Big Sugar Creek adds a second float and conservation stream

McDonald County has more than the Elk River. It also has Big Sugar Creek. This is an Ozark stream, which means a creek in the hilly, rocky Ozark region. Big Sugar Creek joins the Elk River system near the town of Pineville. You can float it and fish it. Like the Elk River, it is a natural stream. Its water level goes up and down with the rain. So it may be high enough to float in one season and too low or too high in another. The county also has conservation land. This is public land cared for by the Missouri Department of Conservation, the state office for fish, wildlife, and forests. On this land, hunting, fishing, and access follow the Department’s rules, not state-park or private-land rules. Before a trip, check current stream conditions and public access points with the Department of Conservation. Also find out if the land you want to use is a conservation area, an outfitter’s land, or regular private property. Confirm these details with the local office instead of guessing.