MISSOURI'S CURRENT AND JACK'S FORK RIVERS !!
Current River
This is the most spring-fed of the Ozark rivers and can be floated year round. There are numerous springs and caves on the Current River. Float trips from three hours to seven days can be enjoyed on the Current River.
Jacks Fork River
This is a 44-mile long, narrow winding stream flowing through deep valley with no bottomland fields for the first 25 miles. A higher degree of canoeing skill is required to float the Jacks Fork River. The section of the river above Alley Spring is floatable only until early June, due to the low water conditions. After mid-May below Alley Spring to Two Rivers is floatable year round on the Jacks Fork, and makes a good one-day canoe trip.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways
Ozark National Scenic Riverways was created by an Act of Congress on August 24, 1964, as a unit of the National Park Service to protect 134 miles of the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers in the Ozark Highlands of southeastern Missouri. The clean, clear waters of these two beautiful rivers are fed by intermittent streams, which wind their way through narrow valleys in the gently rolling countryside, and by numerous springs. The springs are associated with a network of more than 300 caves that extends along the river corridors. The landscape remains predominantly rural, with broadleaf forests and occasional open fields providing habitat for wildlife and a scenic backdrop for the rivers. Many of the local residents are descendants of the self-sufficient Ozark settlers, whose history is represented by numerous historic buildings and archeological sites throughout the park. This environment provides an excellent opportunity for johnboating, canoeing, swimming, fishing and tubing. Hiking, hunting and horseback riding are also enjoyed in the park.
