My first float trip was with Devils Elbow River Safari and it was a blast!! All 6 of us are still…read moretalking about the memories we made that day. Angie was very professional, we were picked up in a clean bus and taken to the drop site. It rained a little while on the trip but it made for a great adventure! Angie was there when we arrived and took photos from above. Will definitely use again next time we are in the Waynesville.

HORRIBLE place.. from over priced to saying we didn't pay enough. Coming in the next morning saying…read morewe needed to pay more.. access to Piney River is a small hike but also down a steep drop off. I would not ever recommend this place to anyone nor will we ever be back. Wish I could give it -25 stars cuz I would!! Read reviews!!!

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.

We want to thank James and staff for making our stay the best RV camping experience we have had so…read morefar. We are in our RV, on our way from California to Chicago to visit family. We found Gasconade Hills Resort on the RVLife app. We pulled up at about 5:15 PM and called the phone listed. James showed up within a couple of minutes to check us in. We did not have prior reservations so we were able to drive around to pick a spot we preferred. We set up quickly and were able to enjoy the very clean, nice size pool. The bathrooms at the pool were also very clean. Afterwards, we decided to order pizza and although it was very close to closing time, James took our order and delivered to our camping site. WE LOVED IT HERE! Can't say enough good things about it. Wish we had time to do the river floats. We are already planning to come back and stay for a few days.

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.

SCAM ALERT!- DO NOT FLOAT WITH THIS COMPANY! We reserved for a family float trip that was the focus…read moreof our entire weekend. They called us to cancel the day before because the river was flooding. The6 refused to give the money back. They said it was in the terms but I didnt catch that in the paperwork they sent (AFTER it was reserved!) They offered a raincheck but this was something that took years to coordinate due to damily schedules. I consider this a sneaky way to steal money for not providing a service. Ive floated with smaller groups many many times and never had this happen. AVOID AT ALL COST!

this place is terrible I would not go here. they have you park in a grass parking lot even if it's…read moreraining it's ass off, then when ur tires spin trying to get out of were they told you u had to park. they charge u $250 or press charges for tire marks in their grass! then when u call up their to find a solution to the problem they don't even have a manager their to talk to you only regular employees.

Everything went well. Had all the formalities done up front and when we arrived everything was…read moreready to go. All we needed to do was register operators. They moved the boat from the hoist and made it ready for us to board. They went over some of the more basic rules. The pontoon we rented was a tri-hull. The boat was relatively new and everything worked well. I especially like the dept finder whereas we were suspect of shallow waters. Got our deposit back quickly. We also took a pull behind water tube for the kids. The staff was kind, friendly and very knowledgeable. When we returned the boat it was very easy.

Pirates Point for gas. Called ahead since it's out of season & the owner, Kent said he'd meet us…read moreto get gas. I called to let him know we were 15 minutes out & he was waiting for us at the dock! So much help. Pirates Point also offers rentals.

They picked us up in bus at super 8 motel in Cuba Missouri. Had a GREAT time on are friends and…read moreFamily float trip. Thanks see you next year.

They have people that work for them that are rude being my x husband and he is a rotten manread more

Nice, pretty and quiet campground, well kept. The only thing strange is that you need to pay 50…read morecents to shower. But the shower/ bathroom are very clean, although pretty basic.

This resort is one of the wort ones that I have encountered. My dad booked a float with 3 kayaks 4…read moredays in advance because I will be moving out of state and wanted to do one last thing with him. The lady that answered the phone was incredibly rude and denied that we paid for a float even having all the evidence. She said you are not floating with us and hung up. Leaving me and my father speechless and sad because we we're excited to spend this one last time together. I would go with bird's nest they float the same strip of river and way more accommodating and nice people.

Amazing spot with perfect river access, as well as clan campsites and showers. Staff is friendly…read moreand super helpful! Would 100% recommend for an awesome floating or camping experience!

Horrible living space NOTHING is provided it was completely overpriced and when we walked in it was…read morein a dirty condition with used coffee filter and the table had dirt on it NO paint it was all plywood walls now to the fun part THE BEDS there was absolutely no comfort you could feel every spring one mattress was on the floor the other was on a frame half its size DONT BOOK HERE WASTE OF MONEY by the way WE HAD 2 BURGERS AND 2 PORK STEAKS FOR 100 DOLLARS the float was amazing dont book a room

I love going to this place I hate that it flooded this year hopefully they reopen. I know they have…read morebeen around for years and from what I remember they have one of the lowest prices around Steelville

The resort is not the place it once was. No improvements in many years. The photos are misleading…read moreand you must look on their map of the property to discover the pool is "under construction". DO NOT STAY OR SPEND ANY MONEY AT THIS RESORT. Several other resorts in the area are much better.