2026 ONONDAGA PARK... 3rd Annual Camping and Kayaking on Meramec River

We'll just hang out on Thursday, then spend Friday either hanging out or kayaking, and Saturday kayaking. You don't have to come for all 3 nights, but you need to be at the campground before 9:00 a.m. if you want to kayak.

Your dog needs to be well socialized and well behaved. Please respect this rule, it's hard to keep this many dogs together for this.

PLEASE KEEP YOUR DOG ON SHORT LEASH AT CAMPFIRES, AND PLEASE DON'T BRING TREATS FOR OTHER DOGS. It's a long way to the nearest vet office.

Your dog should also be kayak savvy if you plan to float with us. There's no way out, once you start. And 10 miles is a long time on the water. Train your dog first before you attempt this float.

Please note:
ZERO CELL RECEPTION AT CAMPGROUND AND MOST OF THIS AREA!

There is no "store" at park campground, but there is one about 1 mile away at Ozark Outdoors.

CAMPING:
Please post in comments (not chat and not PM) when you have reserved your campsite. You cannot just show up and expect a site to be available. Your RSVP here gets you nothing, you have to book a campsite. You want an electric site #22 to #65.

These sites book up quickly. They only open reservations up 1 year in advance, so there are still several sites available on the cul-de-sac right now. If you're new to this, advise going to the MAP and look for green circles. We'll try to get as many of our people as possible on the cul de sac at the very end of the road. DO IT NOW, PEOPLE!

Comment below when you have a site, with your site # and equipment (tent, camper, etc). You can have 2 tents or a camper and 1 tent on same site. You need electric sites.

Missouri State Parks - Missouri State Parks Reservation System

Karen/DORA, Kelly/ELLIE and Wanda the Skamper Camper at #47. The party will be somewhere else, my site is always the "quiet zone".

FOOD: NO POTLUCK, BRING YOUR OWN FOOD.
We just don't have enough people for potluck, and the group has decided to do it this way, so we all have a decent meal. Some of us have microwaves, if you need to use one. We'll pick a campsite to gather on Saturday night for bonfire. Bring some wood for bonfire.

KAYAKING: NO RENTALS, THIS IS B.Y.0.BOAT,
You need a high-quality inflatable or a hardshell kayak. No hardshells under 10'. No Intex greenies or low end inflatables allowed. No folding kayaks allowed.

We're not professionals and not equipped to save you and your dog, if you have trouble. Not recommended for beginners. These runs aren't too hard, but there might be tricky spots. But they're too long for beginners. You need some river experience, know how to read the water and avoid trouble. These will be long floats, so you'll have to get your paddling muscles in shape beforehand. No way out, once you hit the water, you have to finish with the group.

LIFE JACKETS: HUMANS AND DOGS MUST WEAR PFD AT ALL TIMES ON RIVER FLOATS. NO EXCEPTIONS!

Leash your dog when we stop for lunch. Short leash only, no retractables at lunch. Max 6' length. You can have a longer leash after lunch for playing in the water. Big dogs need to be extra careful around the wee dogs when we take breaks.

Plan for Saturday is to put in at Onondaga and float 10-ish miles to Blue Springs Conservation area. It's about a 25 minute shuttle drive. We will drop our kayaks at Onondaga beach and a couple of us will stay to guard while others take cars to Blue Springs takeout. This is the run we just did in May 2024 and 2025. Awesome.

If you want to do this one, you will need to be at the campground no later than 9:00 a.m. It's only about 70 miles from 44/141 in Valley Park. Be sure we know you're coming. Communicate in advance, we won't get your message once we're there.

If we want to on Friday (we probably won't), we will float from Huzzah Conservation Area back to Onondaga. It's only about 2.5 mile shuttle and about 7 mile float. Includes Courtois, Huzzah and Meramec River. Time to try these Deschutes inflatables on the smaller rivers.

When we self shuttle, we need DETAILS! You should include info in comment on hardshell/inflatable kayak, if you'll have a dog and size of dog. You guys know the drill. This will help with shuttle plans.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:

Use your GPS. It's about 70 miles from Valley Park, Hwy 44 at 141. Campground is pretty far back in the park, follow signs. Park is 7 miles off Hwy 44 at Leasburg exit.

AGAIN, NO CELL RECEPTION ONCE YOU LEAVE THE HIGHWAY!