About Big Spring
Big Spring pours out of a limestone hillside near Van Buren with enough force to look more like the source of a river than a single spring. Its blue-green water emerges from an underground network of passages and quickly joins the Current River. The color and volume can change after rain, but the contrast with the surrounding forest is striking in every season.
Water flowing through the Ozarks dissolves limestone over immense spans of time, creating caves, sinkholes, and the underground drainage that feeds this outlet. A short path brings visitors close enough to see the turbulent water and the deep color at the spring’s mouth without needing a strenuous hike.
Big Spring was one of Missouri’s early state parks before becoming part of Ozark National Scenic Riverways in 1969. The National Park Service maintains nearby trails and picnic areas, and entrance to the riverways is free. The spring lies south of Van Buren on Highway 103. For the best light and quieter surroundings, arrive early in the day.