Compton to Carroll County Road 11 (6 miles)

This is a great Ozark creek, lots of great scenery and tight drops. It is also a serious creek, being a step up in difficulty above Upper Richland. Hazards abound, and hiking out of the gorge after an injury really sucks. As of spring 2025 most of the rapids \*except\* Howler are clear of wood, but scout anything you can't see clearly. The drops come up on your fast and blind - don't take any chances in here. While runnable at minimum levels, the lines become much more defined and the undercuts tend to get submerged better at medium water levels. To gauge runnability levels, look at the starting gun rapid. If water is complete over the right side of the falls, that's minimum. If water is up to the bush on the rock falls left, and water is trickling over the left side, that's a good medium. If you can't even see the rock and bush sticking up river left at Starting gun, the creek is too high, so wait a few hours. Creek runs through private land, please thank any landowners you see. Please do not block the roads or driveways at the put-in. The current landowners on the downstream side of the put-in bridge are very friendly, please respect thier beautiful home. Put-in: Go North on Hwy 43 for 4.8 miles from the intersection of Hwy 103 near Compton. Turn left (Northeast) on a dirt road and follow for 2/3 miles to the bridge over the creek. Osage Creek and Wolf Branch join just above the bridge and there is a 6-ft waterfall just below the bridge. Take-out: Go across the bridge and turn right (North). Go 2.2 miles and turn right (North) at the tee. Go 3.3 miles and turn right at the bottom of the big hill. Go upstream for 1.1 miles to the bridge. More info at: Osage Creek, Ozark Whitewater Page More photos at: Osage Photo Page