Missouri | Missouri Ozarks
Pomme de Terre River
Outlet Park to Cross Timbers Access
Check current paddling conditions for this Pomme de Terre 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
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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
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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
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Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch at Outlet Park below Pomme de Terre Dam and take out at MDC Cross Timbers Access for a 13.6-mile lower Pomme de Terre day. USACE publishes the 100-800 cfs optimal floating release window, and the app uses the direct Hermitage USGS gauge when current observations are fresh enough for a same-day decision.
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Put-in
Outlet Park / Outlet Boat RampOutlet Park is a USACE recreation area below Pomme de Terre Dam with the Outlet Boat Ramp accessing the river. The coordinate is anchored to the USGS 06921350 / Outlet Park corridor; follow USACE signs for the exact ramp, parking, and any campground or day-use rules.
Take-out
Cross Timbers AccessCross Timbers Access is an MDC-managed, USACE-leased public access with a boat ramp and parking lot. The coordinate is a practical ramp-area anchor from public map context; follow MDC signs and the area map for exact parking and launch position.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Outlet Park is a USACE recreation area below Pomme de Terre Dam with the Outlet Boat Ramp accessing the river. The coordinate is anchored to the USGS 06921350 / Outlet Park corridor; follow USACE signs for the exact ramp, parking, and any campground or day-use rules.
- Cross Timbers Access is an MDC-managed, USACE-leased public access with a boat ramp and parking lot. The coordinate is a practical ramp-area anchor from public map context; follow MDC signs and the area map for exact parking and launch position.
- This is a dam-release route. USACE says optimal floating is when the lake releases 100 to 800 cfs into the river, and high release rates can cause sudden rises and turbulence. Verify that the Hermitage USGS value is fresh before relying on it for a same-day go/no-go call.
Watch for
- Flows below about 100 cfs, when the USACE optimal floating window is not met and low-water dragging or slow travel becomes more likely.
- Flows above about 800 cfs, high or changing dam releases, sudden rises, turbulence, stronger current, and harder take-out conditions.
- Flood debris, strainers, rural access roads, limited services, hot-weather powerboat or angler traffic near accesses, and Truman Reservoir backwater effects near the lower end.
- Private land away from public accesses and lawful gravel-bar stops; do not assume banks are public picnic or camping areas.
Route gallery
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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 | Pomme de Terre River near Hermitage, 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 |
| Target band | 100 cfs to 800 cfs |
| Low threshold | 100 cfs |
| High threshold | 800 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | USACE Pomme de Terre River Adventures floating release guidance |
| 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 release window100-800 cfs
USACE says canoeing and kayaking are popular during summer and that optimal floating conditions are when Pomme de Terre Lake is releasing 100 to 800 cfs into the river. It also warns that high release rates can cause sudden rise and turbulence.
- Route shapeBelow-dam put-in to Cross Timbers, about 13.6 river miles
Float Missouri republishes MDC mile notes that place the lower-river put-in at the west-side campsite below the dam and Cross Timbers public-use area access at river mile 13.6.
- Public put-inOutlet Park / Outlet Boat Ramp
USACE says the Outlet Boat Ramp is within Outlet Park, accesses the Pomme de Terre River below the dam, has bathrooms within walking distance, and does not charge a boat-launch fee.
- Public take-outCross Timbers Access
MDC says Cross Timbers Access is leased from USACE to provide Pomme de Terre River access, with a boat ramp and parking lot.
- Cross Timbers management planManaged for public river access
The MDC Cross Timbers and Hermitage Accesses management plan says Cross Timbers is managed to provide public access to the Pomme de Terre River and lists a concrete ramp, privy, parking, and camping site.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 06921350
USGS operates the Pomme de Terre River near Hermitage gauge in the route corridor. The legacy current page showed 1,570 cfs and 6.37 ft at 08:45 CDT on June 1, 2026 during add review, which is above the USACE optimal floating window; a June 4 audit still found that as the most recent visible legacy value, so same-day freshness must be verified before relying on the gauge.
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
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Reports
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Quick answers
Pomme de Terre River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Pomme de Terre River?
Paddle Today watches Pomme de Terre River near Hermitage, MO and treats 100 cfs to 800 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Pomme de Terre River route start and end?
This route starts at Outlet Park / Outlet Boat Ramp and ends at Cross Timbers Access, about About 13.6 mi on the water.
Is this Pomme de Terre 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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