Eminence — Ozark Hellbender Hub

Eminence sits at the intersection of MO-19 and MO-106, which makes it the natural anchor for riders plotting a loop through the southeastern Missouri Ozarks. The Ozark Hellbender route starts and ends here — <a confirmed 122-mile loop threading nearly 300 curves through the Mark Twain National Forest and the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. The loop crosses the Current River at Round Spring, passes Current River State Park, and works back to town past Alley Spring before returning via MO-106.

MO-19 itself carries some of that history. The road was built in the 1930s following the ridgelines, with steep drop-offs in many stretches — plans to straighten it were later voted down, and it went on to be designated a Missouri Scenic Byway. Horse trailers and logging trucks share those curves, so watch for slow-moving traffic, especially on weekends.

The small downtown has basic rider needs covered: fuel, a couple of cafes, and canoe outfitters along the Jacks Fork River. It is a practical place to top off and sort out the route before heading out, or to decompress and eat after coming back in. The town is small; don't expect much beyond the essentials, and plan fuel accordingly for the loop itself.