Living in the south, spending time outside is practically second nature. Between barbecues, crawfish boils, and annual family reunions, the great outdoors sort of feels like my second home. After spotting the Ozark Trail Oversized Mesh Cooler Chair on TikTok, I immediately knew I had to get my hands on it. While the park provides activities and viewing equipment, visitors should bring food, water, and comfortable seating. The TikTok version of the chair is adorably summer-themed, featuring nostalgia-inducing red, white, and blue popsicle designs all over the seat.
Sites at developed campgrounds can be reserved by visiting recreation.gov, with limited first-come, first-served camping available. Backcountry and gravel bar locations will be first-come, first-served only. Other nearby options may be found on Missouri Department of Conservation or Mark Twain National Forest lands.Be sure to verify that the location of your stay is within the path of the total eclipse! Also, as always, please read the rules of your camping/lodging location before booking.
If attendance is high, we cannot guarantee glasses for every visitor. The Ozark National Scenic Riverways offers great viewing, as we have minimal light pollution and a quiet atmosphere. Rangers will provide astronomical interpretation and star-finding during the viewing.Bring bug spray, chairs or blankets, and flashlights. Telescopes and binoculars are also encouraged.This viewing will happen alongside the Smokey balloon night glow, making for a spectacular night under the stars. The park is hosting Hercules BBQ and HillbillyKettle Corn/Pork Rinds food vendors at the event!
Carrying bags are included to make it easy to pack up and carry the chairs for transport. Durable polyester fabric allows these folding chairs with cup holders to last for a long time and stand up to various conditions. These seats come in a pack of four to provide seating for family and guests. They fit easily inside most vehicles for fast transport wherever they’re needed.
There’s a cupholder on the right arm and a built-in cooler on the left that can hold a six-pack of drinks (or more, if you dare). There’s even a bottle opener attached to the inside of the cooler to cover all the bases for chillin’ and grillin’ outside. On the back is an elastic slot and Velcro bands to secure an overhead umbrella, ozark trail chair and underneath the seat is a strap that collapses the chair for easy transport. Thanks to the Carter County Health Center (CCHC) for providing first aid and medical support for this event! They give us peace of mind during this huge event.Visit the CCHC website for more information on services they provide to the local community.
Within the park, the length of the total eclipse gets shorter as you travel north or west. Areas south of Van Buren will have the longest coverage, while areas north and west of Eminence will have the shortest. Go far enough north or west, and there will only be a partial eclipse with no totality. Below is a table listing the length of total eclipse coverage (totality) at locations throughout the park. While supplies last, the park will provide eclipse glasses free-of-charge at the “Zark Side of the Moon” event at Big Spring. A limited number will be available at Alley Spring’s info booth.If you have your own certified eclipse glasses, please bring them!
One method is to create a pinhole projector, which has a small opening (like a hole punched out of cardboard), that you can use to project the Sun onto a nearby surface. Stand with your back towards the sun and view the projected image. Never look at the sun through the opening.Finally, don’t forget to wear SPF! If you’re viewing the entire eclipse, you will be outside for several hours so remember to wear protective clothing, a hat, and sunscreen to prevent skin damage. During the eclipse, all park campgrounds will be open, barring closures from flooding or other events.
Food trucks offer a chance to have a hot meal during an otherwise busy day. These vendors may be the only food service available on the day of the eclipse.Due to the remote location and high internet traffic during the event, card transactions may not be possible. Please ozark trail backpack bring cash if you plan on purchasing anything at the event. Merchandise and memorabilia will be on sale from Eastern National and the Ozark Riverways Foundation! Eastern National is the organization that stocks the Alley General Store and park stores across the country.
During the total eclipse, there will be a brief window where it is safe to view the eclipse without protective eyewear. This window will be announced using the horn of our NPS fire truck! Look and listen for instructions on the day of the eclipse.However, outside of this window, it is never safe to view the eclipse without specialized eye protection designed for solar viewing. Sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe to use for viewing the eclipse. If you don’t have eclipse glasses or a solar viewer, you can use indirect viewing methods to watch the eclipse.