Piney River Narrows

Points of Interest:

• Enjoy fishing or floating along a scenic stretch of the Big Piney River.
• Explore and fish along West Piney Creek.

Natural Features Description:

This area features the confluence of West Piney Creek and the Big Piney River. Both streams support good fish populations of both game and other native fishes. Along the Big Piney and the lower reaches of West Piney Creek are found popular game fish species such as smallmouth bass, longear sunfish, and rock bass. In addition to these fish species the Big Piney is also home to two unique darters, the bluestripe darter and Missouri saddled darter. These darters are found just in north flowing streams of the Missouri Ozarks and nowhere else in the world. Along the river corridor keep your eyes peeled for a glimpse of the belted kingfisher. During the spring and summer a number of migratory and resident songbirds can be seen and heard. Above the Big Piney are scenic bluffs carved from dolomite and sandstone bedrock of the Roubidoux formation.

Piney River Narrows is owned by the L-A-D Foundation (https://ladfoundation.org/other-l-a-d-lands/piney-river-narrows-na/, 314-621-0230), which is dedicated to sustainable forest management and protection of exemplary natural and cultural areas in Missouri. Leo Drey, one of Missouri’s outstanding conservationists, began the Foundation in 1962. The Foundation’s properties also include Pioneer Forest, where sustainable forestry is practiced on more than 150,000 acres in the Missouri Ozarks. Missouri’s Natural Areas Program owes much to the pioneering work of Leo Drey and the L-A-D Foundation.