MO-Castor+River+Conservation+Area


 * =Birding in Missouri=

Bollinger County
=Castor River Conservation Area= Glen Allen, Missouri 63751 Castor River Conservation Area website Castor River Conservation Area map Castor River Conservation Area brochure Blue Pond Natural Area web site Blue Pond Natural Area topo map

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Castor River CA
Coordinates: 37.1936897, -90.1717043 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

The main tract lies 12 miles west of Marble Hill on both sides of MO-34.

Castor River Conservation, 9579 acres, is nearly all forest and is home to Blue Pond Natural Area. Blue Pond is the deepest natural pond in Missouri. Facilities/features: primitive camping, multi-use hike/bike/horse trail, numerous intermittent streams, and one permanent stream.

Includes 0.25 miles of Castor River frontage, but access is difficult. From Castor River Conservation Area Website

Blue Pond is a sinkhole pond over 65 feet deep and is believed to have formed from a cavern collapse during the New Madrid earthquake in 1811. The pond apparently does not drain internally. The water temperature at the base of the pond has been measured to be 41 degrees Fahrenheit in May. A wide variety of floating and emergent aquatic plants line the picturesque banks of the pond.

This natural area is within Castor River Conservation Area. From Marble Hill, travel west on Highway 34 and turn left (south) onto Highway Y. Stay on Highway Y heading south and east all the way to where the pavement ends at a “T” intersection. At the “T” intersection go left (east) on to the gravel road (County Road 708). Take County Road 708 east for 2 miles and there will be a parking area on the left (north). You may park here and walk the road north to the second parking lot if the gate is locked. If the gate is open drive to the second parking lot. At the north-most parking lot look for the trail to Blue Pond. Hunting is permitted. Fishing, swimming and boating are prohibited in the pond. From Blue Pond Natural Area web site

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media type="custom" key="26654110" || L506565 US US-MO US-MO-017 37.1936897 -90.1717043 Castor River CA