Stars Upstream: Life Along an Ozark River

by Leonard Hall

This chronicle of life along the Current and Jacks Fork rivers in the Missouri Ozarks has been called "required reading for everyone interested in the future of America."  First published in 1958, it remains unsurpassed as an example of one man's love for the land and rivers around him and of a way of life all too much in danger of being lost to us. The rivers described in Stars Upstream were designated by Congress in 1964 as the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, creating America's first national river.  Granting of national park status has changed the area in many ways--the river system is now heavily used for recreational purposes--yet the concerns presented by Hall about the dangers of commercialism, exploitation, and pollution are still very much with us.  Stars Upstream has played an invaluable role in promoting wise use of these rivers and should be read by everyone interested in preserving America's streams and wildlands as a national heritage.

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1969

Reviews

[Karen GoatKeeper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike most rivers, the Current River has no little headstream. Instead it pours out as a spring in Montauk State Park then drops several feet a mile until it crosses into Arkansas to empty into the rivers there. Along the way several big (multimillion gallons a day) springs add to the river.
This is wild country with tall bluffs lining much of the river. Now forests come down to the edge as the land recovers from intense logging and other abuses in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Birds and other wildlife are again seen. The river is known for smallmouth bass fishing.
Hall and his wife floated the Current River for decades. This book talks about the river, the people, the history of the Current River. And it talks about floating the river from its beginning spring to where it crosses into Arkansas.
The charm is reading about this area in 1958 and before, when a large town only had four families living there. It talks about the beginnings of what is now the Missouri Department of Conservation and Pioneer Forest. Peck Ranch is now known for the reintroduction of elk, but began to save the wild turkey.
Anyone who loves to float the rivers will enjoy this book. The true audience will be those familiar with the Missouri Ozarks, especially the Current River area.

[Sean A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

picked this up sort of on a nature whim at a local used-book-store. engaging, informative and spirited history of a large region i live close to and have visited in some way since childhood. makes me long for the woods, not being entirely but only sort of stuck in st louis. also makes me want to get a canoe or kayak. also makes me wonder since this book is written in the late 50s and the author already warns of the dangers of encroaching modernization (meaning pollution, commercialism and the like) what has become of len's beloved near-wilderness areas now a days. also makes me want to go fishing again. hope to read sand county almanac and more books like this in the near future as it chronicles an experience (that of the wild) which is shrinking swiftly but is so vital to human experience potential.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent history of the Ozarks and the Current River, although I'm still trying to figure out how much shit they carried with them on their float trips--it seems like a ton of stuff.

[Z. Hedrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

New top favorite.

[Jenny France · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author played a large role in creating the designation of National Scenic Riverways, the Current being the first river to receive this designation. Now there are 226. www.river.gov.

This was written before that legislation passed. It not only provides detailed environmental and historical information about the Current River, but it is also a valuable primary source for capturing a moment in time.

Hall's adventures on the river with his wife, friends, fellow naturalists, and his Irish Setter are charming. I enjoy the lists of wildflowers and descriptions of bird sightings.