Meramec River
Meramec Caverns
The Meramec River is an incredible opportunity, to enjoy a day on the river. Kayaks, canoes, inner tubes, and even rafts are a great way to navigate the river. We put in at Meramec State Park and floated down stream to Meramec Cavern. We enjoyed our float trip in kayaks, and the trip lasted about 3 hours. Expect a longer trip with a different vessel. Your trip down river, takes you under bridges, and past towering bluffs, you will pass sand bars, a cave, and even a rope swing. This stretch of river is gorgeous, and is a perfect place to enjoy a warm summer day. There are several outfitters in the area, but my personal favorite is Caveman Floating found a Meramec Cavern. For more information, click here.
Current River
The current river is one of the most beautiful water trails in the Midwest. With crystal clear water, towering bluffs, and several caves right on the water. The Current River is spring fed and moves through stunning Ozark landscapes, with bluffs ranging in height from 12 feet to 200 feet. The water has a constant year round temperature of 58 degrees. Which makes it one of only a few places, you can kayak in the middle of winter. A float trip on the Current River is an experience you won’t forget. There are several great options to access the river. The most scenic section, stretches from Cedar Grove to Round Springs, about 29 miles. Current River Canoe Rental is our favorite outfitter in the area. For more information, click here.
Crystal City Underground
Weather your an adventure junkie like me, or its your first time in a kayak, this is one Adventure you won’t want to miss! The 3 hour tour takes you up to 400 feet below ground, as you navigate your kayak through the flooded former sand mine. On your tour you will pass such sights as the “Birth Canal,” “Gilligan’s Island,” “The Squeeze,” ” The Car Wash” and the “Townsend Center”which is the largest opening in the mine. All tours are run by expert guides of great personality, who do an outstanding job both guiding the tour and providing an interesting/entertaining history of the mine. To reserve your spot call (636) 208-5026 to find out more about this amazing kayak tour click here.
The Black River
Facebook/Jeff’s Canoe Rental
The Black River is located in the south-eastern portion of Missouri just south of the Mark Twain National Forest near Pilot Knob. It is perfect for kayakers in that it is relatively shallow in many places, and these shallow waters offer crisp views several feet down. However, the magnificent thing about the Black River is that there are many shut-ins along the navigable stretches, and these shut-ins allow you to travel off the main river into a variety of scenic gorges. When you visit these shut-ins, you should look for white pelicans and blue heron as well as the occasional black bear dangling in trees. There are numerous outfitters along the river, our favorite is Black River Outfitters at Horseshoe Ranch. For more information, click here.
The North Fork White River
River of Life Farm
Continually replenished by the eighth largest spring system in Missouri, the North Fork River is always ready for your kayak. Nestled among the notable beauty of the southern portion of the Ozarks, paddling along this river exposes you to the beauty of the bluffs and the massive ridges along the shoreline that are followed by peaceful meadows and deep woods, all of which work together to provide a kayaking experience like no other. Additionally, this river is rated as Class I and as Class II, which means you can enjoy smooth waters as well as small rapids, making it a good choice for beginners and younger paddlers. There are several outfitters in the area, our personal favorite is River Of Life Farm. For more information, click here.