Paddle TodayFind the best paddle near you today
RequestRequest

Live score, water level, and weather.

See all 16 routes on Current River

Missouri | Missouri Ozarks

Current River

Pulltite to Round Spring

Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.

Route location

Loading the route coverage map.

Open access map
Distance8.9 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 4 hr for canoes and kayaks
ShuttleCar shuttle
The clear Current River flows below wooded Ozark hills with gravel bars along the channel.
Route photoCurrent River corridor near Welch SpringPhoto by Kbh3rd via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
View Primary Source

Route alerts

Email me when this route improves

We'll email you when this route climbs into Good or Strong. Every email includes an unsubscribe link.

We only email on a new threshold crossing.

Conditions

Gauge history and hourly forecast

Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.

Gauge detail

Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

Checking preferred range.

Checking trend.

------------

Weather

Hourly forecast

Checking weather.

Loading today's forecast.

Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

Checking the next several hours.

Checking the best short-route window.
----Loading--

Route overview

Quick facts and what's next

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

Quick facts

On-water distance8.9 miPulltite to Round Spring
DifficultyeasyNPS lists Pulltite to Round Spring as a standard four-hour canoe/kayak float. It is generally easy at ordinary levels, but cold spring water, weekend crowding, limited cell service, shallow riffles, and high-water closure thresholds still matter.
ShuttleCar shuttleUse a two-car or authorized outfitter shuttle between Pulltite and Round Spring. Cell service is limited in the park, so stage the take-out and confirm the pickup plan before launching.
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 nearbyTreat this as a day float unless you have a separate legal camping plan. Pulltite and Round Spring have developed NPS camping areas, and gravel-bar camping has park 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 NPS lists private paddling year-round, but low summer levels can still make shoals slow and scrape-heavy. Heavy rain can raise the river quickly, add floating wood, and trigger NPS non-motorized closures.

Plan ahead

Upcoming outlook

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

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Plan

Plan your trip

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

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

Launch at Pulltite and take out at Round Spring for the NPS-listed 8.9-mile Upper Current River day float. Use the upstream Akers USGS gauge as a conservative same-day low-water check, with the app using only a 300 cfs minimum floor.

DirectionsApple MapsOpenStreetMap

Prepare this trip

Take the plan with you

Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.

Download GPXAdd to calendar

Start

Put-in

Pulltite river access / campground area
Open map

The current NPS Superintendent's Compendium lists Pulltite and Round Spring (middle) as Current River landings. Follow signs to the Round Spring floater landing; the separately listed Round Spring Boat Ramp is for motorized-vessel launching.

Finish

Take-out

Round Spring (middle) river landing
Open map

The coordinates are practical access-area anchors from Mapcarta / GeoNames / OpenStreetMap records paired with NPS route and access confirmation, not official ramp-coordinate tables. Follow current NPS signs and ramp layout on arrival.

Plan this segment

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • The current NPS Superintendent's Compendium lists Pulltite and Round Spring (middle) as Current River landings. Follow signs to the Round Spring floater landing; the separately listed Round Spring Boat Ramp is for motorized-vessel launching.
  • The coordinates are practical access-area anchors from Mapcarta / GeoNames / OpenStreetMap records paired with NPS route and access confirmation, not official ramp-coordinate tables. Follow current NPS signs and ramp layout on arrival.
  • The Akers gauge is upstream of this route. It is supported by MoHERP Pulltite-to-Round-Spring reports, but it should still be treated as a proxy and paired with a visual check at Pulltite.

Watch for

  • Shallow riffles, scraping, and slower travel when the Akers gauge is near or below the 300 cfs floor.
  • High or rising water, rootwads, fallen trees, cloudy water, and faster current after rain. NPS lists Pulltite at 4.20 ft and Round Spring Bridge at 5.20 ft as local non-motorized closure levels; do not compare those local stages directly with the upstream Akers proxy.
  • Cold spring-fed water, crowding on warm weekends, and limited cell service. NPS says help can be hours away, so wear a PFD, file an itinerary, and be prepared to self-rescue.
  • 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.

The clear Current River flows below wooded Ozark hills with gravel bars along the channel.
Current River corridor near Welch SpringPhoto by Kbh3rd via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: CC BY-SA 3.0

Score & sources

Data and sources

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

Read quality
Checking live inputs.

Pulling the latest gauge and weather. Usually under 10 seconds.

Gauge inputChecking

Waiting on the gauge read.

Weather inputChecking

Waiting on weather.

Next stepChecking

Waiting on enough data to give the next step.

Why this scoreToday'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.

Why
  • Checking evidence-strength notes.
Data behind the scoreGauge, 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 floor300 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 bands and Pulltite-to-Round-Spring trip rows
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
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 shapePulltite to Round Spring, 8.9 mi / 4 hr

    NPS Estimated Float Times lists Pulltite to Round Spring as an 8.9-mile Upper Current River float with an estimated four-hour canoe/kayak time.

    Source

  • Upper Current route contextNPS standard access pair

    NPS Paddle the Upper Current River names Pulltite and Round Spring among popular Upper Current locations and lists Pulltite-to-Round-Spring as a four-hour route.

    Source

  • Public access contextPulltite landing to Round Spring (middle) landing

    The current NPS Superintendent's Compendium lists Pulltite and Round Spring (middle) as Current River landings. It separately lists the Round Spring Boat Ramp as a motorized-vessel launch.

    Source

  • Live proxy gaugeUSGS 07064533 at 208 cfs / 0.86 ft

    USGS Current River above Akers returned provisional same-day discharge and gage height at 2026-07-27 16:30 CDT, below the route's 300 cfs floor. The gauge is upstream of Pulltite, so it remains a proxy rather than a precise route gauge.

    Source

  • Low-water floor300 cfs minimum-only

    Rivers.MOHERP rates the Akers gauge Good beginning at 150 cfs and includes exact Pulltite-to-Round-Spring Good reports at 321 and 336 cfs, plus nearby lower-Upper-Current Good reports around 288-346 cfs. Paddle Today uses 300 cfs as a conservative floor and does not infer an ideal range.

    Source

  • NPS high-water closure contextPulltite 4.20 ft / Round Spring Bridge 5.20 ft

    The NPS Superintendent Compendium lists Current River closure levels for Pulltite and Round Spring Bridge during flood conditions. Use this as high-water caution, not as a scoring high cutoff for the Akers cfs gauge.

    Source

  • NPS river safetySelf-rescue, fast-rise, and obstacle guidance

    NPS warns that help may be hours away without phone service, that local streams can rise quickly after moderate to heavy rain, and that rootwads or strainers can occur on any river section.

    Source

  • Endpoint coordinates37.33505, -91.47959 to 37.27996, -91.40792

    Mapcarta / GeoNames / OpenStreetMap place Pulltite Campground and Round Spring Campground in the named NPS access areas. These are practical access-area anchors; current NPS signs and ramp layout should control on arrival.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

Paddler reports

See recent photos and notes from people on the route.

Share your trip

Help build the route page

Add photos or send a quick condition report.

Photos

Upload route photos

Add access, hazard, or on-water photos.

No files selected yet.

Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.

More in Missouri

All 76 routes
Missouri route guideBrowse every tracked Missouri route.Missouri OzarksJump to routes in this region.

More on Current River

All 16
Akers Ferry to PulltiteMissouri OzarksEasy · 9.6 miAkers Ferry to Round SpringMissouri OzarksEasy · 18.5 miBig Spring Upper River Landing to Cataract LandingMissouri OzarksEasy · About 8.8 miBig Spring Upper River Landing to Gooseneck / Hawes Recreation AreaMissouri OzarksModerate · About 16 mi

Nearby routes by distance

Jacks Fork RiverAlley Spring Access to Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing · about 13 mi awayEasy · About 6.6 miJacks Fork RiverBay Creek to Alley Spring · about 15 mi awayModerate · About 5.8 miJacks Fork RiverBay Creek River Access to Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing · about 15 mi awayModerate · About 12.1 mi by current NPS segment totalsJacks Fork RiverRymers Access to Bay Creek River Access · about 19 mi awayModerate · About 8 mi by NPS river miles

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 300 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 Pulltite river access / campground area and ends at Round Spring (middle) river landing, about 8.9 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.

Report a changeEmail update