This cache is placed on the east side of the lake below Johnson Mountain. This is one of my favorite parts of the trail because of its scenic views across the lake.
Attention- The Chapel Hill Beach and Day Use Area will be closed this fall for renovation of the beach house, the well house, the sewage treatment system, and a few other features. The USFS does not want to encourage usage here while construction is going on so that means you should find a way to the cache without passing through the beach area. There are several ways to do this that are discussed below. The construction is just this fall so seek alternative routes between mid-September and December. You have over a month (until September 12th) to go swimming, walk through the beach, etc... before it closes.
-
Park at the Wild Boar Hollow Boat Launch and travel the Lakeshore Trail counter-clockwise for 8 miles. You can hike or mountain bike on the trail. While there aren't too many long climbs, there are many short, steep hills and rocky areas. The challenging trail has many beautiful areas and is well worth the hike or ride.
-
Park at the Enough Boat Launch, access off of MO 32, and hike the Lakeshore Trail to the cache. A 3.5 mile hike will get you to the cache area.
-
Paddle to the cache. There two great boat ramps that give you a beautiful paddle on the clear waters of the lake. More details in the next paragraph.
-
Hike over Johnson Mountain and down to the lake from Enough Road and MO 32. See details on Johnson Mountain Cache page.
Another fun way to get this cache is paddling. The lake is restricted to boats with less than a 10hp motor or boats with larger motors must remain at no wake speed. It is usually a very quiet lake. Paddling a canoe or kayak is a great way to see the lake and get to the cache. You can start your trip from the Wild Boar Hollow boat launch on the northern side of the lake. From here, it's a little less than a mile and half to the cache. Starting from the Enough Boat Ramp on the south end of the lake also gives you about a mile and a half long paddle. If you choose to paddle to this cache, be careful and make sure to wear a PFD.
Once construction is over this winter, there will be other ways to access the cache by shorter treks going clockwise on the trail or parking at Chapel Hill. Remember, you have a month until the beach closes.
When visiting Council Bluff Lake, please respect the natural area and the facilities. Make sure to pay the $3 day use fee so the USFS can continue doing a great job with its maintenance and upkeep of the area.
The Chapel Hill Beach and picnic area features a 54,000 square foot sand beach and offers nice picnic sites. The swimming area is marked with buoys and roped off. No lifeguards are on duty so be careful if you decide to swim. The beach and swimming area is open from May 12th to September 12th. While the beach is open, it offers the chance to rent canoes or paddle boats.
The Wild Boar Ridge Campground offers great camping too. The campground is not located on the lake, but two spur trails lead from the campground down to the lake. The campground is open year round and has water spigots and pit toilets. Enjoy your stay and pay your campsite fees.
While the beach closes for the winter, the Lakeshore Trail, the boat launch and the campground stay open year round. Enjoy your visit to this beautiful area!
Directions to Council Bluff-
From Potosi, MO- Go south 13 miles on Hwy P. Turn right on Hwy C for .25 miles, then left on Hwy DD. It's about 7 miles to the sign for Council Bluff Recreation Area. Turn left into the area.
From the South: MO 32 to MO DD. North 3 miles to Council Bluff sign. Turn right into the area.
Follow the signs to the boat ramp, campground or beach.
Directions to Enough- From Potosi, MO- Go south 16.5 miles on Hwy. 21, turn right on Hwy. 32 for 9 miles. Right on Enough Road (gravel) for 1.5 miles.
From the South- Take Hwy. 32 to Enough Road, go north 1.5 miles.
*This cache has been approved by the USFS*
Enjoy your hike! Please leave a story and some pictures in your log, I'd love to hear about your adventure!