Conservationists, Park Rangers, campground owners, politicians and residents in Missouri are working hard to ensure safety and enjoyment is had by all visiting the area this summer. By taking care of rowdy, risky behavior and observing the family orientated attitude the area is known for, each visitor can make the most of summer fun and have a positive experience on the water. It is important to note that officials are taking the same attitude about careless and unacceptable behavior on the water as they are in downtown St. Louis or Kansas City; it will simply not be tolerated.
In the summer time, families with children of all ages flock to the various Missouri rivers for swimming, picnicking, cycling, rafting and many other outdoor activities. By speaking with visitors and area locals, officials intend to hear the voice of the people and have worked hard at making sure outrageous, risky and offensive behavior is eliminated. Having a plan of action and zero tolerance for outlandish behavior over the past few years has been successful in bringing a delicate balance to the rivers and makes it safer and more fun for everyone.
Beginning in 2009, officials implemented the following rules and regulations which will be strictly enforced by local law enforcement:
- Cliff or bluff jumping and rope swings are prohibited. Jumping from cliffs is not only extremely dangerous, it also disrupts fragile vegetation and causes soil erosion.
- No illegal drugs, public intoxication, possession of alcohol by minors, public displays of nudity and disorderly conduct will be tolerated.
- Any form of polystyrene food and beverage coolers are not allowed. People in the past have thrown these containers into the river and created hazardous conditions and extra waste. This however, does not include bait buckets.
- Beer kegs of any type or size, beer pong equipment, or any other drinking devices or Jello shots are not allowed.
- Glass containers are not allowed on the river within the park boundary and any type of dry ice bombs will be in violation and prosecuted as well.
- Excessively loud stereo or radio equipment that intrudes on family activities or disrupts others is strictly prohibited and Rangers will be using audio decibel equipment to locate and cite violators. This also includes the use of air horns, or other excessively loud devices are also not allowed.
People can consume alcohol in moderation, it is not banned within the park, but Rangers will ticket those under age or individuals being intoxicated in public. Park Rangers will welcome visitors to parks and waters ways and provide education and information about any particular regulations and will be asking people to be responsible and make it a safe and fun summer for everyone involved.
Bring your family and come visit one of the many pristine waterways located in Missouri this summer. The rules and guidelines are designed to protect and ensure the safety of others and to make the summer an enjoyable and a pleasant occasion for all. Park rangers, the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Water Patrol, Missouri State Highway Patrol and other local agencies would like to welcome everyone to come and experience the wonders of nature and take advantage of all the best Missouri lakes and rivers have to offer.
One of your bullet points on the section, ‘Float Trip rules’ states that nudity will be tolerated. I wanted to confirm that being nude on the river is o.k. before we enjoyed some sun bathing. Thank you.
Hi Odin, actually the page states that no illegal drugs, public intoxication, possession of alcohol by minors, public displays of nudity and disorderly conduct will be tolerated.
I agree the wording is a little weird, but the point is that nudity is not allowed. (By the way, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen…)
I’m hearing rumors that only 6 beers per person are allowed on the river while floating. i’m wondering if this is true?
Where can I find the laws that govern the riverways in MO? I am tired of rumors and other sites “suggestions”.
If you didn’t feel like reading it, it basically says “Do not do anything fun.”
I also am looking for the specific statutes regarding alcohol, nudity, and disorderly conduct on the waterways. I’ve spoken directly with the MO Water Patrol on Lake of the Ozarks, and was told that topless bathing was permissible as long as you were physically on the water.
I’m confused as to why there would be a different standard for rivers compared to LOTO, although my first guess would be that LOTO is a private lake (as I understand it) versus public rivers. But I would appreciate where I can find the actually wording of the law.
Thanks!
If doing something stupid that can injure is considered fun, maybe the MIssissippi or Missouri may be a better float. That would be lots of fun.
It says nothing about Mardi GRAS beads? So those are ok? And are these the official laws and how they’re worded? If not where can I find them.
Missouri law defines nudity as the gental/pubic area. It says nothing about the breast area.
Please refer to the following, accurate, blog regarding stream rules and Federal regulation for the Ozarks National Scenic Riverways:
http://styronblog.com/law/harry-styrons-missouri-stream-law and the following excerpt: “While the Ozarks National Scenic Riverways (the ONSR includes portions of the Jacks Fork and Current rivers) and the National Wild and Scenic Rivers (NWSR includes a portion of Eleven Point River) are subject to federal controls on river access, licensing of concessionaires, and behavior, the rest of Missouri has enjoyed a less-structured experience. The ONSR is operated by the National Park Service, which is a part of the Department of Interior. The NWSR system is a part of the USDA.”
Per my correspondence with the Missouri State Water Patool I quote “566.093 and 566.095 are the state statutes that pertain to sexual misconduct and neither address women’s breasts. I am not aware of a disorderly conduct statute. That site you had a link to is not one the Water Patrol maintains or has any endorsement of. Sgt. Jerry Callahan Director of Public Information Missouri State Water Patrol 573-751-3333”
Local law can and does override Missouri statutes inside city limits, but on the navigable streams in Missouri, god bless women that want to go to topless and they are legally entitled to do so until Missouri law changes.
I would admonish the admin of this site to post rules that correctly adhere to missouri laws and lose the embellishment of what will be tolerated. If these are camp site specific, then they are probably entitled to make whatever rules they please but do not attempt to modify the rules of missouri on navigable streams to suit your agenda.
will be taking my wife on her first float trip, or tubing as I call it. she scared of canoes so tubes it is, my question is the lower part of the James near Galena a good float.?
a friend said its a lazy river.
What a joke. I just completed a float on the Elk River with several other families and we saw every one of these rules broken numerous times. Okay, maybe I didn’t see a polystyrene cooler or glass container on the river. It wasn’t much fun and it was actually quite scary a few times when you have to try to navigate through the gauntlet of severely intoxicated people that are flashing each other, urinating and throwing up in the water, trying to give your kids a beer, or one person even tried to give our dog a jello shot. We saw zero enforcement of these rules from Pineville to Noel. All the families we floated with said they would not bring their families back again.
It is all about respect and saturdays in the summer often lacks that on the rivers. The Current and Jacks Fork rivers do not need the animal house drunken and rude party scene that is offensive to most. This type of belligerent behavior is often greeted with tickets, fines and jail time in the national park. If you want to bring this type of party scene to a river it would be wise to go to some where else.
No mini kegs allowed? It’s the same as having a case of beer but produces less trash.
What is excessive loud radio? What is the allowable decibel level. Or is the level based upon the opinion of an officer.
The laws are getting ridiculously strick and makes it unenjoyable to the mass majority of people who come to the rivers…Yes I would love to load up my daughter and take her floating, but I’m also a smart enough parent to NOT take her during the weekend. The weekends are kind of reserved to have fun, get away from reality, and have a good time with friends!It’s kind of like going to your local bar and grill to eat lunch with the family,watch the game, and get some delicious lunch…you as a parent know better then to take you child there on a Friday or Sat. night. I understand the trash that comes from jello shots can be ridiculous, but at the same time not everyone throws them around, and about music I do belive it depends on the officer and thats insane. If a canoe with a child is near everyone I’ve ever been around will be the first to quiet all voices and watch language until they have passed. Not everyone does that but you can run into people with no respect any where you go gas station,restaurant, or even the grocery store.
If you can’t have fun without getting drunk, you need to find a hobby. Nothing wrong with having a few beers on a float. But no need to be loud and obnoxious either. Wanna get blitzed? Sit on your patio and drink yourself to a drunken stupor. Don’t ruin everyone elses fun out on the water.
I called this morning to check on Meramec Missouri State park and was told directly that jello shots were NOT banned. So that is false information to say that they are. Only glass and Styrofoam are banned.
We saw every kind of violation on the Huzzah yesterday. Too many floaters don’t care about the rivers, they just want a free place to party. They park their rafts and canoes on sand bars, turn up extremely loud electronic dance music, sit and drink. They ruin float trips for the people who actually respect Missouri’s beautiful rivers. Where is enforcement???
I ask you people who are against the rules: Why do you even want to go on the river…you don’t even see it, you probably don’t even know where you are. What is on the river that you want? You can have your loud music, alcohol, drugs, nudity and rudeness at home. Why is so important to display this kind of behavior on a river? Do you need attention this badly? What if a group of biblical scholars wanted to come to your parking lot and sit up camp and sing religious songs all day and night while talking in tongues to the top of their voice, put Bibles on every car, holler sinner at you as you came in and out your door. Leave their food wrappers and water bottles or milk cartons laying all over your yard or parking lot and space? What if? Think about it….I don’t think you would be going to your car smiling. What if?
I’ve been to the niangua river several times. Every time it gets more and more miserable because of the drunken, inconsiderate a…holes. I’m not opposed to someone having a good time, but please, turn down the decibels on your crappy music blasting from campsites and from ridiculously gigantic raft islands blocking the river. Some of us go on a float to enjoy nature…not to go deaf at a floating nightclub. Really people…show some intelligence for a change and grow up a bit.
I was at echo bluff last week and people were bluff jumping, drinking excessively and playing loud music.
Look at all you old folks getting all in your feels about your river. I bet you all were so quiet and well behaved on the river in your 20s. Fun-sucking hypocrites.
I’m a new resident of MO, and purchased a distressed property on the Bourbeuse River, for the view, for the opportunity to enjoy the sounds of nature, and for the river. We’re on a bluff and look across to a large gravel bar. It seems to be frequented by the same group of young men several times a month, accessing it from private property that is a large farm. Field. I don’t believe they are accessing with permission. They bring their AWD vehicles down to the gravel bar. They also bring their guns. It seems that is their main point for coming to this remote location—target practice. This last weekend, they were shooting across and down the river with some sorts of handguns. Is this typical and allowed in Missouri? I reported it once, but they told the deputy they were shooting at a target in the field. This time, I have clear pictures, but chose not to call. It seems very unsafe to me, as there were kayakers on the river this past weekend.
BTW—we purchased the home to be closer to our grandchildren who visit our home— drunkenness and nudity isn’t what their parents want them exposed to and grandma and grandpa’s.
What is the law or common practice?
Is whiskey in a plastic container ok?
If I am from Roger’s, Ar and floating the river doing a little fishing, will I need an out of state permit to actually fish?