See all 8 routes on James River
Missouri | Southwest Missouri
James River
H.L. Kerr Access to Ralph Cox Memorial Access
Check current paddling conditions for this James River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
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.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
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
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
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
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch at MDC H.L. Kerr Access and take out at MDC Ralph Cox Memorial Access near Galena for a short lower-James float. Use the Galena gauge as a conservative low-water check rather than a full preferred-range recommendation.
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.
Put-in
H.L. Kerr AccessH.L. Kerr and Ralph Cox Memorial are MDC public day-use accesses with boat ramps and parking, but posted signs and area maps control exact use.
Take-out
Ralph Cox Memorial AccessBoth endpoints prohibit camping, and MDC rules prohibit leaving boats unattended overnight on department areas.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- H.L. Kerr and Ralph Cox Memorial are MDC public day-use accesses with boat ramps and parking, but posted signs and area maps control exact use.
- Both endpoints prohibit camping, and MDC rules prohibit leaving boats unattended overnight on department areas.
- Coordinates are practical access anchors from public paddling/location records paired with MDC access confirmation; follow on-site signs for the exact ramp and parking layout.
Watch for
- Dragging, slow pools, and shallow riffles when the Galena gauge is near or below the 200 cfs floor.
- High or rising water after rain, fresh wood, strainers on bends, cloudy water, and more difficult landings.
- Busy summer boat, tube, rental, swimming, and angling traffic around Galena, the Y-Bridge, and local outfitter corridors.
- Private land away from public accesses and lawful gravel-bar stops; do not assume banks are public picnic or camping areas.
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.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
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.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | James River at Galena, 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 | 200 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Rivers.MOHERP Galena gauge trip evidence for Kerr to Cox |
| 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.
- Public put-inMDC H.L. Kerr Access
MDC says H.L. Kerr Access provides access to the James River, with a parking lot and boat ramp. The area is day use only and camping is not allowed.
- Public take-outMDC Ralph Cox Memorial Access
MDC says Ralph Cox Memorial Access provides James River access just east of Galena, with an ADA-accessible concrete boat ramp, privy, and large parking lot. The area is day use only and camping is not allowed.
- Route shapeKerr to Ralph Cox / Galena
James River Basin Partnership describes the float from H.L. Kerr Access to Ralph Cox Access as one of the scenic James River floats near the historic Y-Bridge.
- Route-specific trip evidenceKerr to Cox, about 4.8 to 5.5 miles
Rivers.MOHERP lists exact Kerr-to-Cox trip rows on the Galena gauge, including good-condition reports around 306, 361, and 417 cfs.
- Low-water floor200 cfs minimum-only
Exact Kerr-to-Cox good reports plus broader lower-James Galena-gauge evidence support reusing the conservative 200 cfs floor used for the adjacent lower-James route. The app does not infer an ideal range or high-water cutoff.
- Live gaugeUSGS 07052500
USGS operates James River at Galena, MO. This route uses the same direct Galena gauge already configured for the adjacent Shelvin Rock-to-Hooten Town route.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
James River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling James River?
Paddle Today watches James River at Galena, MO and uses 200 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this James River route start and end?
This route starts at H.L. Kerr Access and ends at Ralph Cox Memorial Access, about About 4.8 to 5.5 mi on the water.
Is this James 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.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.