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Missouri | Missouri Ozarks
Current RiverAkers Ferry to Round Spring
Long Upper Current continuation inside Ozark National Scenic Riverways that combines the Akers to Pulltite and Pulltite to Round Spring public floats. NPS still documents both sections, the Akers gauge is live at the upstream end, and the app stays conservative because the lower half relies on the same upstream gauge relationship already used on Pulltite to Round Spring.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Akers Ferry and take out at Round Spring for the combined NPS-listed 18.5-mile Upper Current continuation. Use the upstream Akers USGS gauge as a conservative same-day route check, with the app keeping the score at a 300 cfs minimum-only floor.
Access map
Put-in
Akers Lower / Akers Ferry accessAkers, Pulltite, and Round Spring are standard Ozark National Scenic Riverways access areas, but flood repairs, construction zones, parking, outfitter traffic, and temporary closure notices can change the practical launch or landing.
Take-out
Round Spring river access / campground areaThe Akers gauge is upstream of much of this route. Treat it as a proxy and pair it with a visual check at Akers and again at Pulltite if conditions look questionable.
Road shuttle
Use a two-car or authorized outfitter shuttle between Akers Ferry and Round Spring. Cell service is limited in the park, so stage the take-out and confirm the pickup plan before launching.
Additional access notes
- This route is much longer than the standard NPS day segments. Daylight, weather, and a realistic bailout plan at Pulltite matter more than on a short easy float.
More route and safety guidance
- NPS warns that Ozark streams can rise quickly after moderate to heavy rain and that rootwad strainers can occur on any river section. Do not launch on high or rising water, and give fresh wood room.
- Launch and land only at the named NPS accesses at Akers, Pulltite, and Round Spring. Gravel-bar camping is legal only on NPS-owned land, so do not treat every reachable bank as a public stop.
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Conditions
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Weather
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Tomorrow and the weekend
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Current River above Akers, MO. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official route shape18.5 mi / about 8 hr
NPS Estimated Float Times lists Akers to Pulltite at 9.6 miles / 4 hours and Pulltite to Round Spring at 8.9 miles / 4 hours, which supports this combined 18.5-mile continuation.
- Upper Current access contextAkers, Pulltite, and Round Spring named by NPS
The current park brochure still lists Akers, Pulltite, and Round Spring as Upper Current river access points with ranger-station and campground context.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-10USGS 07064533 at 269 cfs / 1.00 ft
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Low-water floor300 cfs minimum-only
Rivers.MOHERP still ties exact Pulltite-to-Round-Spring Good reports to the Akers gauge, with nearby lower-Upper-Current reports around the same floor. Paddle Today keeps the longer continuation on the same conservative 300 cfs minimum-only model used for Pulltite to Round Spring.
- NPS high-water closure contextAkers 4.00 ft / Pulltite 4.20 ft / Round Spring Bridge 5.20 ft
The NPS river-level guidance and Superintendent Compendium still provide the flood-closure context for the Upper Current landings used on this continuation. Treat those as high-water caution and closure support, not as an ideal gauge band.
- Flood-repair caveatPulltite remains partly repaired
NPS said in March 2025 that Akers and Round Spring group sites were expected to reopen by Memorial Day while Pulltite would partially reopen with fewer family sites and ongoing repairs. Inspect Pulltite and Round Spring before leaving a vehicle.
- Access rulesDesignated river access points only
NPS private-vessel guidance still tells paddlers to use designated river access points, unload promptly, and park only in designated areas.
- NPS route-hazard guidanceFast rises, strainers, and delayed rescue
NPS warns that local rivers can quickly reach unsafe levels after moderate to heavy rain, identifies rootwad strainers on every river section, and says floaters must be ready to self-rescue because phone service and help can be hours away.
- Cold-water contextNPS describes the Upper Current as cold
The current NPS Dee Murray page describes the Upper Current River immediately upstream of Akers as cold, clear water, supporting an explicit cold-water caution.
- Legal overnight stopsCamp only on NPS-owned gravel bars
NPS allows float-in gravel-bar camping only on NPS-owned land, so every reachable bank is not a legal public stop.
- Endpoint coordinates37.37591, -91.55148 to 37.27996, -91.40792
Coordinates reuse the practical Akers and Round Spring access-area anchors already used on adjacent Current River routes. They are route-ready access anchors, not survey-grade ramp corners.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- NPS Estimated Float Times
- NPS Floating in the Ozarks
- NPS River Safety
- NPS Gravel Bar Camping
- NPS Dee Murray Campground
- NPS River Levels
- NPS Ozark Superintendent Compendium
- NPS 2025 campground and access repairs
- NPS park brochure
- Rivers.MOHERP Current River Akers gauge
- USGS 07064533 Current River above Akers
- USGS 07064533 instant values
- Mapcarta Akers Lower
- Mapcarta Round Spring Campground
Other routes nearby
More on Current River
All 16Nearby routes within 75 miles
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