Whichever one I’m paddling at the time (LOL)! I live closest to the St. Francis and the Black, but I usually find myself heading over to the Current. I avoid it on summer Saturdays and Sunday mornings, but it’s my favorite river. Only issue is the upper Current is getting more and more inundated with horse trails and the water quality has gone down over the years. Still a beautifull place, pretty bluffs, relatively clean water quality.

The Jack’s Fork is beautifull, but above Alley Spring it is rain dependent. Also an issue with “Horse manure” in and arround the water from Emminence to the confluence with the Current (Two Rivers). 

Black River, very clear, easy paddling, but crowded on weekends. 

St. Francis a little more murky than most ozark streams. Upper sections pool & drop whitewater. The further down, the flatter. Sam A. Baker State Park is about 2 hrs from STL and a beautifull spot. the St pretty mellow in that area. 

Big Creek is a beautifull little stream that is very rain dependent too. I usually paddle it in the winter and spring for enough water. If you catch it right, it’s the prettiest of them all IMHO.

And, my personal favorite is the Eleven Point. Always plenty of water below Hwy 19 and far enough away from St. Louis (probably 3.5 hrs) to stem the crowds. Was there just last week as was James. Not as many bluffs and gravel bars, but goes through an area (used to backpack there in my younger days) called the “Irish Wilderness.” Except on summer Saturdays, you will be alone on this river most of the time. 

This should get you started. James has a lot of good imfo on this site to get you started! TW

I think most of the rivers in Missouri have their appeal. If I had to pick an absolute favorite it would have to be the Jacks Fork. It feels the most rugged and wild. The problem with the Jacks Fork is, as others have mentioned, it needs rain. So if you’re looking for something to paddle in the fall then the Eleven Point below Greer Spring or most of the Current.

The only downfall of the Ozark National Scenic Rivers is their distance from St. Louis. It’s a pretty significant commitment to make the three or four hour drive down there. Cate and I have begun driving down Friday night and camping or getting a cabin. We did this on our Eleven Point trip and it worked quite well. We covered a lot of distance the first day and mostly played around the second day with plenty of time to drive home.

My favorite river within an hours drive is the Courtois Creek. You have to call it the Coda Way or no one down there will know what you’re talking about. It’s a tight and twisty stream that makes paddling fun. There aren’t many long pools and the current moves along pretty quickly. The upper sections have less people on them. Both the Huzzah and Courtois Creek can get pretty busy in the summer time with float trippers. If you go in October you should have the river all to yourself and see the leaves changing.

RP-
If you’re going down the Courtois Creek then get you’re boat from either Ozark Outdoors or Bass River Resort. All of the others are kinda sketchy.

Hi RPhillips,

I visited White River in Missouri. It flows west in its
headwaters region before turning north in the Fayetteville-Springdale area. The
river’s flow is interrupted by at least eight dams, six in Arkansas and two
more in Missouri. October through April/May period traditionally the best time
for float trips in this river. This river is famous for fishing. It is among
the state’s major tourist destinations.