Hideaway Harbor Park - Portage Des Sioux, MO
Hideaway Harbor Park – Dog-Friendly Escape in Portage Des Sioux, Missouri
Located along the Mississippi River, Hideaway Harbor Park offers a scenic, peaceful environment that’s perfect for dog owners seeking a bit of solitude and riverfront beauty. While not a dedicated dog park, its open spaces, beautiful views of the Alton bluffs, and proximity to the water make it a unique pet-friendly spot. Many visitors appreciate the quiet, less crowded nature of this hidden Missouri gem, as well as the good fishing and opportunities for wildlife spotting, including bald eagles.
Park amenities include multiple boat ramps, an accessible fishing dock, picnic tables, and a covered fishing shelter by the lake. There is ample parking (mainly gravel, with some paved handicapped spaces), simple restrooms (vault toilets), and plenty of driftwood on the beach for creating cozy bonfires. While there is no fenced dog area or playground, Hideaway Harbor is a versatile spot for those looking to relax by the river, walk their dogs on-leash, fish, or enjoy the natural surroundings of Portage Des Sioux.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is there a fenced area for dogs? No, there is no fenced area for dogs at this park.
- Are there restrooms available for owners? Yes, vault toilets are available, though reviews mention they can be dirty.
- Is the park wheelchair accessible? There are paved handicapped parking spaces and an accessible dock.
- Is there a playground or activities for kids nearby? No, there is no playground at this park.
- Is the park open year-round? It is generally open year-round but may close during river flooding. Closures are often posted on social media.
- Where is the best place to park? Ample gravel parking is available throughout the park, with two paved accessible spaces.
- Are picnics or BBQs allowed? There are picnic tables and plenty of driftwood for bonfires on the beach.
- Is the park muddy after it rains? The beach becomes increasingly muddy when the river is high or after rain.
Reviews
Lovely place. Its got bathrooms, a boat ramp, an increasingly muddy sand beach and lots of driftwood for burning. Not to mention there’s hardly anyone there, bit more remote and you could say, Hidden away. Parks department piles driftwood on the beach so feel free to burn them.
Great views of IL river road bluffs. We saw two bald eagles soaring at the bluff edge upon arriving. All gravel parking except two paved handicapped ♿️ spaces.
Hideaway Harbor Park is useful for accessing the Mississippi River. It has ample parking and 2 boat ramps one directly on the Mississippi and the other on Weber lake which connects to the Mississippi. There is also an accessible dock on the lake and plenty of other places to fish. If you use the vault toilet be careful.
There is no playground. On this latest visit, I noticed 3 picnic tables.
The bathrooms were TERRIBLE BUT this is very nice place to relax and hangout. The park was clean not overcrowded and the fishing is good if you have a little patience! Lol all the men left empty handed most were out all day. Fortunately I’d been watching a particular spot and wouldn’t ya know it I caught 5 catfish all by myself different sizes. Not sure what the other 7 fish are called but they’re a good size fish…For a first time fisher-woman 😁😁 I think this place is the bomb.com
The scenery is really nice. We visited in January when the river is frozen, and again in the spring when the river was high and flowing. Good view of the Alton bluffs. The lake is scenic also, with a nice covered fishing dock.
No one else was there when we visited in the winter, and only a few fishing in the spring.
This park closes whenever the river floods. They usually post on social media, but they don’t necessarily remember to add that info to their website.