Trip Reports

John Heiam, Lois Goldstein, Tracie Lord, and Linda Pelkey drove down to Eminence Missouri in the Ozarks for ten days.  Jackie Anderson and Carrie Metevia joined us for five days.  We stayed in a three bedroom rental house in town, and did day trips on the local rivers.  Three members of the West Florida Canoe and Kayak Club stayed at a local campground, and joined us for the first couple of paddles, but they wanted to spend more time fishing so after the first few days, they did their own trips.  We decided that since for many of us this was the first paddling of the season we would plan easy (i.e. short) trips.  Below is a quick recap of the outings we did.

Current River - Akers to Pulltite – Highlight is Cave Spring (This trip was so nice we did it twice.)

Jacks Fork - Buck Hollow to Rymers – Highlights are Blue Spring and Jam Up Cave

Current River - Pulltite to Round Spring – Highlight is Pulltite Spring

Eleven Point - Cane Bluff to Greer Crossing (also toured Greer Springs at the end) – Pleasant paddle with quick chutes and high bluffs along the way

Toured by car - Alley, Blue, and Big Springs and Rocky Falls – All are worth a visit

Current River - Cedar Grove to Akers – Highlight is Welch Spring and the old hospital at the site

Eleven Point – Greer Crossing to Turner Mill – Pleasant paddle with fast current.

Jacks Fork – Alley Spring to Eminence – Close to town and an easy shuttle.

If you are planning a trip to this region, be sure and buy the book Paddling Missouri for $8 (published by the Missouri Department of Conservation).

We had temperatures in the seventies and low eighties.  Several days we had rain, but we were able to avoid getting wet by careful planning with the aid of the Accu-Weather site.  If you have never been to southeast Missouri, it is worth a visit, especially in the spring.