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Missouri | Southwest Missouri
James RiverDelaware Town Access to Shelvin Rock Access
Middle James River day float from MDC Delaware Town Access to MDC Shelvin Rock Access. It uses the direct Boaz USGS gauge and route-specific MoHERP evidence, with conservative low-water-only scoring.
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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 MDC Delaware Town Access and take out at MDC Shelvin Rock Access for a 6.5-mile middle-James day float. Use the Boaz gauge as a conservative low-water check, and make a same-day visual call because the scoring model has no defended high-water cutoff.
Access map
Put-in
Delaware Town AccessDelaware Town and Shelvin Rock are MDC public day-use accesses with boat ramps and parking, but posted signs and area maps control exact use.
Take-out
Shelvin Rock AccessBoth endpoints prohibit camping, and MDC rules prohibit leaving boats unattended overnight on department areas.
Road shuttle
Use a short two-car shuttle between MDC Delaware Town Access and MDC Shelvin Rock Access. Stage the Shelvin Rock take-out first, then drive back through the Highway 14 / Route M corridor to Delaware Town.
Additional access notes
- The Delaware Town coordinate is a practical access anchor from a public paddling directory paired with MDC access confirmation; follow MDC signs and the current ramp layout on arrival.
More route and safety guidance
- MDC lists Delaware Town and Shelvin Rock as public day-use accesses with ramps and parking. Follow the current signs and ramp layouts, and keep the take-out plan at Shelvin Rock rather than substituting a private bank or informal gravel bar.
- Rain can quickly add pushy current, cloudy water, fresh wood, and harder landings. Make a same-day visual call at both endpoints and at ledges before launching.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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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
James River near Boaz, 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 | James River near Boaz, MO |
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| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 275 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 Boaz gauge Delaware-to-Shelvin trip evidence |
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Public put-inMDC Delaware Town Access
MDC says Delaware Town Access provides access to the James River, with a boat ramp and two parking lots. The area is day use only and camping is not allowed.
- Public take-outMDC Shelvin Rock Access
MDC says Shelvin Rock Access provides access to the James River, with two parking lots and a boat ramp. The area is day use only and camping is not allowed.
- Route shapeDelaware Town to Shelvin Rock, 6.5 miles
Rivers.MOHERP lists Delaware-to-Shelvin Rock trip rows at 6.5 miles, and James River Basin Partnership names Delaware Town to Shelvin Rock Access as a float-series route.
- Gauge check during route review · May 30, 2026USGS 07052250
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 floor275 cfs minimum-only
MoHERP exact-route evidence includes a Delaware-to-Shelvin trip at 275 cfs on the Boaz gauge where most of the river was fine but a few low areas required dragging; the report calls that about the minimum recommended water level for this section.
- Route characterLedge-rock drops and long pools
MoHERP Delaware-to-Shelvin trip notes mention at least two ledge-rock drops, and broader James River sources describe this middle reach as a mix of riffles, calm stretches, gravel bars, and scenic Ozark water.
- Coordinates37.0511, -93.3914 to 36.99564609, -93.3697183
Delaware Town is anchored to a public paddling directory coordinate that cites USGS ScienceBase location data and MDC confirms the access name. Shelvin Rock uses the existing V2 Shelvin Rock access coordinate paired with MDC access confirmation.
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
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All 4Nearby routes within 75 miles
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