Shannon County

WIth nearly 600 known caves, Shannon County has the second greatest number of known caves in Missouri, following Perry County.  Most of the caves in Shannon County are found along the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers and their many tributary creeks.  Cave entrances tend to be at or near river level in this region, with few known caves in the uplands due to the thick residuum of clay.  Caves in this region are most often formed in Ordovician bedrock though they don't tend to be very long; the longest of which, Power Mill Creek Cave is over 8 miles long.

               Scott House admires a formation in a large Shannon County cave. - Photo by Matt Bumgardner