EMINENCE, MO – Ozark National Scenic Riverways, in partnership with Missouri State Parks, the Ozark Riverways Foundation and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, will be offering free paddling activities on the upper Current River on Sundays this summer.
Paddling skills clinics will be conducted on June 13 and 27, July 11 and 25, and August 1 and 15. Participants will need to provide their own Type III personal flotation device (PFD) & lunch. Paddles and vessels will be provided. Paddlers will meet at Current River State Park at 10:00 a.m. for one hour of dry land basic skills, followed by instruction and paddling practice on the lower lake. Topics to be covered include canoe and kayak equipment, rescue techniques, basic paddle strokes and maneuvers, and river safety. Upon successful completion of the morning skills lesson, students may continue instruction on the river in the afternoon, paddling approximately four miles from Current River State Park to Round Spring. Space for these clinics is limited, so pre-registration is required.
Rangers will lead guided floats on June 20, July 18 and August 15. These guided river tours will begin at Pulltite at approximately 9 a.m. and are expected to conclude about 3 p.m. at Round Spring. Rangers will stop at key locations along the river to highlight the unique beauty and history of the Ozarks. A shuttle will be provided, but participants will need to provide their own vessel, paddle, and Type III PFD. Space is limited and reservations are required.
Instructors and river guides for these activities are certified by the American Canoe Association.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways follows the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and any corresponding federal mandates in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. All participants should be prepared to practice social distancing as needed. If you are not yet fully vaccinated, masks are required outdoors when social distancing cannot be maintained.
For more information and to make reservations for these activities, please contact the Round Spring Ranger Station at (573) 323-8093.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways preserves the free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork Rivers, the surrounding natural resources, and the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people. For more information about the park, visit www.nps.gov/ozar or call (573) 323-4236.
