Rock Island Outfitters

08/15/2025

This page will soon be shut down. Thank you for your support.

05/30/2025

🌊 What’s a River Angel? What’s a Thru Paddler? And Why It Matters Right Here on the Gasconade! 🚣‍♀️🛶

If you’ve never heard the term “River Angel,” you’re about to fall in love with the idea 💙

A River Angel is someone who supports long-distance paddlers—also known as Thru Paddlers—by offering kindness, resources, rest, or even just encouragement along their journey. Think of it like “Trail Angels” for hikers… but on the river.

A Thru Paddler is someone traveling long distances on a river, often for days or weeks at a time, carrying all they need in their boat. They paddle for the adventure, the solitude, the community, and sometimes, a world record!

And that’s where Rock Island Outfitters comes in.

We’re proud to step up as River Angels for ALL Thru Paddlers along the Gasconade River, especially between the Highway 42 Bridge and Cooper Hill Access.

📍 With the historic Rock Island Bridge just a few miles from Belle, MO and the newly public Fish Hollar River Access now open to the paddling public, we believe our little corner of Missouri can become a powerful stop on every paddler’s journey.

As we continue to grow, Rock Island Outfitters will offer:

✅ Shuttle help
✅ Cold drinks and food drops
✅ Emergency support
✅ A warm welcome and safe landing spot

🌟 And we’re inviting local businesses and neighbors to join us in becoming River Angels of the Gasconade River. Whether it’s a cold soda, a patch of grass to pitch a tent, or just a friendly wave—you can make someone’s river journey unforgettable.

Let’s make the Gasconade a river known not just for its beauty—but for its hospitality. 🌿🛶💚

05/16/2025

At Missouri’s Devils Well, you can peer down into one of the country’s largest underground lakes, sitting 100 feet below inside a massive sinkhole. The lake was uncovered when the roof of a huge Ozarks cave collapsed, creating this deep opening. A short trail takes you to a staircase that leads down into the sinkhole, where a metal grate lets you look straight down at the lake below, which might be as deep as 80 feet. It’s believed the water flows to nearby Cave Spring on the Current River. The road in is bumpy, but it’s open daily and worth the trip.

05/09/2025

https://bellecba.org/swapmeet

04/26/2025

🌊 **Stress-Free Adventures on Missouri's Most Beautiful Rivers!**

Ready to explore the Meramec, Huzzah, Courtois, Gasconade, or Big Piney? Whether, kayaking, canoeing, or tubing, we’re here to make your journey seamless with **shuttle and valet services** you can count on.

✨ **What We Offer:**
✅ Hassle-free shuttles to get you started
✅ Convenient valet service to have your vehicle waiting when you finish

Picture this: You glide off the water after a day of fun, and your ride is right there, ready to roll. No worries, no waiting—just total relaxation!

📞 **Call us at (573) 229-2291** today to book your next unforgettable river escape.

Leave the logistics to us and focus on enjoying the natural beauty and good times that await.

At Missouri's Maramec Spring Park you can watch trout swim in the 5th largest natural spring in the state from a paved walkway that leads to a cave overhand just behind the spring! Maramec Spring releases a daily average of 100 millions of crystal clear spring water... and you can see the many trout from the onsite trout hatchery swim here before being released into the Meramec River. The surrounding park offers 1,860 acres of forest and fields, bridges, museums, fishing, the trout hatchery where you can feed the fish, a cafe, store, picnic shelters, playgrounds, and more. Maramec is one of the most beautiful natural springs and parks in the Ozarks!

📷: D. Laucher

04/22/2025

Horseshoe Falls Spring 2025

03/09/2025

Mill Spring Creek Ford just before sunset. The "Old Man in the Mountain" is becoming more pronounced these days. Not pictured is one of the many historic grist mills still standing here in The Ozarks. Directly across the spring, The Bray Mansion is a significant piece of history in this region. Stay tuned for those photos closer to Easter.

01/17/2025

Birds Eye View from The Rock Island Railroad (Rock Island State Park) down Alvarado Avenue (Main Street) Belle, Missouri 1908.