Plenty of spring rain has produced excellent floating conditions on Ozark rivers. Many outfitters are reporting the best floating conditions and water levels they have seen in years, with good volume and water flow. 2010 may prove to be the best year for floating Ozark waterways that we have seen in a long time.

A float trip on an Ozark waterway is an ideal vacation for the entire family. Our floatable streams are all cool, clear and spring-fed, providing some of the safest and most enjoyable recreation in the state.

All floating outfitters cooperate with the Missouri Water Patrol and the Missouri Department of Conservation in enforcing laws that apply to their waterways. The Ozark National Scenic Riverways provides National Park Service Rangers for added safety and protection. In addition, important signs are placed along the waterways to inform floaters about laws and regulations. As a result of these ongoing efforts, floating in the Ozarks is very safe and well-suited for families and groups. Cooperation between floaters and government agencies has encouraged the growth of group and family fun on the rivers. A new awareness concerning floating regulations has created an even better floating experience. The outfitters are happy to see more visible law enforcement on the rivers.

In September, the Missouri Canoe & Floaters Association, in conjunction with Stream Teams, sponsors a river clean-up. Stream Team members and volunteers are invited to participate. Clean-up teams work from canoes and the bank. Gloves, trash bags and refreshments are usually provided to participants.

Litterbags from the Missouri Department of Conservation are supplied to all outfitters and given to floaters to use during their trip.

Outfitters were recently polled via email and responded with the following float information:

Beaver Creek

Float Conditions: Nice family float right now, relaxed, not too high and not too low.

Camp Conditions: Excellent. Nights in the low 70's. Days in the mid 80's.

Jacks Fork River, Current River

Float Conditions: Jacks Fork is good from Alley Spring down. Our section of the Current from Round Spring down is also good.

Niangua River

Float Conditions: Currently the Niangua River below Bennett Spring is in ideal condition. Flowing nicely and really clear. The upper portion is starting to get fairly low, but some folks are still using it primarily just about 4 miles above Bennett or to smallmouth fish

Meramec River

Float Conditions: We offer two float trips at Old Cave Canoe both start upstream and float back to your car. The short float is 4.5 miles and the long float is 9 miles and lasts 5-6 hours minimum. We have plenty of gravel bars and bluffs to enjoy along the way. Our stretch of the Meramec is all stream, creek, and spring fed.  

Camp Conditions: We only offer private party and group camping. Our campsites are all riverside and come with a pavilion, porta potty, picnic tables, chairs, and party size charcoal grill. We also offer catered barbeque float packages for our groups and private parties.    

Courtois, Huzzah, and Meramec

Float Conditions: Meramec is flowing great... Huzzah and Courtois have some lower water levels particularly upstream. Our 4 and 5 mile trips on the Huzzah and Courtois Creeks are still running well.

Camp Conditions: All of our tent and RV campsites are dry, and most have ample shade. We also have over 50 acres of general admission tent camping based on first come-first serve set up, with plenty of tree coverage to keep you cool.

Current River

Float Conditions: Floating conditions are excellent.

Camp Conditions: Camping conditions are great. Hot in the day and cool in the evenings.
Perfect weather for camping and floating.

Jack's Fork and Current River

Float Conditions: Floating conditions are normal at this time. We have had not rain to speak of for 3 weeks.

Camp Conditions: Camping conditions are normal except for the extreme heat advisory for southern Missouri. It is hot and dry.

Niangua River

Float Conditions: The river is good and floatable

Elk River, Big Sugar Creek

Float Conditions: The Elk River is great and the Big Sugar is starting to get low.

Camp Conditions: very good

After a cold, rainy, early spring, the last 3 weeks have been great.

Elk River and Indian Creek

Float Conditions: Floating conditions on the Elk are perfect right now.  Indian Creek is a little low, but that changes with a few inches of rain.

Camp Conditions: Mid-summer camping conditions, hot days, warm nights.

So far, a great year on the Elk.