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 location

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Distance17.3 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeLong day
ShuttleCar shuttle
The clear Current River flows below wooded Ozark hills with gravel bars and shoals along the long Upper Current corridor.
Route photoUpper Current River corridor near Welch SpringPhoto by Kbh3rd via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
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Gauge history and hourly forecast

The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.

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Recent trend

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Short-route forecast

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Quick facts and what's next

Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.

DifficultyeasyNPS treats both component segments as standard easy Upper Current floats, but the combined 17.3-mile day is a much bigger commitment. The river is still mostly approachable at ordinary levels, yet fatigue, cold spring water, crowds, motorboat rules, and limited cell service matter more over a 7-hour route.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific private-vessel paddling fee is known inside Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Follow NPS rules, posted signs, designated access layouts, parking limits, no-glass/no-polystyrene rules, and any current river closure notices.
CampingOptions nearbyThis continuation is long enough that many groups should treat it as an overnight-capable route rather than force a one-day push. Akers and Pulltite both have NPS campground support, and gravel-bar camping has NPS rules and location limits; do not assume any bank is public just because it is reachable from the river.
SeasonMar-NovThe Upper Current is spring-fed and commonly paddled beyond peak spring runoff, but a long continuation like this still slows dramatically in low summer water. Heavy rain can raise the river quickly, add debris, and trigger NPS non-motorized closures.

Upcoming outlook

These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.

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WeekendChecking

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Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Access and shuttle

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.

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Start

Put-in

Cedar Grove Boat Launch / access
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The current NPS Superintendent's Compendium designates Cedar Grove, Akers, and Pulltite as Current River landings. Use those posted landings, park only in designated areas, and obey any temporary flood or maintenance restriction.

Finish

Take-out

Pulltite river access / campground area
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NPS says the Pulltite Ranger Station remains closed through the 2026 season after flood damage, while the campground and river landing remain listed. Inspect the take-out before launching and verify which facilities are available.

Plan this segment

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Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • The current NPS Superintendent's Compendium designates Cedar Grove, Akers, and Pulltite as Current River landings. Use those posted landings, park only in designated areas, and obey any temporary flood or maintenance restriction.
  • NPS says the Pulltite Ranger Station remains closed through the 2026 season after flood damage, while the campground and river landing remain listed. Inspect the take-out before launching and verify which facilities are available.
  • 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.

Why this score

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.

Read quality
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Today's evidence strength is checking

Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.

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Gauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteCurrent River above Akers, MO
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Ideal rangeNeeds paddler reports
Known low-water floor230 cfs
High thresholdNot calibrated yet
Evidence strength behind the rangeLocal route guidance
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreRivers.MOHERP Akers gauge trip evidence for Upper Current River continuations
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What 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • Pulltite 2026 facility statusRanger station closed; river access remains listed

    NPS says the Pulltite Ranger Station remains closed through the 2026 season after flood damage. The current Superintendent's Compendium still designates Pulltite as a Current River landing, so paddlers should verify the landing and available facilities rather than assuming normal services.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

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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.

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.