Springfield's unusual water trail gets paddlers close to nature

There are a lot of trails to hike and bike in Springfield.

But on this one — perhaps the most unusual in the Ozark Greenways trail system — you won't need hiking boots or a bike.

You're going to need a boat.

Whether by canoe, kayak, paddleboard or small fishing skiff, the 6-mile James River Water Trail offers a great place to see nature up close or catch a mess of bluegill and catfish. Though it's been around for years, many might not know it's here, so close to town.

With access points at the Lake Springfield Boathouse on the southern end and Joe Crighton Access six miles upstream, the gently flowing water trail gets people into nature without fear of encountering rapids, obstructions or ways to get lost.

The Southwood Canoe Access along U.S. 65 provides another place to launch small boats.

“There's a clear starting point and end point, with parking and where you can put your boat in or take it out,” said Mary Kromrey, executive director of Ozark Greenways, which developed the trail in 2006 with numerous partners. “Lots of folks enjoy this segment of the river. You'll see a lot of wildlife and birds, including bald eagles. You'll often see folks paddling with binoculars around their necks. The water trail provides a unique view from the water.”

Paddlers can bring their own boats or rent canoes and kayaks from the Park Board's Lake Springfield Boathouse and Marina. The placid environment makes the water trail a perfect place to try out that new canoe, kayak or paddleboard in a location that's just minutes from anywhere in Springfield.

During a recent paddle upstream from the Lake Springfield Boathouse launch site, this reporter found majestic great blue herons hunting prey from the shoreline, a green heron that posed for a photo with the frog it had just caught, a huge beaver mound along the lake's edge and a mother goose with six goslings paddling behind her.

A surprising find: Two black-headed vultures on a low branch, motionlessly eyeing me as my bright red kayak glided by.

Many of the water trail critters are accustomed to seeing boats and people and will let paddlers approach closer than one might think. It's an ideal location for wildlife photographers who are just starting out to get some great shots.

Because the water trail skirts the edge of Springfield city limits, paddlers will pass beneath several bridges — the noisy U.S. 65 and U.S. 60 bridges — and the vastly more peaceful rusty metal railroad bridge and the Galloway Creek Greenway bridge, known to most as the old iron bridge.

“It's a unique experience to go under the bridges and see the different architecture,” Kromrey said. “Fish congregate along the piers. And in the fall, the tree colors along the water trail change. It's a beautiful way to experience the river.”

Kromrey said the water trail's success has encouraged Ozark Greenways to explore more designated paddling pathways. Another water trail on the James River — the exact location has yet to be determined — or on Wilson's Creek west of Springfield might be in the works in a couple of years.

Arrangements with adjacent landowners still need to be worked out before those water trails can be confirmed, Kromrey said.

“It's another indication of how Springfield is ahead of the times,” Kromrey added. “We have the bones in place to have one of the most robust trail systems in the nation.”

---

---