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See all 6 routes on Current River

Missouri | Missouri Ozarks

Current River

Cedar Grove to Akers Ferry

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Today

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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.

Today's conditions

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Quick facts

On-water distance 7.7 mi Cedar Grove to Akers Ferry
Difficulty easy NPS treats Cedar Grove to Akers as a standard 3-hour upper-Current canoe/kayak float. The route is easy at ordinary levels, but shallow riffles, cold spring water, motorized traffic rules, crowding, wood, and high-water closure thresholds still matter.
Shuttle Car shuttle Use a two-car or authorized outfitter shuttle between Cedar Grove and Akers Ferry. Cell service is limited in the park, so set the take-out vehicle and pickup plan before launching.
Permits None noted No route-specific private-vessel paddling fee is known inside Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Follow NPS rules, posted signs, designated access layouts, parking limits, no-glass/no-polystyrene rules, and any current river closure notices.
Camping Options nearby Treat this as a day float unless you have a separate legal camping plan. Cedar Grove has a small NPS campground, and gravel-bar camping has NPS rules and location limits; do not assume any bank is public just because it is reachable from the river.
Season Mar-Nov The upper Current is spring-fed and commonly floated beyond peak spring runoff, but low summer water can make shoals slow and scrapey. Heavy rain can raise the river quickly, add debris, and trigger NPS flood closures or access restrictions.

Plan

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Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.

Access plan

Access, shuttle, and map

Launch at Cedar Grove and take out at Akers Ferry for the NPS-listed 7.7-mile Upper Current River day float. Use the Akers USGS gauge as a direct same-day low-water check, with the app using only a conservative 230 cfs minimum floor.

Directions Apple Maps OpenStreetMap
Start

Put-in

Cedar Grove Boat Launch / access Open map

Cedar Grove and Akers are standard Ozark National Scenic Riverways access points, but practical launch lanes, parking, outfitter traffic, and temporary flood or maintenance restrictions can change. Follow current NPS signs on arrival.

Finish

Take-out

Akers Lower / Akers Ferry access Open map

Endpoint coordinates are practical access anchors from Mapcarta / OpenStreetMap slipway records paired with NPS route and access confirmation, not a substitute for on-site signs.

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Access caveats

  • Cedar Grove and Akers are standard Ozark National Scenic Riverways access points, but practical launch lanes, parking, outfitter traffic, and temporary flood or maintenance restrictions can change. Follow current NPS signs on arrival.
  • Endpoint coordinates are practical access anchors from Mapcarta / OpenStreetMap slipway records paired with NPS route and access confirmation, not a substitute for on-site signs.
  • NPS private-vessel guidance says to use designated river access points, unload promptly, and park only in designated areas; extended parking in loading zones can lead to towing or fines.

Watch for

  • Shallow riffles, scraping, and possible dragging when the Akers gauge is near or below the 230 cfs floor.
  • High or rising water, fresh wood, cloudy water, and faster current after rain. NPS lists Akers at 4.00 ft as a non-motorized closure level in flood conditions.
  • Cold spring-fed water, crowding on warm weekends, motorized-boat interactions under park horsepower rules, and limited cell service.
  • Federal river rules: PFD requirements, children under 7 wearing PFDs, no glass or polystyrene, no vessel lashing, cave closures, and leash rules for dogs when on 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.

The clear Current River flows below wooded Ozark hills between Welch Spring and Akers Ferry.
Current River between Welch Spring and Akers Ferry Photo by Kbh3rd via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: CC BY-SA 3.0

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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Outlook Tomorrow and weekend

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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 Current River above Akers, MO
Discharge Checking
Gauge height Checking
24h trend Checking
24h change Checking
Current band Checking
Rain last 24h Checking
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Air temp Checking
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Ideal range Needs paddler reports
Known low-water floor 230 cfs
High threshold Not calibrated yet
Data confidence behind the range Local route guidance
Gauge observed Checking
Paddle Today updated Checking
Main source behind this score Rivers.MOHERP Akers gauge trip evidence for Cedar Grove to Akers
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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 route shape Cedar Grove to Akers, 7.7 mi / 3 hr

    NPS Estimated Float Times lists Cedar Grove to Akers as a 7.7-mile Upper Current River float with an estimated 3-hour canoe/kayak time.

    Source

  • Upper Current route context NPS standard put-ins

    NPS Paddle the Upper Current River names Cedar Grove and Akers among the popular Upper Current put-in locations and lists Cedar Grove-to-Akers as a 3-hour float.

    Source

  • Live direct gauge USGS 07064533 at 311 cfs / 1.09 ft

    USGS Current River above Akers showed discharge and gage height at 12:30 CDT on May 30, 2026. The gauge is in the Akers take-out corridor.

    Source

  • Low-water floor 230 cfs minimum-only

    Rivers.MOHERP lists exact Cedar Grove-to-Akers trip evidence at 233 cfs described as just enough water to classify as good, with broader Upper Current good-condition reports nearby. Paddle Today uses 230 cfs as a conservative floor and does not infer an ideal or high-water band.

    Source

  • NPS high-water closure context Akers average 2.00 ft / closed 4.00 ft

    The NPS Superintendent Compendium says the Current and Jacks Fork close to non-motorized vessels during flood conditions and lists Akers at 2.00 ft average and 4.00 ft closed level. Use this as high-water caution, not an ideal range.

    Source

  • Access rules Designated access points

    NPS private-vessel guidance says there is no fee for private floating inside park boundaries, but paddlers should arrange their own transport, use designated river access points, follow posted signs, and park only in designated areas.

    Source

  • Endpoint coordinates 37.42238, -91.6083 to 37.37591, -91.55148

    Mapcarta / OpenStreetMap lists Cedar Grove Boat Launch and Akers Lower as Current River slipways. Coordinates are practical access anchors; NPS signs and current access layout should control on arrival.

    Source

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Keep exploring

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Quick answers

Current River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Current River?

Paddle Today watches Current River above Akers, MO and uses 230 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.

Where does this Current River route start and end?

This route starts at Cedar Grove Boat Launch / access and ends at Akers Lower / Akers Ferry access, about 7.7 mi on the water.

Is this Current 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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