The Gasconade River is about 280 miles (450 km) long and is located in central and south-central Missouri. The river begins in the Ozarks southeast of Hartville in Wright County and flows generally north-northeastwardly through Wright, Laclede, Pulaski, Phelps, Maries, Osage and Gasconade counties, through portions of the Mark Twain National Forest. It flows into the Missouri River near the town of Gasconade in Gasconade County.The Gasconade River is the longest river completely within the boundary of Missouri. It has been called one of the world’s “crookedest” rivers.
There are caves and an abundance of wildlife along the river and is considered a popular place by anglers for its largemouth bass and smallmouth bass.