RED BLUFF RECREATION AREA HISTORY

Red Bluff Recreation Area gets it’s name from the Red Bluffs that stand along Huzzah Creek. The bluffs stand over the the clear waters lined with rock banks that make it a great place for swimming during those hot summer days when visiting the park.

The park is located within the Mark Twain National Forest and operated by the USDA Forest Service. The original campsite locations at Red Bluff Recreation Area were located right near the creek and were prone to flooding. Through funding made available by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), funding was available to modernize and enhance the site. The upgrades made it more accessible for RV’s which now have several sites available to them.

CAMPING

The renovation of Red Bluff Recreation area created four new campground loops which were all constructed with paved campsites and three of the loops offering both 30 and 50 amp electric hookups. A new shower house was constructed with four restrooms and four showers available for campers. There is also a new dump station with fresh water fill located on the site.

The site had a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 17th 2024 to celebrate the reopening of the site. We were lucky enough to visit shortly after this to celebrate a long 4th of July weekend. The sites provide ample space between, picnic tables, lantern posts, and fire pits. The only negative to such a new site is lack of shade as the area had to be cleared to make room for the construction and the new trees will take a few years to provide any significant shading.

SWIMMING

Our favorite part of visiting was enjoying our time playing in the clear waters of Huzzah Creek. To be closest to the water, you will want to book a site in the Creek Loop. All of the sites here put your within easy walking distance of the creek. For those staying in the other loops, there is ample parking in the picnic areas in which the short trail leads you down to the gravel banks along the water’s edge.

The park does not have WIFI. Our group had both AT&T and T-Mobile cell phones which did not work in the Creek Loop but were able to get service in the three other loops which are further up the hillside.

FISHING

Fishing can also be done in the Huzzah at Red Bluff. Here you can expect to catch bass, sunfish, as well as catfish.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

Dillard’s Mill – Located within 10 miles of Red Bluff Recreation Area, Dillard’s Mill is a Missouri State Historic Site. The red water powered gristmill sits along the clear waters of Huzzah Creek. The first mill was built here in 1850 and burned in 1895 while the current mill was completed in 1908. You can get a guided tour of the mill and they also will open up the gates to the turbine so you can see the equipment in operation.

Rich’s Famous Burgers – Located in nearby Steelville Missouri, Rich’s is a favorite among locals and definitely worth a visit. If you want to try something you won’t believe should be paired together, try the Jam Burger. The burger is angus beef topped with two slices of thick-cut sugar-cured bacon, a scoop of peanut butter and their homemade strawberry pepper jam served between two slices of Texas toast. This thing is phenomenal and I look forward to our next time in town so I can get this again. Just writing this is making me crave one now.

Check out other great places we have visited in Missouri!