Ozarks (Rural)
Montauk State Park turns cold spring water into Dent County's trout tradition
Montauk State Park sits at the Current River's headwaters, where spring water, an old mill, CCC work, and trout-park rules all meet southwest of Salem.
Montauk State Park is the Dent County place where the Current River begins to feel like the Current River. The park sits at the river’s headwaters, where springs and tiny Pigeon Creek supply more than 40 million gallons of cold water a day. That cold, clear water is why trout fishing became the park’s public identity.
The older story is still visible. The valley drew settlers in the early 1800s, and water power made Montauk a milling place. A gristmill built in 1896 still stands and is open seasonally for tours. The park became a Missouri state park in 1926, and Civilian Conservation Corps crews built park structures in the 1930s that still help shape the place.
For visitors, Montauk is both a state park and a trout-rule place. Missouri State Parks handles lodging, camping, trails, the mill, advisories, and park status. MDC handles trout tags, seasons, catch-and-release rules, and fishing details. Check both before a trip, because the park setting and the fishing rules are managed through different doors.
Where to see it
- Montauk State Park
Use Missouri State Parks for lodging, camping, trail, mill-tour, advisory, and park-status details.
References
More from Dent County: browse every local note for the county.
Last checked against the sources above: July 1, 2026.