An Ozark Water Vacation
By Donald Harris
If deep blue springs, kayaking and canoeing for the whole family, two - five day float trips through scenic hills and National Forests sounds like what your family wants on your next vacation, then a trip to the eastern Ozarks may be just the ticket! The Current River, Eleven Point River and Jacks Fork River and surrounding area is one of the most scenic areas to be found.
The Ozark National Scenic Riverways National Park controls 134 miles of Jacks Fork and Current River north of the Ripley/Carter County Line. According to the National Park Service 60% of the rivers flow comes from 7 major springs and 51 other springs within the drainage basin.
One of the major springs that flows into the Current River is Big Spring at Van Buren, MO. This spring averages a flow of 276 million gallons of water per day and the highest flow rate was recorded in June 1928 at 840 million gallons of water. The spring is owned by the National Park Service and there is no charge for viewing.
Another of the major springs is Blue Spring in Shannon County, MO. This spring gets its name from the deep blue color of its water caused by the steep angle of passage descent. The spring has been mapped to a depth of 310 feet, the deepest mapped spring in Missouri. The spring is owned by the Missouri Department of Conservation and is accessible by gravel road, or by walking from the Owl's Bend National Park Service campground or by walking from a canoe landing on Current River. There is no charge to view the spring.
Teresa Lee of "KC's on the Current" provides a wealth of information for vacationer:
KC's on the Current offers floating rental equipment for use on any waterway, though it certainly recommends trying Current River, just three minutes away. Floaters may rent tubes, kayaks, canoes, rafts and a paddleboat. All rentals are self-haul, which allows customers to plan their own destinations and schedules.
Other water recreation areas nearby are the Eleven Point River, Ripley County Lake, Lake Wappapello, Spring River, Black River and the Upper Current and Jack's Fork.
With a little pre-planning, floaters can enjoy day-long and extended, affordable floats with KC's equipment, as long as they provide their own transportation to and from the river. Tube floats generally last 3 to 4 hours, though floating times vary according to launching times and time allotted for picnicking, swimming, fishing, etc. All one-day floaters must have equipment back to KC's by 7:00 pm. Kayaking on Current River, a Class 1 river, is safe enough even for 7-year-olds, challenging enough for adverturesome adolescents, and relaxing enough for seniors - thus providing the foundation for the perfect family outing. KC's is the only outfitter currently providing kayak rentals on the lower Current. Rentals are affordable enough to justify renting from KC's and traveling to Spring River in Mammoth Springs, Arkansas, if kayakers want a more challenging float complete with mini-falls.
Owners of KC's have floated the 130 mile trip from Baptist Camp near Licking, Missouri, the first spot floating access to the river is allowed. That trip is advertised as a 4-night, five day float, and offers floaters marvelous opportunities for camping on gravel bars, touring caves, one even accessible by canoe, fishing, swimming and enjoying relative isolation. It can be done in 2 nights, three days, still fun but not as relaxing. The closer the river gets to Van Buren, the more congested it becomes, as there are several outfitters in that area profiding tubes and canoes.
A two-day float on the Lower Current can be planned from Bay Nothing to Doniphan. Floaters can have their pick of gravel bars for camping and picnicking. That float is about 21 miles. From Bay Nothing to Deer Leap or Float Camp, two campgrounds managed by KC's, the float is 12 to 14 miles long. That float provides relative seclusion. One can imagine how Lewis and Clark must have felt! The trip from the campgrounds to Doniphan, where there are public ramps to enter and exit the river, the float is about 6 river miles and can be somewhat congested on weekends when local boaters and jet-skiers are enjoying the river as well.
The Upper Current and Jack's Fork rivers are both part of the Ozark Scenic Riverways. As such, the size of boat motors is limited, jet skies are not allowed, and glass containers are prohibited. Earlier in the year there were reports that the Forest Service may require that tubers have life jackets. Check with your outfitter for additional regulations.
On the Lower Current, not part of the Scenic Riverway system, glass containers are still allowed but certainly not recommended. Boats can be faster, and jet skies are popular.The depth of the river fluctuates drastically according to the rainfall. There are deep spots along the short floats, but much of it is walkable by adults, though the current is strong regardless of depth. There are snags, or rootwads, to maneuver around in several spots, but they are manageable. Tying tubes together is not recommended because of the snags. One can paddle around them, but ropes holding serveral floaters together could pose a potential hazard. Better to float close or limit tying to two only.
All riverways are patrolled, with officials trying to deter littering, drug use, underaged drinking and unsafe boating. The congested areas naturally are patrolled regularly, and weekends are the prime target times. Fines can be steep. They offer assistance in emergencies, and help outfitters locate late customers who could be in trouble.
KC's on the Current is the concessionaire for two campgrounds owned by the US Forest Service in the Mark Twain National Forest. Both are on the banks of the lower Current, about 4 miles from Doniphan, but 6 river miles from town. Float Camp is a more manicured campground, offering a park-like setting. Handicapped-accessible vault restrooms are there, with one campsite offering handicapped access. Several of the sites have concrete pads under covered picnic tables. Most have grills, and all have fire rings. No utilities are provided. The 16 sites are large enough for tenters, camper trailers and RV's. Each site rents for $8 nightly for up to 8 people. Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Adjacent to this campground is a public swimming area, complete with picnic tables and grills, vault rest rooms and dressing rooms, and parking. Parking fee is $2.00 daily. Season passes are available for $25, valid at any Mark Twain National Forest parking facility.
A second campground, offering 14 sites, offers a more primitive camping experience, though picnic tables and fire rings are standard. No electricity is available, but last year there were three water outlets. (We won't know until May if water will be provided again this year). The restrooms are also of the vault variety, but it is an older structure.
A public boat access is also in the vicinity. It offers a paved ramp and a restroom, and parking for vehicles with trailers as well as for vehicles without. Parking fees are also $2 daily, with season passes available.
KC's manages all four sites - the two campgrounds, the picnic area and the boat ramp - collecting fees, making trash pickups and cleaning and stocking the restrooms twice daily.
KC's on the Current is located on Y Highway, 3.7 miles from Doniphan, within minutes of the campgrounds and the river. The seasonal business offers ice, snacks, beverages, camping and swimming supplies,like firewood and swimming shoes, and the floating rental equipment.
Doniphan is located in the foothills of the Ozarks, about 3 hours away from St. Louis, Missouri, Little Rock, Arkansas, Memphis, Tennessee, and Springfield, Missouri.
Branson is a popular destination as well. Poplar Bluff is the nearest larger city, offering a cinema, a Wal-Mart, a variety of dining opportunities and lodging, and a water park, all about 30 minutes away. Doniphan itself has three motels.
For more information, one may call owner Teresa Lee at 573-255-3627 or KC's at 573-996-7961 May through September.