Adventure Canoe Forum » Tag: Ozark National Scenic Riverways

Adventure Canoe Forum » Tag: Ozark National Scenic Riverways - Recent Topics http://www.adventurecanoe.com/forum/tags/ozark-national-scenic-riverways Canoe Camping & River Tripping Discussion en-US Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:28:23 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q http://www.adventurecanoe.com/forum/search.php Current River - Pulltite to Round Spring - 9.19.2009 http://www.adventurecanoe.com/forum/topic/current-river-pulltite-to-round-spring-9192009#post-761 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:17:09 +0000 davbak 761@http://www.adventurecanoe.com/forum/ The weather outlook for the weekend was looking great all week long, right up until Thursday night when there was suddenly a 60% chance of rain.  Curse words.  Thankfully, the group we were planning the weekend with were prepared for rain and no one let the less than ideal forecast bother them. We made it down to Round Spring Group Site #3 by 9:00 Friday night and got the base camp set up.  The rest of the group filtered in about 30 minutes later.  It was a great night, perfectly clear and no moon, so the stars were on full display. Saturday morning was a lazy morning with everyone sleeping in as much as they needed to.  Breakfast burritos were whipped up in quick order and everyone slowly started gathering gear and packing coolers for an afternoon on the river. Carrs Canoe Rental provided the shuttle and rental boats, mainly because of convienence since they are literally the on site outfitter at Round Spring.  We hopped on the water around noon to overcast skies, but comfortable temps. Our first stop was Pulltite Spring.  A few folks in our group were somewhat new to springs, though not paddling.  It's always fun seeing someone take in a spring for the first time and even though I've seen them hundreds of times, it's still a little mind boggling to think of the amount of water that flows from them. <img src="http://dnb.smugmug.com/photos/655441163_6FFEk-M.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="399" /> <img src="http://dnb.smugmug.com/photos/655444652_7bYaX-M.jpg" alt="" width="299" height="450" /> <img src="http://dnb.smugmug.com/photos/655444820_DWU6t-M.jpg" alt="" width="205" height="450" />   From Pulltite, we paddled for another 30 minutes or so and found a nice gravel bar to let the dogs romp and for the people to have some lunch.  Nothing special, just some sandwiches and chips.  Shortly after lunch, the rain started.  Everyone grabbed their rain gear and tried to wait it out, but it was showing no signs of letting up, so it was back on the river. From that point on, it rained off and on for the rest of the day...mostly on.  My rain jacket turned out to be not much of a rain jacket, but luckily it was not very cold out so even though I was mostly wet, it wasn't uncomfortable.  My wife's rain jacket was flawless, as usual...this is her smirking back at me as I was wringing out my "rain jacket". ;-) <img src="http://dnb.smugmug.com/photos/655448863_Pcxer-M.jpg" alt="" />   The camera didn't see much action after that, mostly because it was raining and there were some rain soaked dogs in my immediate area, but I had to get some shots of the fog that settled in. <img src="http://dnb.smugmug.com/photos/655449513_SBr8b-M.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="399" /> Back at camp, the dogs settled in by the fire.  Well, the old dog (Gabby) settled in by the fire and the young dog (Lou), opted for the people bed in the camper. <img src="http://dnb.smugmug.com/photos/655454826_FqRXX-M.jpg" alt="" /> <img src="http://dnb.smugmug.com/photos/655455435_2nruW-M.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="399" /> <img src="http://dnb.smugmug.com/photos/655456481_9PAHJ-M.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="399" /> Sunday morning breakfast was pancakes and two and a half pounds of bacon.  We gathered up camp and headed back to the city.  The highlight of the drive home was a police check point about 10 miles up 19 from Round Spring.  I guess they were trying catch the folks leaving Camp Zoe since they were having a festival that weekend. Eleven Point River Trip - Greer Spring to Riverton http://www.adventurecanoe.com/forum/topic/eleven-point-river-trip-greer-spring-to-riverton#post-657 Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:54:48 +0000 James 657@http://www.adventurecanoe.com/forum/ Everyone who follows this forum probably saw the post of the <a href="../topic/san-juan-puerto-rico-trip-photos" target="_blank">photos from Puerto Rico</a>. My wife, Cate, got a new job and in between we took a vacation. The Puerto Rico trip became the second honeymoon and it was our anniversary thing. We did the blow out super trip with fancy hotels, the beach and poolside cocktails so we were trying to plan something fun for our actual one year wedding anniversary on September 13th. Cate suggested that we go canoeing and I was all over the idea. We waffled a little about going back to Hotel Phillips in Kansas City, where we got married, but settled on a trip down the <a href="../topic/eleven-point-river-i-need-suggestions" target="_blank">Eleven Point</a>. I have the best wife ever. So, Friday night after work we loaded up the wagon and headed down to <a href="http://www.hufstedlers.com/" target="_blank">Hufstedler's</a> with the canoe. The customer service at Hufstedler's was awesome. I called to see if they had any cabins available and the man on the phone said sure. He told us we could just pull in and they'd leave the door unlocked and the lights on. You can see some photos of the inside of "the party house" a bit later. So we make the long drive down to Southern Missouri. Route 67 is currently under construction and there are multiple 30mph lane switches. The GPS is going crazy because it thinks we're on the service road and is telling us to make u-turns and to head down country roads. We ignore it for the most part and get off at Highway 60. After a bit on the nice 4 lane divided highway we turn right on 21 because we're looking for a beer. We end up at some American Legion post where ordering a Captain and Diet is a great production of finding the rum. The bartender regales us with a story of how her fathers land was seized for moon shining and how they lived in a tent for five years. She has no idea where Riverton is and asks another bar patron. "Twenty miles on 160, you'll see 'em on the left," is the response from a ridiculously drunk man at the bar who now wants to talk to us about his canoeing exploits. These include running Buck Hollow Spring in a stolen canoe with the rangers chasing him and getting busted by Federal Agents for smoking weed. He tells us that they had been smoking but weren't when they got arrested so they shoulda just let him go. There was some other stuff about being careful and watching out for river patrol if we were going to throw bottles in the river. We leave quickly. We finally arrive at Hufsteder's and as promised the sign out front is glowing. It was more of a reflective paint thing than an actual glow but close enough. The house also has the lights on and the door unlocked. <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-01.jpg" alt="" /> The 'cabin' is actually quite nice compared to the surroundings. We later learn there was a fire at the office and it looks like the got a deal on pine wainscoting because the kitchen and bathroom are covered in it. They floors are all brand new Pergo or some knock off. It is immaculately clean even if some of the ceiling tiles are pealing. It's much more inviting than the scary house just behind it. <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-02.jpg" alt="" /> This is the scary canoe graveyard house. I'm glad we didn't have to stay there. <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-03.jpg" alt="" /> Riverton is one of those strange Southern Missouri towns that has the name of the town on the front and back of the same sign. I wonder how hard it is to incorporate your front yard into a town. It shows up on Google Maps but not the latest version of Garmin City Navigator. If you're looking for <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=hufstedlers&sll=36.698150,-91.397400&sspn=0.007100,0.013000&ie=UTF8&filter=0&update=1&ll=36.651102,-91.196501&spn=0.007127,0.01296&z=16&iwloc=D" target="_blank">Hufstedler's</a> then follow this link. The address Google has is actually their PO box in Alton. These are the coordinates if you want them. N36 38.876 W91 11.767 It's not hard to find but if you rely on a GPS to get you around you'll need them. <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-04.jpg" alt="" /> Another view of the cabin. <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-05.jpg" alt="" /> The Prospector got pampered with its very own trailer to haul it to the Greer Springs put in. <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-06.jpg" alt="" /> The clear water had and interesting mix of a sandy and rocky bottom. <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-07.jpg" alt="" /> Getting ready to hit Mary Decker Shoal. It was really sort of a let down. I had assumed it would be difficult and require some maneuvering. We could have drifted though it from where this photo was taken. Most of the fast riffles in between were more entertaining. <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-08.jpg" alt="Mary Decker Shoal - Eleven Point River" /> Mary Decker from down stream...yep that's the whole thing. <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-09.jpg" alt="" /> Cate checking the brochure/map to gauge our distance. <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-10.jpg" alt="" /> Fat Tire beer in cans. Kept cold by a <a href="http://www.twitter.com/fatpaddler" target="_blank">@FatPaddler</a> beer coozy. <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-11.jpg" alt="" /> A sort of messy campsite. <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-12.jpg" alt="" /> <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-13.jpg" alt="" /> <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-14.jpg" alt="" /> Somehow this one reminded me of when Mister Rodgers put his cardigan on...yes I know weird <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-15.jpg" alt="" /> There were several places where it felt like paddling a large narrow lake. <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-16.jpg" alt="" /> This is about the happiest way I can imagine spending a one year anniversary. Just Cate and I alone on the river. There was no one there to disappoint us, no mediocre food at some supposedly fancy restaurant and no distractions. Just the beautiful quiet and solitude watching the herons take off with wing tips kissing the placid water and the song of the paddle gliding down the river. <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-17.jpg" alt="" /> The canoe took some abuse running Halls Bay. I didn't take any photos of the rapid because it was a little disappointing and there was a john boat parked on the beach. We ran it a little to far to river right and bounced through some small underwater rocks. None of these show on the inside of the boat but the Royalex Lite is pretty soft. I'll probably just leave them or maybe try some heat and see if they pop back out. Here is a photo of someone in TW's (<a href="http://www.adventurecanoe.com/forum/topic/eleven-point-river-i-need-suggestions#post-652" target="_blank">OzarkPaddler</a>) group running it the same weekend. The rest of his photos are here <a href="http://www.pbase.com/ozarkpaddler/image/117251466" rel="nofollow">http://www.pbase.com/ozarkpaddler/image/117251466</a> <img src="http://www.pbase.com/ozarkpaddler/image/117251466.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="605" /> We hit the line about halfway between the bottom of the photo and the boat... Not as clean as the this paddler. I probably should have lined the boat back up and run it again for some pics...oh well, we'll do it next time. <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-18.jpg" alt="" /> After paddling the 19 miles from Greer to Riverton we we're tired and needed a shower. The friendly folks at Hufsteder's told us they hadn't cleaned the cabin yet so we could go back up there to take a shower. I snapped some photos. This place is worth $20 a night per person. <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-19.jpg" alt="" /> <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-20.jpg" alt="" /> <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-21.jpg" alt="" /> <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-22.jpg" alt="" /> <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-23.jpg" alt="" /> <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-24.jpg" alt="" /> <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-25.jpg" alt="" /> <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-26.jpg" alt="" /> Driving home on highway 19 <img src="../../image/eleven-point/eleven-point-river-27.jpg" alt="" /> Yes, that is a Geo Metro with stomper wheels on it... I think the Samurai sacrificed some parts. Over all it was a good trip. I'll post some more commentary later.   Paddling the Jacks Fork River http://www.adventurecanoe.com/forum/topic/cate-and-i-paddle-the-jacks-fork-river-bay-creek-to-eminence#post-27 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:47:09 +0000 James 27@http://www.adventurecanoe.com/forum/ Cate and I set out for two days on the Jacks Fork River. We paddled from Bay Creek to Eminence but we should have gone a little further upstream. The river was flowing pretty fast and we got done a lot sooner than we wanted to.  <img src="http://adventurecanoe.com/image/1.jpg" alt="" width="604" height="453" /> We everything loaded into the back of the wagon and headed down to Eminence. <img src="http://adventurecanoe.com/image/2.jpg" alt="" width="604" height="453" /> We decided to bring the little dog along. The huge carabiner is there in case we need to unclip the dog if we dump the canoe. <img src="http://adventurecanoe.com/image/3.jpg" alt="" width="604" height="453" /> Cate paddling. <img src="http://adventurecanoe.com/image/5.jpg" alt="" width="604" height="453" /> <a href="../topic/win-a-sawyer-venture-paddle-for-posting" target="_blank">Sawyer Venture</a> paddle in the classic paddling pose. <img src="http://adventurecanoe.com/image/6.jpg" alt="" width="604" height="453" /> Cate and the little dog in the canoe. This is my favorite shot of the trip. <img src="http://adventurecanoe.com/image/7.jpg" alt="" width="604" height="604" /> Saturday was a sunny day on the river... this would all change overnight. We fell asleep with a cool breeze blowing through the tent. Luckily I woke up when I heard thunder and put the rain fly on just in time for 4 hours of heavy rain. <img src="http://adventurecanoe.com/image/8.jpg" alt="" width="604" height="453" /> The little dog refused to lay under the canoe and preferred the vestibule. <img src="http://adventurecanoe.com/image/9.jpg" alt="" width="604" height="453" />   Our humble campsite. <img src="http://adventurecanoe.com/image/10.jpg" alt="" width="453" height="604" /> The rain stopped and we got the canoe loaded up and got back on the river. <img src="http://adventurecanoe.com/image/11.jpg" alt="" width="604" height="453" /> After the rain the little dog was waiting for us to load up and get the heck out of there. <img src="http://adventurecanoe.com/image/12.jpg" alt="" width="604" height="453" /> After we got on the river it started to rain again so Cate got out the Kavu hat and her jacket. <img src="http://adventurecanoe.com/image/13.jpg" alt="" width="604" height="453" /> We hadn't realized how fast the river was flowing so we had paddled most of the way from Bay Creek to Eminence the day before. We got back to civilization way to quickly. <img src="http://adventurecanoe.com/image/14.jpg" alt="" width="604" height="453" /> After hauling all of our gear out of the canoe and getting the car loaded up again the little dog finds a comfortable place to sleep.   My wife and I set out on a two day trip down the Jacks Fork river in Eminence Missouri. The Jacks Fork is part of the Ozark National Scenic Rivers. It's truly a beautiful river. We put in at Bay creek and floated back to Eminence. I wish we had gone a little higher as the river was flowing really fast. The first day was filled with adventure and we hit a couple of sets of Class II. We mostly just drifted along with the current making correctional strokes to keep the canoe moving in the right direction. We made it to Alley Spring and started looking for a camp site but all the good ones were taken so we kept moving downstream. We finely found a spot and set up camp. We were surrounded by cadis flys or something similar so we escaped into the tent pretty early. I woke up at 4am to the sound of lightning and quickly put the rain fly on the tent. It rained until about 8am then we packed up and got back on the river. We got caught in a light rain about a half hour downstream and donned our jackets and continued to paddle. We ran into a group that had floated from the Prongs and chatted with them for a while. They were on a five day trip. Unfortunately, the river was flowing very fast and we made it to the take out before noon just as the skies began to clear. Overall it was a great trip down the river. Current River, Missouri http://www.adventurecanoe.com/forum/topic/current-river-missouri#post-6 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:05:32 +0000 James 6@http://www.adventurecanoe.com/forum/ The Current River remains nearly wild and natural as the day Indians lightly trod the Ozark trails. It was the first river in America to become a National Riverway. We invite you to see Ozark National Scenic Riverways and float the Current River with us. We will be happy to arrange a trip for you, your family or your group. Most spring-fed of all the Ozark rivers, the Current may be floated at almost any time of the year, particularly below Welch Spring. It seldom freezes over and has been a favorite for the annual New Year's float of one large group of Missouri canoeists. Most canoe trips are made on the sections above Big Spring. In normal water, it is a very safe river with no sections which could properly be termed rapids. More information on the Jacks Fork River is available at <a href="http://southwestpaddler.com/docs/current.html">SouthwestPaddler.net</a> or the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/ozar/">National Parks Service</a> Current River Conditions <a href="http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv/?site_no=07064440&PARAmeter_cd=00065,63160,00060" target="_blank">Current River at Van Buren</a> (Flood Level 5.00) <a href="http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv/?site_no=07064533&PARAmeter_cd=00065,63160,00060" target="_blank">Current River at Akers Ferry</a> (Flood Level 4.00) <img src="http://www.missouricanoe.org/river-maps/maps/current1.jpg"> Current River I - Mile-By-Mile Description 0.0 Baptist Camp Access on county road off Hwy. YY. 3.3 Ashley Creek on right. 6.5 Parker Hollow on left, fed by Schafer Spring].2 miles upstream. 8.0 Cedargrove Access. Low-water bridge and can1pground. 8.9 Big Creek on right. 11.6 Medlock Spring on right. 12.4 Welch Landing Access. 12.7 Welch Spring, sixth largest in state, on left. 15.7 Akers Ferry Access on Hwy. K. Campground and store. 17.8 Lewis Hollow on right at ford. 20.9 Cave Spring on left. Water at back of cave is 120 feet deep and comes from Devil's Well via nearby Wallace Well Cave. Devil's Well, a sinkhole more than 200 feet deep and partly filled with water, is one mile north of Cave Spring. 23.2 Rock House Cave on right. A meander of a cave, cut off by the deepening river valley, it is now more like a natural bridge than a cave and makes a good shelter. 25.2 Pulltite Access. Campground and store. 26.0 Pulltite Spring and branch on right. Just below on the same side of the river, are several other minor but interesting springs, one of which is the "Fire Hydrant Spring" gushing from a small cave in the bluff. 27.0 Boyds Creek on right. 30.2 Jerry J. Presley Conservation Education Center on left, formerly the Alton Club. No access or camping. 32.7 Sinkin Creek enters on left. By putting in at The Sinks, where the creek takes a short -cut through a hill via a cave, 6.5 miles of the creek can be floated in good water. Gradient is 10 teet per mile. 34.2 Round Spring access, campground, spring and cavern. 42.5 Big Creek enters on left. 44.7 Bee Bluff on left. 46.6 Jerktail Landing on right, on county road offHwy. 19. Access and campsite. 51.1 Ebb and Flow Spring, reached by walking 0.25 mile up creek on left. 51.5 Jacks Fork River enters on right. Two Rivers Access (Ozark National Scenic Riverways). 52.3 Old ferry site, access and campground. 56.2 Blair Creek on left. 58.4 Hwy. 106 Bridge. 58.7 Powder Mill, an old ferry site, with access and campground. 60.0 Blue Spring, ninth largest in the state, has deepest blue color. Reached by a 0.25 mile walk up its branch on the left. 63.8 Roberts Field access and campground. Rocky Creek enters on right. The Falls of Rocky Creek, 3 miles southwest of this point, are a scenic attraction of the area. <img src="http://www.missouricanoe.org/river-maps/maps/current2.jpg"> Current River II 58.7 Powder Mill, an old ferry site, with access and campground. 60.0 Blue Spring, ninth largest in the state, has deepest blue color. Reached by a 0.25 mile walk up its branch on the left. 63.8 Roberts Field access and campground. Rocky Creek enters on right. The Falls of Rocky Creek, 3 miles southwest of this point, are a scenic attraction of the area. 66.1 Spring on left. 66.6 Carr Creek and Cardareva Mountain on left. 69.0 Log Yard on left. Access and campground. 69.8 Beal Landing on left. Access. 72.5 Paint Rock Bluff. 77.7 Waymeyer Access on right at mouth of Chilton Creek, on County Road M-151 off Hwy. M. 81.5 Pine Valley Creek, also called Henpeck Creek, on left. 84.3 Watercress Spring Recreation Area. Forest Service and campground. 84.9 Van Buren Riverfront Park Access (Van Buren) and Hwy. 60 Bridge. 89.2 Big Spring. Access and campground. One of the largest springs in the world. 93.5 Clubhouse Landing. Access and campground, on County Road 60-221 offHwy. 60. 97.8 Hickory Landing. Access from Hwy. E at Hunter. Cave Spring-Jordan Spring Branch on left. Jordon Spring, 0.5 mile and Cave Spring, 1 mile up branch. 98.0 Catarac Landing on right. Access on County Road Z-217, off Hwy. Z and Hwy 103. 100.3 Panther Spring on right. 103.2 Bog Hollow. PhiHips Bay and Spring on right. Spring about 0.25 mile from river. 104.2 Gooseneck campground on right. Access on Farm Road 3142-County Road CI0, off Hwy. C. Jacks Fork River, Missouri http://www.adventurecanoe.com/forum/topic/jacks-fork-river-missouri#post-5 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:59:26 +0000 James 5@http://www.adventurecanoe.com/forum/ This tributary of the Current River is one of the wildest and most scenic of the Missouri Ozark streams. Its deep valley is nearly a canyon, with no bottomland fields for the first 25 floatable miles. It is therefore advisable to camp well above river level if there is any chance of sudden rain. Trips with loaded canoes above Alley Spring are recommended only in spring or after good summer rains. The few miles immediately above Alley Spring are especially wide and shallow and may have to be walked in low water. Upper sections of the river provide fine fly fishing water. Canoeing the Jacks Fork River The river is 44.6 miles long. The first 25 miles from the Prongs to Bay Creek is deep valley, nearly a canyon, and in the springtime provides beautiful Class 2 water. Due to lack of access, it is the most primitive of the Rivers in the region. From Alley Spring to Two Rivers is a beautiful Class I River and is floatable year around with warm water. More information on the Jacks Fork River is available at <a href="http://southwestpaddler.com/docs/current4.html">SouthwestPaddler.net</a> or the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/ozar/">National Parks Service</a> Jacks Fork River Levels <a href="http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv/?site_no=07065200&PARAmeter_cd=00065,63160,00060" target="_blank">Jacks Fork at 17 bridge</a> (Flood Level 3.65) <a href="http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv/?site_no=07065495&PARAmeter_cd=00065,63160,00060" target="_blank">Jacks Fork near Alley</a> (Flood Level 5.30) <a href="http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv/?site_no=07066000&PARAmeter_cd=00065,63160,00060" target="_blank">Jacks Fork at Eminence </a>(Flood Level 6.40) <img src="http://www.missouricanoe.org/river-maps/maps/jacksfork.jpg"> Jacks Fork River - Mile-By-Mile Description Difficulty: I and II. Gradients: general -- 7.3; Prongs to Hwy. 17 -- 8.6; to Bunker Hill -- 8; to Alley Spring -- 7; to Current River -- 6.3. Counties: Texas, Shannon. 0.0 MDC South Prong Access at Hwy. Y Bridge. Beautiful section, but not recommended during low-water. 6.8 State Hwy. 17 Bridge at "Buck Hollow." Usual put-in for upper section of river. Park Service campground. 9.2 Salvation Army camp on left. Access, camp. 9.6 Blue Spring comes from cave on left nearly hidden from river by boulders. Narrow run just below spring may be difficult. 12.6 Jam Up Bluff and Cave. River entrance of cave is one of the most spectacular cave entrances in state. Cave may be explored in daylight back to lake which is plunge-basin for falls from upper part of cave. Upper section entered through a sinkhole in Lost Hollow which may be reached by climbing up the bluff. 15.9 Ebb and Flow Spring on left. 16.2 Rymers Access and campground on right. 17.1 Bunker Hill (Missouri State Teachers Association resort) on left. No access. 22.2 Leatherwood Creek on left. 25.2 Bay Creek on left. Access, camp. 31.0 Alley Spring, 10th largest spring in state. Old mill, camping, access. 32.3 Horse Hollow on left. The old Salem, Winona and Southern R.R. used to run up this hollow and continue up Sinking Branch after following the Jacks Fork from Mahan's Creek. 35.3 Mahan's Creek on right. Site of old R.R. river crossing just above mouth of creek. 37.3 Eminence. Stores, cafes, lodging. Take-out at Lions Ball Park on right side, one-quarter mile below Hwy. 19 Bridge. 41.9 Shawnee Creek on right. Access, camp. 42.3 Little Shawnee Creek on right. 44.6 Confluence with Current River. Best take-out 0.75 mile downstream at ferry landing. Cate and I paddle the Courtois Creek http://www.adventurecanoe.com/forum/topic/cate-and-i-paddle-the-courtios-creek#post-105 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:33:47 +0000 James 105@http://www.adventurecanoe.com/forum/ <img src="http://www.adventurecanoe.com/iphoto/courtios/Images/1.jpg" alt="" /> Getting supplies at Schnucks Supermarket <img src="http://www.adventurecanoe.com/iphoto/courtios/Images/2.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="600" /> The little dog has an incredible effect on the stability of an unloaded canoe <img src="http://www.adventurecanoe.com/iphoto/courtios/Images/3.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="800" /> Wild flowers in Cate's hair <img src="http://www.adventurecanoe.com/iphoto/courtios/Images/4.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="600" /> Lunch time...the little dog looks hungry <img src="http://www.adventurecanoe.com/iphoto/courtios/Images/15.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="600" /> We rented a WeNoNah Southfork from <a href="http://www.adventurecanoe.com/forum/topic/bass-river-resort-steelville-mo" target="_blank">Bass River Resort</a>. They have begun upgrading their fleet from Old Towns. They have a couple of Nova Crafts and a lot of the WeNoNah boats for rent. <img src="http://www.adventurecanoe.com/iphoto/courtios/Images/5.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="600" /> Crystal clear water <img src="http://www.adventurecanoe.com/iphoto/courtios/Images/6.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="800" /> New Garmin Colorado 300 loaded with the National Parks 24K Topo maps. <img src="http://www.adventurecanoe.com/iphoto/courtios/Images/7.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="800" /> The topo maps have a surprising amount of detail. The channel of the river has changed a little bit since the maps were made though. <img src="http://www.adventurecanoe.com/iphoto/courtios/Images/8.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="600" /> <img src="http://www.adventurecanoe.com/iphoto/courtios/Images/9.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="600" /> The water was flowing really clear. It was a bit low though and we had to drag the boat a couple of times. Luckily we were just out for the day and not loaded down with a bunch of gear. <img src="http://www.adventurecanoe.com/iphoto/courtios/Images/10.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="600" /> Yes, that is a car seat strapped to an ATV. I suppose its safer than just holding the baby on your lap. The locals do some strange stuff. <img src="http://www.adventurecanoe.com/iphoto/courtios/Images/11.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="600" /> We took this narrow channel and had some exciting turns around strainers and over logs. <img src="http://www.adventurecanoe.com/iphoto/courtios/Images/13.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="600" /> Cate catching some rays. Luckily that log was deep enough we floated over. <img src="http://www.adventurecanoe.com/iphoto/courtios/Images/16.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="600" /> Happy wife in a beautful creek. <img src="http://www.adventurecanoe.com/iphoto/courtios/Images/17.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="600" /> The Courtios was flowing crystal clear but it was really low in some places. The water here is about 5 feet deep. Some sections were about 5 inches. We would usually get hung up and drage the boat a couple yards and jump back in. Not to bad. <img src="http://www.adventurecanoe.com/iphoto/courtios/Images/18.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="600" /> Luckily we had a really light load with just the camera, some dry clothes and the cooler. <img src="http://www.adventurecanoe.com/iphoto/courtios/Images/19.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="533" /> The little dog waiting patiently for our shuttle at the Blunts take out.   Overall it was a great paddle. We went from Berryman to Blunts and didn't see any other boats on the river.