Jacks Fork
{{short description|River in the United States of America}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
File:Jacks Fork River bluffs 1 jsigler.jpg
Jacks Fork{{cite web
|url ={{GNIS 3|750476}}
|title =Jacks Fork
|work =Geographic Names Information System
|publisher =United States Geological Survey
|accessdate =2014-01-21}} is one of two rivers in Missouri that are part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways system.
Starting in Texas County, Missouri, this spring-fed river flows {{convert|46.4|mi}}U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. [http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329155652/http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ |date=2012-03-29 }}, accessed March 9, 2011 in a general east to northeasterly direction through the heart of the geological area known as the Lower Ozark Natural Division. It is the major tributary of the Current River, ending at its confluence near Eminence, Missouri. At this location, its mean annual discharge is 478 cubic feet per second.{{Cite web|url=https://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/annual/?format=sites_selection_links&search_site_no=07066000&agency_cd=USGS&referred_module=sw|title = USGS Surface Water data for Missouri: USGS Surface-Water Annual Statistics}}
The first {{convert|25|mi}} from the Prongs to Bay Creek is deep valley and in the springtime provides Class II water. Due to lack of access, it is the most primitive of the rivers in the region. From Alley Spring to its confluence with the Current River it is a Class I River and is floatable year round with warm water.
The Jacks Fork provides some of the most natural conditions in the region with many caves and natural springs. It is a popular recreation destination for canoeists and kayakers and is generally considered a Class I-II difficulty river.
Jacks Fork has the name of John Jacks, a local Indian pioneer citizen.{{cite web|url=http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_shannon.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624071719/http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_shannon.html |archivedate=June 24, 2016 |url-status=live |title=Shannon County Place Names, 1928–1945 |publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri |accessdate=December 25, 2016 }}
Location
{{GeoGroup}}
;Mouth: Confluence with the Current River, Shannon County, Missouri: {{Coord|37.19005|-91.27735|format=dms|display=inline,title|name=Jacks Fork mouth|type:river_region:US-MO_source:gnis}}
;Source: Confluence of the North Prong and South Prong, Texas County, Missouri: {{Coord|37.07616|-91.73237|format=dms|display=inline|name=Jacks Fork source|type:river_region:US-MO_source:gnis}}{{cite web
|url ={{GNIS 3|754221}}
|title =North Prong Jacks Fork
|work =Geographic Names Information System
|publisher =United States Geological Survey
|accessdate =2014-01-21}}{{cite web
|url ={{GNIS 3|754223}}
|title =South Prong Jacks Fork
|work =Geographic Names Information System
|publisher =United States Geological Survey
|accessdate =2014-01-21}}