See all 2 routes on Pomme de Terre River

Missouri | Missouri Ozarks

Pomme de Terre River

Outlet Park to Cross Timbers Access

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Today

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Today's conditions

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Quick facts

On-water distance About 13.6 mi Outlet Park to Cross Timbers Access

Difficulty easy The lower Pomme de Terre is usually described as a gentle Class I river, but dam releases can create sudden rises, turbulence, stronger landings, and floating debris. Treat values above the USACE optimal window as a no-go for casual paddlers.

Shuttle Car shuttle Use a two-car shuttle between Outlet Park below Pomme de Terre Dam and Cross Timbers Access off Route Y and County Road 281. Inspect Cross Timbers first because it is a rural gravel-road access and flood debris, lake backwater, or high releases can change the landing.

Permits None noted No route-specific private paddling permit is known. Follow MDC area rules at Hermitage and Cross Timbers, Missouri boating and PFD requirements, and any posted USACE, MDC, parking, camping, or temporary-closure signs.

Camping Options nearby Treat this as a long day float unless you have a separate legal camping plan. Outlet Park is a USACE campground by reservation or posted rules, and MDC says Cross Timbers allows camping in the northeast corner of the parking lot with vehicles kept on gravel.

Season Apr-Oct Summer is the main paddling season, but the route depends heavily on dam releases. Check the USGS gauge, USACE lake information, weather, and same-day ramp conditions before committing.

Plan

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Access plan

Access, shuttle, and map

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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Start

Put-in

Outlet Park / Outlet Boat Ramp Open map

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.

Finish

Take-out

Cross Timbers Access Open map

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.

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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.

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Sources

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Why this score Today's data confidence is checking

Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.

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Data behind the score Gauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge site	Pomme de Terre River near Hermitage, MO
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Target band	100 cfs to 800 cfs
Low threshold	100 cfs
High threshold	800 cfs
Data confidence behind the range	Official data source
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Main source behind this score	USACE Pomme de Terre River Adventures floating release guidance
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Notes What 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 window 100-800 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.

Source
Route shape Below-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.

Source
Public put-in Outlet 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.

Source
Public take-out Cross 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.

Source
Cross Timbers management plan Managed 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.

Source
Direct live gauge USGS 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.

Source

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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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