Missouri Ozark Fall Mill Tour

I’m a little late on blogging these collection of images from last fall from here in Missouri but I now have prepared them to share. Last October I headed to southern Missouri to the heart of the Ozark region to concentrate on Ozark mills and springs. My plan of attack was the springs and mills because this fall was extremely dry so I knew I could find flowing water matched with peak fall colors in the Ozarks if I just stuck to all the abundant spring sources that Missouri has to offer.

My first stop heading down south on highway 19 was Alley Spring and Mill near Eminence Missouri. I have been to Alley Mill many times in the past but really wanted to capture some of it’s smaller details with this visit.

The orange fall colors mix with the vibrant greens of Alley Spring. Canon 5D mkll with Nikon 55mm AIS lens.

Witnessing the power of the water that is used to power the mill turbines. Canon 5Dmkll with Olympus 35mm shift lens.

Alley Mill Missouri. Canon 5D mkll with Canon 24mm shift lens.

Directions to Alley Mill: Located 6 miles west on Sh 106 of the town of Eminence, Missouri at Mo 19. The mill is on the north side of the highway at Alley Springs Mill, part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

Next on the list was a location I was very excited to visit. Falling Spring Mill which was located further south on highway 19 near Greer Springs in the National Forest. Falling Water Spring has always been the one location to me personally that has been “the one that got away.” I can remember seeing photographs of the mill when I was young and was instantly inspired to go check it out and photograph this classic Ozark mill but for some reason I have been in the general area many times before but always seemed to run out of daylight and time to got check out the mill. This time I made it top priority to make time for Falling Spring. I arrived a couple hours before sunset and took advantage of the soft light from the deep bluffs surrounded the mill.

Falling Spring Mill during Fall in the Ozarks. Canon 5D mkll with Nikon 55mm AIS lens.

Falling Spring Mill during Fall in the Ozarks. Canon 5D mkll with Nikon 55mm AIS lens.

Directions to Falling Spring Mill: North of the town of Greer on Hwy 19 about 7 miles.Then take Forrest Service Rd 3170 , take left fork after turing onto Service Rd. About 10 miles of gravel road to the mill.

After Falling Spring Mill I headed to some family property in Ozark County Missouri near Lake Norfork to crash for the night and head out to the Mills of Ozark County Missouri the next morning. The first mill visited was Dawt Mill near Tecumseh Missouri. The mill was currently under heavy renovations but I still had a chance to snap some great photos of the dam and the North Fork River.

North Fork River dam at Dawt Mill Missouri. Captured with Canon 5D mkll and Nikon 55mm AIS lens.

North Fork River dam at Dawt Mill Missouri. Captured with Canon 5D mkll and Olympus 35mm Shift lens.

North Fork River dam at Dawt Mill Missouri. Captured with Canon 5D mkll and Canon 24mm Shift lens.

North Fork River dam at Dawt Mill Missouri. Captured with Canon 5D mkll and Nikon 55mm AIS lens.

Directions to Dawt Mill: On a back road PP318 a couple of well-marked miles from the intersection of Highways 160 and PP east of Gainesville in Ozark County. Just upstream from Tecumseh Missouri.

Just north of Dawt Mill on highway 181 is the famous red Hodgson Mill. I enjoy this place every time I visit because it is such a ideal classic Ozark setting!

Hodgson Mill Missouri. Canon 5D mkll with Canon 24mm shift lens.

Heading further north I visited Rockbridge Mill and Trout Farm.

Fall color bursting from the bluff side behind the dam at Rockbridge Mill Missouri. Canon 5D mkll with Nikon 55mm AIS lens.

After Rockbridge I still had a little time to visit Hammond Mill and really liked the setting of one of the old homesteads from the old mill town.

Old homestead at Hammond Mill Missouri.

After Hammond that ended my day exploring the Mills of Ozark County Missouri. For more information and directions to these Ozark County Mills please check out this wonderful website http://www.ozarkmtns.com/milltour/

The next morning I left Ozark County and started to head home and planned to make a couple small stops along the way. I stopped at Big Spring State Park and then took a drive up the Skyline Drive to witness some of the wonderful fall color vistas of the Ozark Mountains.

Big Spring is the largest spring in Missouri and one the largest springs in the world! Canon 5D mkll and Canon 24mm shift lens.

Old homestead at Big Springs State Park. Canon 5D mkll and Canon 70-200 f/4 lens.

The fall color vista views from the Skyline Drive near Van Buren Missouri.