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Missouri | Missouri Ozarks
Current RiverWaymeyer Access to Big Spring Upper River Landing
Combined lower Current River day from Waymeyer to the Big Spring upper river landing. Current NPS mileage and float-time guidance support the section, and the direct Van Buren gauge gives a conservative low-water check.
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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 Waymeyer and finish at the Big Spring upper river landing for a longer lower Current River day. Use the direct Van Buren gauge as a conservative low-water check and expect the same busier, more motorized lower-river character as the adjacent split sections.
Access map
Put-in
Waymeyer AccessNPS has described Waymeyer as a non-commercial floater access while warning about erosion and limited safe unloading room on summer weekends. Follow current NPS signs and avoid blocking the access.
Take-out
Big Spring Upper River LandingNPS distinguishes Big Spring (upper) as a Current River landing from Big Spring Boat Ramp (lower), which is trailered boats only with no floater access. Confirm the signed upper landing before leaving a vehicle.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out in the Big Spring river-access/campground area before driving back north to Waymeyer. Inspect the signed access layout at both ends because Waymeyer can be crowded and eroded and Big Spring has separate upper and lower boat-ramp areas.
Additional access notes
- The Big Spring coordinate is the existing USGS-topo-derived upper river access point already used in the adjacent route, not the spring overlook, natural-area point, or lower motorized-only ramp.
More route and safety guidance
- Plan for motorboat wakes, slick access areas, private banks, limited exits, and fatigue on the long lower-river float.
- Confirm the signed Big Spring upper landing, current NPS access rules, weather, daylight, and a lawful shuttle before launch.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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Weather
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Plan ahead
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 at Van Buren, 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.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Current River at Van Buren, MO |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
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| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 700 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Rivers.MOHERP Van Buren gauge rating and lower-Current trip evidence |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- NPS route shapeWaymeyer to Big Spring, about 10.8 mi
Current NPS float-times guidance lists Waymeyer to Raftyard at 1.7 miles, Raftyard to Van Buren at 4.8 miles, and Van Buren to Big Spring at 4.3 miles, which combine into an about 10.8-mile public lower Current route.
- NPS timing supportAbout 5 hr total
NPS lower-Current guidance lists Waymeyer to Van Buren at about 3 hours and Van Buren to Big Spring at about 2 hours, supporting a full lower-river day rather than a short out-and-back.
- Public endpointsWaymeyer and Big Spring upper landing
NPS says Waymeyer remains a non-commercial floater access, and the park brochure plus compendium distinguish Big Spring upper as the Current River landing while reserving the lower boat ramp for trailered boats only.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-11USGS 07067000 at 1,080 cfs / 3.01 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 floor700 cfs minimum-only
Rivers.MOHERP rates the Van Buren gauge Good beginning around 700 cfs and provides route-family lower Current trip evidence. Paddle Today keeps only the conservative 700 cfs floor and does not infer an ideal range.
- Camping contextBig Spring campground and day-use area
The NPS park brochure lists Big Spring with campground, picnic, ranger-station, and river-access context, so the route can finish at a campground-supported landing even though private-bank camping should not be assumed en route.
- Endpoint coordinates37.054302, -91.055459 to 36.9475519, -90.9901267
Waymeyer uses the existing published paddling-access coordinate and Big Spring uses the existing USGS-topo-derived upper river access point already accepted for the adjacent lower Current route. Do not substitute the lower motorized-only ramp.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
More on Current River
All 16Nearby routes within 75 miles
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