Spainhour Falls on the Spadra Creek

[runandjump2014]

While staying at my uncles cabin in the Ozark National Forest this past weekend with my dad and brother. We were driving around the logging trails on ATV's and drove from Murray creek at the Little Piney to the Big Piney at Limestone Valley.

https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hph ... 9799_n.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (This is Murray Creek)

https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hph ... 1854_n.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (Big Piney @ Limestone Valley)

We hiked up a few small creeks being adventurous and scouting runs that we want to do in the spring. Once back at the cabin we decided to look at some old maps there and found Spainhour Falls on the map on the upper end of Spadra Creek. The next day we loaded a fourwheeler in the back of my brothers truck and headed out.

We traveled south on 21 headed toward Lake Ludwig North of Clarksville. We turned right on E Mt Zion Rd and then another right on Lone Pine Rd. Turning right on to Spadra Creek lp or county road 4418 it becomes all dirt road from here on and the creek becomes visible. Once the road separates from the creek and goes up the hill we passed a little cabin on the right that has a sign that reads "College of the Ozarks." We crossed the creek a few more times.

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Immediately passing this we turned left on to CR 4420 and stayed on it turning right at the intersection. Last turn was a slight left on to Creek Rd or 122. This is an old logging road that was very bumpy and muddy. While on this trail, I have a hard time calling it a road, we crossed the creek several times and eventually got to an area that had been stricken by a strong storm. Trees were down all around but the creek from what I could see didn't have many trees down in it, it was hard to tell though. This was as far as my brothers truck was going to make it.

From our map from 1993 it seemed that we were about a mile away so we begun the hike. There is a trail for ATV's that turns as many times as a snake through the jungle of downed trees.

https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hph ... 4284_n.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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I decided to venture from the path to look down a stretch of the creek and to much of my liking I could see white water through the trees. Scampering down the bank the picture got prettier and prettier. We walked up the creek about 50 yards to a 15 to 20 foot waterfall going into a beautiful pool.

It's good to go off the beaten path.

https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hph ... 7864_n.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Some other small streams

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-Don't forget your paddle.
-Trevor

[magicmike]

I've been wanting to hit that creek for 20 years. Thanks for the great beta! With pix even.-M-

[runandjump2014]

Your welcome! But if you are going to put in from Creek Rd there are landowners that have horses and put a cable and tin across the creek unfortunately and there is no way that a boat is floating through that. This hazard is between the first creek crossing and the second creek crossing on 122/Creek Rd.

If I get the chance I'm going to try and float it in the spring!

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

Nice pictures!

Mike Coogan, alias Captain Aleve