Camping Season Changed at Huzzah Conservation Area
Effective immediately, the Missouri Department of Conservation says camping at the Huzzah Conservation Area near Leasburg will be allowed only from Sept. 15 to May 15. The area will continue to be open to public use from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. this summer.
The department said the end of summer camping will “ensure acceptable outdoor recreation activities while minimizing chronic problems associated with inappropriate and unsafe uses.”
In the past, the department said summer camping at Huzzah has been a perpetual management and law enforcement problem, including on-going issues with drug and alcohol use, littering, property damage and trespassing.
The area is a popular float spot, with Huzzah Creek, Courtois Creek and the upper Meramec all nearby. Onondaga Cave State Park also is near the 6,144-acre conservation area.
The Conservation Department says the camping restriction will allow access to the streams “while minimizing the problems and safety concerns routinely experienced during the summertime.”
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Tom Uhlenbrock has been roaming the Midwest for eons, looking for rivers to float, wineries to visit, trails to hike, saloons to haunt, cozy places to stay. Let's share, and advice is free. 
Closing it down won’t stop the activities from happening, it’ll just happen somewhere else now. Sad to see an area closed to those who would respect the rules. I would rather see more patrols and enforcement.
I agree with “Well…”
Most of the problems are coming from groups camped on properties owned by outfitters. The Conservation Area has a much smaller capacity for campers than these private properties, so the impact on the rivers will be minimal.
this will increase the risk of people driving home after a long day of drinking. it does give the local law enforcement more opportunities to pick up people driving under the influence though.
i am guessing it will be more common to see check points set up along the few roads that lead to the river/camping areas.
What I’d like to see is an annual camping permit for MDC lands similar to hunting/fishing. Keep the camping free, and open, but if you don’t have the permit you get booted out. Use the fee to maintain the camping areas. If they have your name and address you are much less likely to misbehave. And, like the rest of the tightening rules around here…it’s not the camping which is the problem, its the misbehavior. I’m getting pretty tired of having to give up my privileges as a civilized human because a few idiots mess it up for the other 90%-95%.
And Fark– just fyi, the outfitters are cracking down, too. See the new river rules on the governor’s desk if you don’t believe me. The people who want those rules *are* the outfitters.
I would say count the teeth of the people going in. Less than half a mouthful and you get rejected and also a ban on anyone with a tatoo. People with tatoos are uneducated trash. This will elminate the Moto-X crowd, the habitual drunks, loudmouths…… you know, most of the people from the St. Louis area.
Stiffer Fines - sounds like you are the idiot. Self expression, ever heard of it. I myself do not have any tats, but for those who do, that is their right, who are you to damn anyone - goof ball, get out of your glass house cause here comes the stones
I have been using this campground for many many years.It is a shame that a few ignorant folks can mess it up for everyone.
During the course of the last 10 years or so it has gotten so bad with all the open drug use and thievery going on that I was sure to be armed at all times.At one time I have even witnessed a shooting. Why you ask if it was so bad why did I continue to go there? The area has many special memories for me and will continue to do so. In my humble opinion it was more of the locals causing the problems than the folks from St Louis. Thanks for allowing me to vent.