CURRENT RIVER (Missouri)

You can canoe right into Cave Spring on the Current River

General Description & Characteristics-- The Current River of southeastern Missouri is the principal stream of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. It is a gem of a float stream and not to be missed! In fact we consider the Current River to be the best all-around canoe camping experience in the United States!

The Current River is a spring-fed stream, and except for the first 17 miles of the run described here, it nearly always has adequate water for canoeing. One after another, springs discharge clear, 58 degree water into the river in amazing volumes.

The Current River is at the southern edge of the Ozark Mountains.   Forests of maple, oak, hickory and many other hardwoods cover the hills. The fall color season (usually mid-October) is a great time to go. This is undoubtedly one of the most popular canoe streams in the country, and summer weekends are extremely crowded. If you want some solitude, do your week long trip in the off season, before Memorial Day or after Labor Day. The weather will be nicer and you will probably have your pick of the many good campsites.

In the upper section of the Current River, there are some tricky riffles and S-turns, but there are no major rapids. Even in the lower reaches of this run, you have to pay attention as the current is swift and there are rocks and snags galore.

There are several canoe rental operators on the Current River -- some will arrange shuttles for private parties. A current list of these is posted on the NPS web site.

Location & Canoeable Mileage-- A total of 90 miles of river is included in the National Scenic Waterways. The farthest upstream put in is just downstream from Montauk State Park at Baptist access. In periods of low water, you might need to put in at Akers Ferry. There is nearly always adequate water from that point down. The 90 mile run from Montauk will take you to Big Spring, or you can cut it short by only about 4 miles and take out in the town of Van Buren. Putting in at Akers will shorten the trip by about 17 miles. There are numerous well maintained access points, most with plenty of parking.  Below Big Spring, the hills subside, and the Current becomes a slow meandering river. You've seen the best of this river, but you can continue another 34 miles to Doniphan where there is a nice public ramp and parking lot.

If you want a really long float trip, the Current flows on into the state of Arkansas to join the Black River near Pocahontas, which in turn flows into the White River at Jacksonport, which goes on down to the Mississippi.  A trip of over 300 miles is possible!

Interesting Features-- There are several caves, some right on the river, that you can visit. If you go into the caves, be sure to take three sources of light, and don't go alone. Some of the caves have springs flowing out of them, and some have interesting limestone formations. Many of the caves are populated by large colonies of bats, and some of these caves are closed September 1 to April 30 because of the presence of endangered species of bats.

There are many major springs along the river. Some of the most interesting ones have been developed for visitation and are accessible by road (or short trail from a road). Others can be seen only by river runners. Cave Spring (pictured above) flows out of a cave at the river's edge which can be entered by canoe.

The Ozark Trail intersects the river and offers a chance for an extended hike as a side trip. The best place to pick it up is at a large gravel bar across from Blue Spring. You can also set out up any of the hollows, along the side creeks, or up the hillsides as you please. Most of the land is publicly owned.

The Current River is subject to closure by the National Park Service when they deem the water is too high for safe canoeing.  This happens fairly often in the spring, when seasonal rainfall is highest.  Except in extended periods of rain, the river usually subsides within a couple of days.

Camping -- It is easy to find good primitive campsites along the river on the many rock or gravel bars. There are developed camps at several points along the river that provide the usual campground amenities. These get very busy in the summer season, and may be partially closed down in the off season.

Additional Information:

Canoeing Information	Request a brochure from the Ozark National Scenic Riverways (National Park Service). This includes a basic river map. "Ozark Scenic Riverways Guide", a more detailed map, is available for purchase from the National Park Service.  This publication also has a lot of interesting details about the river's history both natural and human. Missouri Ozark Waterways (Missouri Department of Conservation book) Lots of information on this page, prepared by a Current River enthusiast:
Canoe Rental/Shuttle Service	NPS Outfitters List
River Flow Data	USGS river gauge at Van Buren If you have trouble getting data from this link, click HERE
Parks on/near the River	Ozark National Scenic Riverways (National Park Service) Montauk State Park Ozark Trail Mark Twain National Forest
Towns/Other Locales on/near the River	.
Books	Ozark Whitewater : A Paddler's Guide to the Mountain Streams of Arkansas and Missouri
More Pictures	Arthur Kuehne's Photo Gallery Canoe Camping Photo Gallery
Environmental Issues/Organizations	.
Acknowledgments/Contributors	.
Miscellaneous	Mercantile Coffee House in Van Buren

North Central Locator Map