This driving tour of the lower James River takes you past historic sites, high bluffs, scenic valley overlooks and caves and springs. It explores the roughly southern half of the James River Watershed, which includes some of the region’s most beautiful country. The tour is about 80 miles and takes about 3 hours’ drive time.

This driving tour of the middle James River takes you from the “natural well,” the founding site of Springfield, through the historic Pearson Creek mining district, to the site of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft’s encampment on his 1818-1819 tour of the Ozarks, to the sealed entrance of Riverbluff Cave, an “ice age” cave containing an amazing repository of ancient animal fossils. You’ll see dramatic sinkholes and sparkling clear springs and streams in rolling limestone hills and rugged valleys. The 60-mile tour explores roughly the middle third of the James River watershed. Allow at least 2 hours’ drive time.