Current River trip report

[Randy Dodson]

Well we were supposed to do a canoe camping trip on the Current three weeks ago but rain in Arkansas and access to a raft lead us to the Piney so we made up for it this past weekend with a day trip on the Current. We camped at Round Spring campground fri. and sat. nights and did a long section of the river on Saturday. We have always canoe camped between Welch Spring and Roung Spring. This year, Emily wanted to see what was upstream so we did a 16 mile section of river, putting in at Baptist Camp and taking out at Akers Ferry.

Akers Ferry is only a little over a mile downstream of welch spring so that was the only bit of previously paddled river.

At the put-in at Baptist Camp, the river is extremely narrow (maybe 20'). It is very tight and twisty for the first 5 or 6 miles. Very scenic and fun. Craig was the stern paddler in the Old Town Cascade (14.5' and rockered) while I was astern in the We-no-nah Spirit (17' tripper). Craig definitely had the advantage for the first half of the day. Emily and Alyssa kept switching back and forth from one boat to the other.

Cedar Grove is a primitive campground right on the river and a river access. There is a low water bridge that must be portaged here. It was also the halfway point of our days paddle. If we ever canoe camp on this upper section of river, we will make plans to spend our first night at Cedar Grove as I wouldn't want to unload all the camping gear just for the portage.

After Cedar Grove, the river seemed to pick up a little speed and open up just a little. There is a must-see a little ways upstream from Welch Spring. It is Medlock Spring and cave. You will pass a backwater on river right, if you look up the backwater, you will see a waterfall coming down. We almost passed it but I saw it at the last minute and hollered at Craig and Emily to turn around and come back up. We paddled up into the backwater and got out and climbed up the spring/waterfall. It is just a very scenic spot. If you climb on up past where the spring is coming out of the hill, you will come to a cave with an overhang. The cave itself is closed off but it's still a very scenic area.

Another must-see is the old hospital at Welch spring and Welch spring itself. I don't remember if there was a sign or not but you will see whitewater coming into the river from river left. take out just upstream of the whitewater and walk a very short distance to the old hospital and to see Welch Spring. (my favorite spot on this section of river).

Akers Ferry is an operating ferry where you can pay a toll and ferry you and you car across the river. It is also a very popular access. It was our take-out for this trip.

I must admit (please don't run me out of Arkansas) that among easy rivers, the Current has become my favorite. I do LOVE the Buffalo but the Current is always floatable, even in drought. It is the most spring fed river in North America. The bluffs are smaller but still extremely scenic. The river has a very intimate feel to it, has tons of BEAUTFUL springs and caves to explore, is crystal clear, the pools are short and the shoals are frequent, it moves along at a very good clip, and it also has numerous awesome gravel bars for camping.

Mostly though, I just love springs. For that the Current is king.

Hope to see ya'll on the Buff in November.

[Clif]

Thanks for the report. Current has been high on my want to list and now that Daniel is camp and river ready, really hope to get up there.

[Emily]

Randy covered the river details pretty well, but left out my other favorite part of our Current River trips--the wildlife. This year was no exception. Saturday the Kingfishers were very active and noisy all along the way. From time to time during the day, we scared up several ducks. They were moving too fast and a little too far away for me to positively identify, but based on the coloring, I'd say that one group was wood ducks. Craig I spotted what appeared to be a Pileated Woodpecker up in the woods at one point. He spotted it first, then I heard it and saw it. Again, we didn't get a good look, but what we saw was beautiful and thrilling. Late in the day, Randy and Alyssa spotted 4 River Otters, Craig and I missed them, unfortunately. Craig pointed out a Green Heron to me. It was right at river's edge and we were able to get very close and it never did fly away from us. And, for me a scenic river trip isn't complete without having at least one Blue Heron "lead" us downriver at some point. We saw several during the day and towards the end of the trip, I was rewarded with a "Heron Guide". And finally, both nights in our camp at Round Spring, we heard Owls. There's just something fascinating and "wild" feeling about hearing owls in the night.

The Current is one of my favorite rivers and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a peaceful, beautiful, pristine, easy-going river experience. Fall is the perfect time to go there. I've heard summers can be very busy with tubers and boaters on the Current, so avoid summer weekends. We've also done springtime trips with very little river traffic.

I'd also like to put in a plug for Jadwin Canoe Rentals on the Upper Current. We used them for our shuttle on Saturday. I talked to 2 different people from there in the past few weeks and they are super nice, professional, pleasant folks to do business with. If you only need one boat for your trip from Baptist Camp to Akers, you can rent a boat from them for almost the same price as the shuttle and save yourself hauling your own boat. I picked up their brochure, so if you want to contact them just let us know. They also have a campground.

[robkanraft]

Great report Randy, it's been years, but I loved floating on the Current. A bonus is some trout fishing as well. Have you also done Jack's Fork?

Emily makes a very good point as well...“you can rent a boat from them for almost the same price as the shuttle and save yourself hauling your own boat. “ We are seriously considering downsizing our camping vehicle, one concern I have is a 17 Buffalo is going to be huge or hard to secure on a Subaru or Honda, two cars on our short list.

[KimL]

Emily and Randy, next time I need to get you the topo maps so you can stop at the creek (spring) at the Suzie Nichols cabin and hike up the Lower Parker School. You passed the spring on river left above Cedar Grove. Did you walk into Cedar Grove and see the ruins of the homes and school?
The high ground on the spit across from Medlock Cave is great for camping. It's still river right. The inlet there is a good place for playing and bathing.

[Randy Dodson]

Rob, the only section of the Jacks Fork that we've done was from Alley Mill down to Eminence. We weren't that impressed with it but I keep trying to convince Emily that we need to paddle an upper section since I've heard it's magnificent.

Kim, we didn't check out the Nichols cabin or the homes and school at Cedargrove. We were doing kind of a high mileage trip. Next time though, we definitely want to stop and see them.

Some day, I'm gonna put in at Cedargrove and not get off the river til I get to Big Spring 81 miles later. As fast as the Current flows, I'll have to take my time or it will be over with in 4 days.

[Lupe]

I really enjoy the Current River too for relaxing day trips or nice river camping. It's easy enough that it's great for me to take my big ol' shephard with me (I don't take her on rough water). Seems like every time in the past year or so I started to make plans to go up there we ended up with good rain down here, so I've cancelled my plans (hey...I'm not complaining!). But if we get a dry stretch going this fall, I think I'm going to head up there for a couple lazy river days!

[KimL]

Some years ago, Roger and I headed to the Jacks Fork. We found an isolated campsite right on the water and paddled above one day and down from there the next. My favorite part was Jam-Up Cave, which has an underwater lake. We met up with a family reunion that has been meeting there every year for about 8 decades, and they showed us how to access the cave, swim through the lake, scramble up the waterfall, and then climb through the caverns to end up on top of the bluffs. It is sooooo cool!
Having read HP Book 6 now, though, I'm not so sure if I could jump in a dark underground lake again!

[scoutdad]

Our scout troop paddles the Current every spring. This year was our first time and it was a fantastic trip, great river for 50 miler.
To me it seems to have different characteristics than a class I river here
in Arkansas, more steady flow and not so much pool and drop.
Very senic and lots of wildlife but I still like the buffalo