Deer Leap Recreation Area
The Deer Leap Recreation Area is situated on the east bank of the Current River, this site is not one of the busier campgrounds so is often a great place to get away from the crowds. Expect some activity of outfitter-guides utilizing the non-motorized launch in the campground, though. Deer Leap provides primitive camping, a boat launch and floater access/tuber launch. When you veer off the road, the boat launch is a short 80 yards from the Y. When you head to the campground, the road follows the river for a short distance before entering a stand of pines. The campground is shady and quiet. There is a busy canoe/tubing launch in the center of the campground.
More like this: first-come in Missouri · tent only in Missouri · accessible sites in Missouri
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | Day Use Fee Boat Ramp - $3/vehicle. Campground $12 fee for single campsites and $20 for double campsites. Fees will be paid at the fee tube provided. |
| Accessibility | Campground. tables. fire rings. toilets. pedestal grills |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Season | April 1 to October 1 |
| Forest | Mark Twain National Forest |
| Fees | Day Use Fee Boat Ramp - $3/vehicle. Campground $12 fee for single campsites and $20 for double campsites. Fees will be paid at the fee tube provided. |
| Rules | No OHVs/ATvs/UTVs are allowed to operate within the Deer Leap Recreation Area. Overnight camping is allowed at the seven (7) campsites. Fireworks are prohibited. No glass within 50 feet of the shoreline. More specific restrictions are located on the provided recreation bulletin boards. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 36.6743° N, 90.8858° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 35.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Alley Spring Store ↗ | 44.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Video of Deer Leap, MO from N I.
Trails nearby
- 0.7 miWhite Oak1.4 mi trail · hiking, bike
- 0.7 miWoodchuck0.2 mi trail · hiking, bike
- 1 miWells Branch Fen0.1 mi trail · hiking
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Mark Twain National Forest.
- inMark Twain National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,069,958 acres
- 13.6 miIrish Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 16,427 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Randolph Columbus Barrett HouseBuilding · Doniphan · 5 mi
- Ripley County CourthouseBuilding · Doniphan · 5.1 mi
- Ripley County Jail, Sheriff's Office and Sheriff's ResidenceBuilding · Doniphan · 5.1 mi
Guidebooks for Missouri
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to camp at Deer Leap Recreation Area?
Day Use Fee Boat Ramp - $3/vehicle. Campground $12 fee for single campsites and $20 for double campsites. Fees will be paid at the fee tube provided.
Source: Forest Service
Can I bring an RV to Deer Leap Recreation Area?
Deer Leap Recreation Area is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
Are there accessible sites at Deer Leap Recreation Area?
Campground. tables.
Source: Forest Service
What if Deer Leap Recreation Area is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Float Camp Recreation Area (1 mi), Fourche Lake Recreation Area (9.8 mi, first-come), and Pinewoods Lake Recreation Area (17.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby

