Paddling the Current River

[jessica359]

We are a group of students from the Outdoor Adventure Program at Algonquin College in Pembroke, Ontario and as one of our final projects we have to do a Final Expedition and we chose to canoe the Current River. Our goal is to put in at Akers or Montauk, Missouri and take out at Bigers or Pocahontas, Arkensas. We have found plenty of information for the Current River in Missouri but not for the Arkensas section.
We were wondering if your club could direct us towards information on the area, were to obtain maps for this section and if there is a shuttle service that would pick us up in Arkensas and bring us back to the begining of the river at the end of our trip?

This information would help us achieve our trip.

Thank You :)

Jessica Seguin

[unicorn]

Arkansas not Arkensas

maybe they don't emphasize spelling at Algonquin - but seriously, it's written right there at the top of the page.

[Jim Krueger]

Jessica,

The Current is just a great stream and I know some of our members who float it quite a bit will reply shortly. It's always a pleasure to see folks make inquiries from places as distant as yours!
Hope you all have a good trip and a great visit!

Best Regards
Jim

[Lupe]

Hi -

I'm not too sure anyone on this board will have an answer for you, but if you go to the message board at http://www.paddling.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, there are several posters there who live in that area and who have done this longer float. They can provide you a lot of useful information. Keep in mind that the river really changes after Two Rivers, so it's a different float in the lower stretches (and which is why most folks will only have info for the upper).

Best of luck with your expedition!

[Roger]

Arkansas not Arkensas

maybe they don't emphasize spelling at Algonquin - but seriously, it's written right there at the top of the page.

C'mon, lighten up! What's a small typo once in awhile?

Jessica, I think I met a group from your college back in the mid-90's on the Buffalo National River down here in Arkansas. I was camping at South Maumee when they camped on the same gravel bar. Gave away a couple of bandanas and a gallon jug of ice that was half-melted to a guy and a couple of girls. I was told later that they were real popular in camp while they had that ice water!!!

This website says there are no outfitters or shuttle companies in the area. Not sure about the reliability of this page.

http://southwestpaddler.com/docs/whitear11.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As Lupe says, it's a different float from the Ozarks into an alluvial plain. It should be an interesting trip from a geological and geographical perspective. Hope you guys have wonderful trip.

[unicorn]

C'mon, lighten up! What's a small typo once in awhile?

I can deal with a small typo. Hell, a good 60% of the posts on this forum are written at what seems to be a fourth grade level and I keep my mouth shut about it. However, this is not a typo. Jessica wrote the word arkensas twice - despite the fact that is is very clearly spelled out in the header image, the browser headline and the url. AND there is an automatic spell check feature built into the phpbb forum we utilize to run the message board.

Clear, concise communication is important folks.

/end rant.

[Stan]

Years ago Current River Beach Resort near Biggers, AR rented canoes and did shuttles. I do not know if they still offer these services but apparently they are still in business and now have a website:
http://www.arkansas.com/places-to-stay/ ... ty=Biggers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The national river portion of the Current River ends about 19 miles north of Doniphan, MO and it’s another 30+ miles from Doniphan. MO to Biggers, AR. You may or may not have trouble finding campsites once you leave the national river corridor. The riverbanks may very well be private property. Purple paint/blazes on trees, fence posts, etc. mean “No Trespassing” in Arkansas.

You might consider starting at Montauk State Park and taking out at Doniphan. It is around 125 miles and a very nice trip. I do not want to discourage you from paddling the Arkansas portion of the Current. It is different from the national river portion and would make a nice contrast. But canoe camping in that section may be a problem. You might consider “Day Tripping”.

A very nice side trip would be the Eleven Point River. Starting at Greer (where Highway 19 crosses the Eleven Point) and paddling to Riverton (where Highway 160 crosses) is a good two day/overnight trip. It’s near the Current and is also a national scenic & wild river.

I highly recommend that your group monitor the weather forecast while on the river. Flash flooding is a potential hazard in the Ozarks. A few years ago the Buffalo River rose 40 – yes forty - feet in a day. It is NOT cheating to use a mobile device or weather radio to periodically check the weather forecast. Be prepared to get off the river and head for higher ground if heavy rains are predicted.

[Jim Krueger]

Jessica,

I was hoping some one like Stan would comment, and she did! she's paddled waters in almost every state in the country and certainly the Current and nearby streams in Southern Missouri. I've yet to float the Current myself but did by a book covering it and the Jacks Fork some years ago, the floating is on my to do list.
Since you all are traveling all the way from Ontario I know you must have done quite a bit of research on the Current River but I really thought I should emphasize you'll only be another hour or two from the Buffalo National River in Arkansas. The Buffalo is the only one of our national parks that's a river. If you could float on it some would be the just best but if you only had time to drive to Ponca or Steele Creek on the upper end of the river and survey the magnificent bluffs, it would be worth the time considering how far you will have come.
If you can visit the Buffalo sometime, don't hesitate to visit with members; Richard or Painterbob for any question you may have.


Best Regards
Jim Moose

[Richard]

The Current is a great multiday canoeing river but nothing compares with the Buffalo when it flows and it flows best in the spring.
This is from a trip two of us made last year on the Buffalo.
http://rides.webshots.com/slideshow/577339269UUEUdG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
In paddling the Current, I would not go beyond Big Spring so that there would be time to take in all that is there.

[dogpatch]

Ditto what the others have already said about the Buffalo and the Current. Be advised that the Current has jetboats up to 40 HP operating on the river, whereas the Buffalo has just a 10 HP limit which limits the motorboat traffic. Don't know when your trip is planned, but the Buffalo is subject to rain causing the possiblity of low water as well as high. But you can check levels beforehand and adjust the trip accordingly. You can still get a pretty good expedition if you cut the mileage somewhat and do more exploring and side hikes. There's plenty to see on both rivers. Has your group done the Buffalo before? A few years ago we ran into a large college group of very pleasant and seemingly experienced folks from some college in Ontario.

[Jaytee]

C'mon, lighten up! What's a small typo once in awhile?

I can deal with a small typo. Hell, a good 60% of the posts on this forum are written at what seems to be a fourth grade level and I keep my mouth shut about it. However, this is not a typo. Jessica wrote the word arkensas twice - despite the fact that is is very clearly spelled out in the header image, the browser headline and the url. AND there is an automatic spell check feature built into the phpbb forum we utilize to run the message board.

Clear, concise communication is important folks. /end rant.

Courtesy and kindness are important, too. And it only takes one unnecessarily harsh comment to make our neighbors to the north assume we're all a bunch of cranky curmudgeons. So, someone not from the US misspelled the name of our fine state. No reason to be a jerk about it.

[Donna]

Jessica, I second the advise you were given by Stan about taking out at Doniphan. If you want to extend your trip, the suggestion to move over to the Eleven Point and float from Greer to Riverton would make an excellent float. I actually did that float in one day without rushing and took time to stop and enjoy the sites along the way.... just got an early start out of Greer and was on the water by 7:00 AM. Of course, it would also make a nice two day trip with a river camp.

I would like to apologize, on behalf of Arkansans, for the first response you received. Unfortunately it seems there is often a rotten apple in the basket. I hope it did not keep you from returning to receive the nice responses posted for you. Thanks for asking for our help with planning your trip. Have a great time!!!

[Wick]

unicorn
seriously, leave the canedian alone

[unicorn]

Lucas, I love you.

- the rotten apple

[jessica359]

This information is very useful and I will approach my Final Expedition group with all these suggestions. I will keep you guys updated with what is all happening.

Thanks again,
Jessica Seguin

To please a certain member of this forum I apologize for misspelling “Arkansas”. It was not meant to be a personal slight against your beautiful state. :)