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Missouri | Missouri Ozarks
Current River
Cedar Grove to Pulltite
Check current paddling conditions for this Current River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Launch at Cedar Grove and take out at Pulltite for the combined NPS-listed 17.3-mile Upper Current continuation. Use the Akers USGS gauge as a same-day route check, with the app keeping the score conservative at a 230 cfs minimum-only floor.
Put-in
Cedar Grove Boat Launch / accessOpen mapCedar Grove, Akers, and Pulltite 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
Pulltite river access / campground areaOpen mapPulltite remains the most flood-damaged Upper Current campground. Inspect the take-out before launching and follow current NPS signs rather than assuming every facility is fully normal.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Cedar Grove, Akers, and Pulltite 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.
- Pulltite remains the most flood-damaged Upper Current campground. Inspect the take-out before launching and follow current NPS signs rather than assuming every facility is fully normal.
- This route is much longer than the individual Upper Current day floats. Daylight, weather, and a realistic bailout plan at Akers matter more than on a short scenic float.
Watch for
- Shallow riffles, scraping, and dragging when the Akers gauge is near or below the 230 cfs floor, especially over a 17.3-mile day.
- High or rising water, fresh wood, cloudy water, and faster current after rain. NPS lists Akers at 4.00 ft and Pulltite at 4.20 ft as non-motorized closure levels in flood conditions.
- Cold spring-fed water, crowding on warm weekends, motorized-boat interactions under park horsepower rules, and limited cell service.
- Federal river rules: PFD requirements, children under 7 wearing PFDs, no glass or polystyrene, no vessel lashing, cave closures, and leash rules for dogs when on land.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Current River above Akers, MO |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 230 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Data confidence behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Rivers.MOHERP Akers gauge trip evidence for Upper Current River continuations |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official route shape17.3 mi / about 7 hr
NPS Estimated Float Times lists Cedar Grove to Akers at 7.7 miles / 3 hours and Akers to Pulltite at 9.6 miles / 4 hours, which supports this combined 17.3-mile continuation.
- Upper Current access contextCedar Grove, Akers, and Pulltite named by NPS
NPS Paddle the Upper Current River still names Cedar Grove, Akers, and Pulltite among the popular Upper Current access points for private paddlers.
- Live direct gaugeUSGS 07064533 at 269 cfs / 1.00 ft
USGS Current River above Akers returned same-day discharge and gage height at 2026-07-10 15:30 CDT. The gauge sits in the middle of this route corridor and remains the cleanest product-supported live source for the continuation.
- Low-water floor230 cfs minimum-only
Rivers.MOHERP still provides exact Cedar Grove-to-Akers and Akers-to-Pulltite trip evidence plus broader Upper Current good-condition reports around the same Akers gauge floor. Paddle Today keeps the continuation on the same conservative 230 cfs minimum-only model.
- NPS high-water closure contextAkers 4.00 ft / Pulltite 4.20 ft
The NPS river-level guidance and Superintendent Compendium still frame flood closure behavior around the Akers and Pulltite gauges and instruct paddlers to check current conditions before launching.
- Camping supportAkers and Pulltite campgrounds
The current park brochure still lists Akers and Pulltite campgrounds and river access points in the Upper Current district, which supports treating this longer route as overnight-capable rather than a casual short day float.
- 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.
- Endpoint coordinates37.42238, -91.6083 to 37.33505, -91.47959
Coordinates reuse the practical Cedar Grove and Pulltite 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 Paddle the Upper Current River
- NPS Floating in the Ozarks
- NPS River Levels
- NPS Ozark Superintendent Compendium
- NPS park brochure
- Rivers.MOHERP Current River Akers gauge
- USGS 07064533 Current River above Akers
- USGS 07064533 instant values
- Mapcarta Cedar Grove Boat Launch
- Mapcarta Pulltite Campground
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
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More routes to check next
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Quick answers
Current River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Current River?
Paddle Today watches Current River above Akers, MO and uses 230 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Current River route start and end?
This route starts at Cedar Grove Boat Launch / access and ends at Pulltite river access / campground area, about 17.3 mi on the water.
Is this Current River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.