Three Notch Trail. This 21-mile trail consists of two circular loops and a cutoff, all completely within the boundaries of The Ranch. Units can choose to hike one or both loops. Upon completing the hike, Scouts may obtain a patch to celebrate their achievement. Three Notch is a great backpacking trail and the perfect training warm-up for Philmont. This trail is rated for Scouts BSA, Venturers, and Explorers. It is not recommended for Cub Scouts or Webelos. NOTE: During high-water conditions on the Little St. Francois River, sections of this trail are not accessible. Trail maps are available at any council service center.

Rock Climbing and Rappelling. Experience the thrill of high adventure on the cliffs of Freedom, Ranger Falls, Collarbone, or Baby Snake. Scouts learn the ups and downs of safe rock climbing and rappelling while building new levels of confidence and overcoming the uneasiness of heights. Campsites are available cliff-top along the Little St. Francis River or near Castle Rock. Scouting units must provide their own trained rock-climbing instructors. Climbing equipment is available for a fee.

Shooting Sports. The Eagle Range provides units with trap & skeet shooting facilities. Archery and rifle ranges are also available on the property.

Challenge Course. This outstanding high- and low-challenge course is available year-round for troops, crews, and posts with trained leadership. It involves a series of outdoor tasks—beginning with basic group initiative games and progressing to more advanced low-course and high-course activities. Participants climb, swing, balance, jump, and think their way through a variety of physical challenges. These events put teamwork, as well as individual skills and agility, to the test. Camping facilities are available at the course site.

Ron & Kathy Green STEM Pavilion. Located in Camp Famous Eagle, the Ron & Kathy Green STEM Pavilion has two covered open wings with picnic tables to conduct activities. The storage building is stocked with materials to bring Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics experiences for your Den, Pack, Troop, unit meeting, or other event! Available activities: Ham radio, handheld microscopes/Vulcan notebooks, mineral science kits, electronic snap circuits, stomp rockets, Bloxels game design kits/tablets, drones, Lego engineering gadget sets, gravity maze sets, 3D pens, and Vex robot kits/laptops. The building has lights for use in the evening. Enjoy this great resource!

Canoes. Canoes are available from April through October for troops, crews, and posts. Every participant must be a swimmer and wear a personal flotation device (PFD) at all times. Thirty canoes are available. If fishing, all participants 16–64 years of age must possess a valid Missouri State Fishing License.

Fishing. Whether Scouts are casting from the shore or trolling from a boat, Nims Lake offers miles of excellent fishing right in the heart of S-Bar-F Ranch. Units are welcome to use their own boats. S Bar F is allowing personal boat fishing at Nims Lake. There is a 6-boat maximum each day. It costs $30 for each boat for Scouting members and $50 each boat for non-Scouting members. You must rinse trailer, boat, bilge, live well, and motor prior to launching into Nims Lake. Non-Scouting members using a personal fishing boat must fill out the Rental Agreement and bring it to check in with the Rangers. Click here for the form. See boating and fishing rules below.

S bar F Scout Ranch Nims Lake Boating and Fishing Regulations:

• Safety Afloat Guidelines are required for all boating activities.
• Reservations must be made at the council service center.
• Nims Lake was built for the Scouts. While fishing, each leader must be accompanied by at least one Scout. Every person in any watercraft (maximum 3) must be a swimmer and wear a personal flotation device (PFD) at all times. NOTE: A current Missouri state fishing license is required for all persons between the ages of 16 and 64.
• Fishing with live minnows is not permitted.
• Electric trolling motors only—gasoline engines are not permitted on the lake.
• All participants must check in with the rangers and present a camp use permit.
• Fishing is a unit activity—not individual. Buddy boats are required—see Safety Afloat Guidelines.
• All other camp rules are in effect. Violators will be asked to leave the property.

Tent Camping. S-F features a wide variety of options for tent camping. Campers can stay overnight at the picturesque Nims Lake Overlook, spread out in the spacious Camporee Field, enjoy the privacy of an individual campsite, and even hang a hammock at Hammock Village on Nims Lake. Outpost trail camps are available along the Three Notch Trail. Most camping areas are equipped with water spigots and outdoor pit toilet facilities. Please contact our Camping Department if you have questions about water and bathroom availability for your camping area.

Cabins. Scout Lodge and Wenzel Lodge offer bunk beds. Each cabin sleeps a total of 34. Both have a refrigerator, stove, and dry sink and are heated by a wood stove. Water spigots and pit toilet facilities are located near each lodge. Scouting units must provide their own firewood and cooking gear.

Tree Houses. The Tree Houses at S-Bar-F are the perfect spot for your unit to overlook beautiful Nims Lake. Five tree houses are available for use. Four of the houses contain eight bunks each. The fifth house, usually reserved for adult campers, is equipped with electricity and features six bunks. Total capacity for all five tree houses is 38. An outdoor fire pit, grill, water pump, and pit toilet facilities are available. Units provide their own cooking gear and firewood.

Shawnee Lodge Adirondacks. Enjoy a beautiful view of Nims Lake at the Shawnee Lodge Adirondacks. These two-story, three-sided structures feature eight beds on each level. Three structures are available to rent individually, totaling 16 beds each. The Eagle Scout Association (ESA) Pavilion is a short distance up the hill from the Adirondacks and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis, featuring electricity with lights, several picnic tables, and a grill.

Londe Adirondack Village. Scouts can discover the world of adirondack camping. These unique shelters have three sides and use a fireplace placed near the opening for warmth. The village includes five adirondack shelters, a pavilion, and latrine facilities.

Swift Lodge (available August–May). The Swift Base lodge is heated and has bunk arrangements for 35. A wood-burning fireplace, indoor water, full kitchen, showers, and bathrooms with flush toilet facilities are all included. Units provide their own cooking gear and firewood.

Orthwein Village Cabins. Spend a relaxing weekend in one of our family cabins! Built through a generous donation by the Orthwein Foundation, these cabins are located in the tranquil woods of S-F Scout Ranch and feature many modern amenities to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Each cabin has central heat and air conditioning, high-speed internet, a large-screen smart TV, and washer and dryer. Guests have access to two private bedrooms, each with two twin beds and their own full bathroom, plus a complete kitchen, dining and living areas, and a large covered porch. Nims Lake is just a 3-minute walk from the cabins, and the rest of S-F is in your backyard. Reserve your cabin today and experience the Ranch in a whole new way!

Tipis. Three authentic tipis are available to units whose leaders have participated in the proper instruction. Scouts get to put their skills to the test erecting and camping in these Native American structures.

Leadership Hall. A state-of-the-art 16,000 square-foot dining facility. The spacious hall features seating for up to 450 people, a commercial kitchen, an audio-visual system, and indoor restrooms and storm shelter. Looking for an indoor location for a large event? Schedule a tour of Leadership Hall!

Nims Lake Overlook Pavilion. Provides a beautiful setting for your group to eat, meet, and relax. Features an outdoor kitchen with running water and charcoal grill, electricity, and a large, elevated deck (Crows Nest) for an even greater view.

Reserving the treehouses, Shawnee Lodge Adirondacks, or tent camping area at Nims Overlook does not grant access to this pavilion. The pavilion must be added to those reservations if the group wishes to use it.

Swift Lodge. Swift High Adventure Base has a dining lodge that includes two bunkrooms with sleeping accommodations for 34 people. The lodge is heated and features a kitchen, AV equipment, and a large screened-in porch.

Swift Pavilion. Located within Swift High Adventure Base, this large pavilion is easily accessible and has electricity, lighting, and water. Nims Lake is a short hike from the pavilion.

The Eagle Range. Added in 2014 and generously funded by the Eagle Scout Association and NRA, the Eagle Range is a combination trap and skeet shooting facility. It contains five shooting stations at the trap field and eight shooting stations at the skeet field.

Additional amenities: Huck’s Cove water park (two water slides, zip line, rope swings); archery range; rifle range; Ron & Kathy Green STEM Pavilion with equipment storage; and a high- and low-challenge course.

For more than 50 years, S-F Scout Ranch has been providing the ultimate in Scouting experiences. One of the premier Scouting destinations in America, S-F features 5,200 wooded acres in Knob Lick, Mo. The highlight of the property is its 270-acre Nims Lake where Scouts enjoy endless water activities and Huck’s Cove water park featuring two water slides, a zip line, and rope swings.

Camp Famous eagle features the state-of-the-art, climate controlled Leadership Hall dining dining facility. Swift High Adventure Base, home of the Venturing and “Apex” Older Scout programs, also has a dining hall. Camp Gamble features a renowned patrol-method cooking camp, helping Scouts to build their self-confidence, leadership, and discipline skills throughout their week at camp.

In 2014, The Eagle Range was added to the property at S bar F. Generously funded by the Eagle Scout Association and NRA, the Eagle Range is a combination trap and skeet shooting facility. It contains five shooting stations at the trap field and eight shooting stations at the skeet field.

Camp Famous Eagle (Map)
Camp Gamble (Map )
Camp Sakima (Map)
Swift High Adventure Base (Map)

Learn about all S-F Summer Camps at Scouts BSA, Venturing & Sea Scouts Summer Camp.

The S bar F Campmaster Corps members are registered Scouters who help visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience. Campmasters provide a camp orientation for each unit upon arrival and inspect the camp upon departure to maintain safe, secure facilities.

Click here to learn more.

Find your way with one of these maps (.pdf files)

• Map to S-Bar-F Scout Ranch
• S-Bar-F Scout Ranch Map
• Camp Famous Eagle Map
• Camp Gamble Map
• Swift Base Map
• Camp Sakima Map
• Three Notch Trail Guide Map
• S-Bar-F Campmaster Flyer
• 2025-2026 Cub Scout Program Guide
• 2025-2026 Scouts BSA Program Guide
• 2025-2026 Venturing Program Guide
• 2026-2027 Cub Scouts Program Guide
• 2026-2027 Scouts BSA Program Guide
• 2026-2027 Venturing Program Guide

To make a reservation or modify an existing reservation, please visit our Camp Reservation page. If you need assistance, please contact our support staff by phone (314-256-3090), email (help@stlbsa.org), or our online help center.

Head Ranger:  Rich Panosh | 573-756-5738 | rich.panosh@scouting.org

Ranger:  Matt Unterreiner | 573-756-5738 | matt.unterreiner@scouting.org

Address:  Highway 67, Knob Lick, MO 63651 (south of Farmington and north of Fredericktown)