See all 5 routes on Meramec River
Missouri | Missouri Ozarks
Meramec River
Onondaga Cave State Park to Campbell Bridge Access
Check current paddling conditions for this Meramec 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 the Onondaga Cave State Park Meramec River canoe launch or boat ramp and take out at MDC Campbell Bridge Access. MDC documents this as a five-mile canoe float, with the downstream Sullivan USGS gauge used as a conservative low-water check.
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
Onondaga Cave State Park canoe launch / boat launchMissouri State Parks says the canoe launch is downstream from the Meramec River bridge and the boat ramp is upstream from the bridge; choose the signed launch that matches your craft and current park rules.
Take-out
Campbell Bridge AccessCampbell Bridge is an MDC river access with a concrete boat ramp, dedicated canoe launch, restroom, and parking, but same-day signs and local conditions still control use.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Missouri State Parks says the canoe launch is downstream from the Meramec River bridge and the boat ramp is upstream from the bridge; choose the signed launch that matches your craft and current park rules.
- Campbell Bridge is an MDC river access with a concrete boat ramp, dedicated canoe launch, restroom, and parking, but same-day signs and local conditions still control use.
- The Campbell Bridge coordinate is a practical public paddling-location anchor paired with MDC route and map evidence; verify the take-out from the road before launching.
Watch for
- Shallow riffles and dragging when the Sullivan gauge falls near or below the 200 cfs floor.
- High water, fresh wood, bridge current, and faster bends after rain; MoHERP high and flood categories are not broad casual-float conditions.
- Bluff-lined bends, gravel bars, swimmers, anglers, rental traffic, and motorized users in the broader Sullivan-area Meramec corridor.
- Private land away from public accesses and legal gravel-bar stops; stay within Missouri stream-access rules and respect posted 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.
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 | Meramec River near Sullivan, 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 Sullivan gauge rating and Meramec trip logs |
| 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.
- Official route shapeOnondaga Cave State Park to Campbell Bridge Access, 5 miles
MDC planning material for Campbell Bridge Access says a canoe float from Onondaga Cave State Park to Campbell Bridge Access is 5 miles.
- Public put-inOnondaga Cave State Park canoe launch / boat ramp
Missouri State Parks says paddlers can access the Meramec River from the park canoe launch or boat ramp, and its boat-launch page publishes coordinates for the Onondaga launch.
- Public take-outCampbell Bridge Access
MDC says Campbell Bridge Access provides Meramec River access with a concrete boat ramp, dedicated canoe launch, restroom, and ample parking.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 07014500
USGS operates Meramec River near Sullivan, MO, the live Meramec gauge downstream in this route corridor and the same gauge already configured for the neighboring Sullivan-area Meramec route.
- Low-water floor200 cfs minimum-only
Rivers.MOHERP rates the Sullivan gauge good beginning at 200 cfs and includes nearby Meramec trip logs rated good from roughly 294 to 543 cfs, with a low but floatable report at 238 cfs.
- Current check574 cfs / 3.38 ft at 2026-05-30 04:30
Rivers.MOHERP showed same-day Sullivan gauge data during this run, confirming the selected USGS gauge path is live for current route scoring. The app does not use that snapshot as a fixed recommendation.
- High-water cautionHigh and flood categories are not casual-float water
Rivers.MOHERP describes high water as potentially dangerous for young or inexperienced paddlers and flood water as avoidable for casual trips because obstacles can be treacherous or deadly.
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.
Share your trip
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
Meramec River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Meramec River?
Paddle Today watches Meramec River near Sullivan, 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 Meramec River route start and end?
This route starts at Onondaga Cave State Park canoe launch / boat launch and ends at Campbell Bridge Access, about About 5 mi on the water.
Is this Meramec 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.