back onto the concrete boat launch and no one was there to receive us. We walked on a little bit, only slightly scared that we might get shot for trespassing (as this became a recent court battle on the Meramec or Missouri River, I guess.) A giant Saint Bernard mix ran toward us. We were not sure if that might be our demise instead, but it quickly became apparent that she was very friendly. (I flashed back to the pack of stray dogs, left by hunters or lost, that my grandparents and I used to feed on our deck when I was a kid. Papa and I used to pick the ticks off of them by the light of the bug zapper.) I looked up to see two men standing on a deck. I waved hello and explained what we were doing, tromping around on private property. The younger man told me he bought my grandparents' house and was rehabbing it. He invited us in. Although the deck had fallen off the front of the building during the most recent flood, the exterior of the house looked pretty much as I remembered it. The inside looked smaller, but I am bigger now. I remembered seeing the water marks around the walls as a child, preferring to think of it as wainscoting or crown molding, depending how high it the water rose each flood season. I remembered putting the baby bluegill, sunfish, frogs, and crawdads that I caught in the bathtub filled with our fresh well water, rocks and plants; my lovely terrarium prevented my family from bathing but they were so happy that I was happy. I remembered listening to Michael Jackson, Cindy Lauper, Eurythmics, and INXS on our porch swing under the house with my friends. I remembered long walks up the dirt road after supper, begging my grandfather to take the bass boat out the next day. I remembered the local trading post AM radio show each morning. So many memories. I understand that my experience with Route 66 Canoe Rental is very different than that of someone without history in the area. But please go make your own memories on the Big Piney. This is an area preserved in time, pushed aside by I-44. Go enjoy it.

My friend and I rented one canoe for a multiday trip in November 2014. Andy, the proprietor, was…read moreexceptionally friendly and accommodating. When the weather turned cold, he made several unscheduled pickups. He was also very personable and we chatted about local history to and from the river. Andy even brought us fresh venison burgers one day and shared his beer with us! Our experience was enhanced by his generosity.

I've been going to One Eyed Willy's for years now. I've been on a 10-15 person bachelorette party…read moretrip, two 30+ person college student/young adult trip, as well as a one-day non-camping float with my husband and I. My most recent was one of those giant group trips this past weekend. I've also floated at NRO and some crappy site around Steelville (Green's maybe?). There's definitely a reason we keep going back to OEW's and will continue to do so. First of all, Brian, the owner, is a super nice guy. We hadn't made it down there in about 3 years, and he still remembered me "Last time I saw you, you just got engaged!". Though not great at answering e-mails (just don't bother), the staff is quick to return phone calls if you leave a voicemail. The campsite itself has a nice layout, and they keep improving. Port-o-potties are serviced often, and they have a small shower, bathroom, and store close to the campsite (previously they were only available way up the hill, so thumbs up on the improvement!). The showers and bathrooms were clean and well lit, unlike some other places I've been. By the time we booked, the aluminum canoes were all gone, which is usually how we go, because they're cheaper. Now, no longer being the broke college student, I will ALWAYS pay the measly $5 extra for the fiberglass canoes. Molded seats...worth every penny. Remember that. In general, the Niangua is a great river to float on. Decent current, good sand bars, and nice cold water! And if you're going to float the Niangua, go to One Eyed Willy's!

I've stayed at one eyed willy's a few times. It's a clean campground with adorable cabins! The…read morecabins are kept clean and the staff there are very hard working and very friendly! The owner of the campground goes out of his way to make sure you have what you need. The little shop at the entrance has a lot of cute decor and clothing. I will definitely take my family there again!

It's always a good place to camp and float been going here for over 30 Years and Jeffs canoe is…read morethe best

Great river and great place! Not a bad price either. Somewhat easy to find and felt well taken…read morecare of. We will be back the river is just wonderful!

Paws down, the best kayak experience ever! My human and I had an absolute blast thanks to Dave. He…read moreset us up with the perfect kayak and even gave us some great recommendations for dog-friendly spots to explore. The water was so refreshing, and I loved paddling around with my human. If you're looking for a fun adventure with your furry friend, this is the place to go. Woof-worthy and highly recommended! ‍

This was a super fun experience! First of all, I love that this is a family run business. It's…read moreobvious how much they care about their customers and their business, and they really just want everyone to have a good time. It's pretty affordable and seems to be cheaper than other options nearby, and it's right next to a fun lakeside restaurant if you're hungry after your visit! Plus there was a little family of ducks which was super cute. Dave teaches you how to operate your watercraft and then you're set loose to explore the cove for an hour, which for us was plenty of time. My only MINOR complaint was that there were a few dead spiders in our kayak, which I wish could have been cleaned out of it prior, but it wasn't bad enough to take away from my experience. Overall I would 100% recommend this place for anyone looking to spend some time on the water!

Came here for a mid-week float trip. Very quiet & well kept resort, everything extremely clean. We…read morestayed in a cabin, which had everything you need to cook nice meals, freshly washed linens & extra blankets. Beds are full size cots, which are uncomfortable but is in line with the camping experience. Went on the 6 mile float trip, our first time doing a canoe & taking our dog. Very relaxing river, only had 1 dicey moment with some tree branches. Saw bald eagle nests, & a bald eagle fishing in the river right in front of us. Met great people on our trip, great convos. We had lunch on a rocky beach. The beavers running around the property were funny to watch. Had a great time, very relaxing. Highly recommend, would come back.

Beautiful, clean resort! Got here on a Tuesday Very quiet…read moreand peaceful. Had the pool to ourselves. Super friendly staff. The place is very well maintained. Fire pit, grill and pic nic table at each site. Bugs are minimal. Lots of big shade trees. I've never seen a prettier, cleaner shower house (although small). That's okay. I'm not looking for a crowd

We came from Colorado and enjoyed our time here. The campground is beautiful. The canoe trip was by…read morefar our favorite adventure. Thank you for providing us with such a fun and safe trip. We will definitely be back.

Beautiful weekend with my son and friends The group was amazing to work with. The water was clear…read moreamd running fast. The kayak was fun. The river lunch hit the spot. Everyone should let living waters provide a river lunch. The campground is amazing. They have done so much since the first time I saw the grounds.

The scare actors were really good! Tt was a fun night with my friends, hope to come back next year.read more

Dirty cabins in much need of some maintenance and a good thorough cleaning!! The staff and owners…read moreare the rudest people we've ever encountered on a trip! Buyer Beware!!

Brett makes it fun, easy, and informative…read more Our employers treated us to an afternoon of canoeing on the Missouri River and 10 of us went out with Brett. This stretch of the river is gorgeous and loaded with interesting history and geology. Brett taught us a bit about Lewis and Clark and the significance of this area to pre-Columbian inhabitants of the region. It's safe and relaxing and fun for both the experienced paddler and for those who have never dipped their toe in a river. I strongly recommend it if you are in the area!

I'm from California, and I was in Missouri tracing my family roots. I knew that I wanted to spend…read moresome time on the Missouri River, having just seen Ken Burns' two-part documentation about Lewis and Clark. I found Mighty Mo Canoe Rental via Google, and it sounded perfect. It was. For me, this was a peak life experience. We were blessed with perfect weather, we had excellent knowledgeable companions, and Jack the Dog (with his very own doggy life vest) was a great touch. It is indeed a mighty river, and being on it for four hours is an experience not to be missed. If you're in the area, I highly recommend this tour.

We found this little hidden gem just by chance and we're glad we did! We had a group of girls get…read moretogether for a short float and had a great time! The guys helped us get all of our stuff situated on the rafts perfectly and got us out on the river in no time. Communication after booking was very clear and the whole process was really easy. Our bus driver to the drop off point was also very lovely!

Lovely kayaking experience at Meremac river. I appreciate booking with Old Cove Kayaking. It is…read moreabout 50 mins from Chesterfield. Booking is smooth on the website. Parking is plentiful at check-in. The staffs are extremely helpful at preparing life vests for us and putting us at the river. The end of the "ride" has a giant green flag, where the staffs help us get out of the water. We had amazing time and would recommend it. Tips: 1) the short trip was noted as 4 hours, though we finished in 2 hours. We recommend spending time parking our kayak at some beaches closeby for fun. 2) even though we selected a ride time of 9am, we are free to arrive any time before 12:30pm

Good creek I dink the water there I boil it than drink it chuppi I like the fish in Fb v therwread more

Has a nice trail to walk or run that runs along the creek. If you are lucky, while enjoying the…read morespring you might get to see divers enter or exit the spring. Good fishing location, water is cold due to the natural spring. Great parking however it's on a gravel road so your vehicle will get dusty as other vehicles drive along the road.