The Lower Current River | Kayaking Camping Big Spring - Doniphan

We're all familiar with those amazing sights of the upper Current River. from Montauk Spring, Medlock, Cedargrove and Aker Ferry, to Cave Spring, Pulltite and Round Spring. What does the Lower Current have to offer the Ozarks?
Join us as we Kayak Camp our way from Big Spring near Van Buren to Doniphan where we meet up with some friends to hang at a great little VRBO cabin on the water.
Current River is the prime floating river in Missouri. But the further down her you get, the more homes on the water, motor boats and the less scenic it gets. But that doesn't mean it can't be magical. The call of the Current River is undeniable. For those of you familiar with the upper Current, the lower just isn’t the same. But the Current will draw you in just the same.
We’ve seen so many springs in the Ozarks this year, but Big Spring is unique. It does have the feel of a park and less off the beaten path from many of our favorites. With flows nearing 300 million gallons a day, it’s thought to one of the largest springs in the world. A spectacular karst hillside and bluff with several small caves can be explored around the Spring.
The first thing you notice about the lower Current, is it is a big river. No more charming stream, but a wide, powerful course prone to deluge is carrying you off. Because of this, you can cover so much more river quickly at an average moving speed of almost 5 mph. As wide as it is of course means fewer scenic bluffs cut by the narrow rill of like the upper.
And many jet boats cruise up and down the lower Currents bends sending wake at the helpless kayakers.
But just web you think your on a new river, uncanny rock formations and perfect swimming holes remind
you the Current is still that spring fed majesty it was 60 miles upstream.
It’s easy not to appreciate how fast you’re moving unless you track the data. Our average moving speed is nearly twice as fast than near Akers Ferry.
Finding suitable camping can be a touch tricky since Mark Twain National Forest splatters the map with little consistency the further of Big Spring you get.
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[@Thomas-ps8xv]

Looks like you all had a great trip, glad to see the whole family out there. Blessings

[@GatewoodBrown]

What a vastly different look to the river down here. You're spot on though, those big ozark rivers keep you cruising at lightspeed!

[@OzarkMediaCo]

Honestly is a great change in pace! Unfortunately jet boats and yaks trying to play in the same

[@GatewoodBrown]

I've never had to deal with jet boats so that's definitely intriguing to hear!@@OzarkMediaCo

[@frankbaxendale4682]

Have had many floats on both upper and lower Current in past 30 yrs. If you've never experienced it, you're missing one of life's great pleasures.

[@OzarkMediaCo]

Very true, indeed! Can't wait to go back!

[@BrokenPaddleAdventures]

That's so cool to see!! I floated the Current for 5 days..my buddy and I...35 years ago!! Neat to see your trip!! Thanks for the memories!!

[@OzarkMediaCo]

You're very welcome! We did 6 days on the upper awhile back, you can find that video on our channel, too.

[@SuperLooneyrooney]

Well done. these are well put together vids.

[@paddlepedalproductions5452]

Well, I've watched three of your videos now, and I"m set to watch them all. Great B roll, cinematography, and voice over work. Oh, and gorgeous water as well. Good job man.

[@OzarkMediaCo]

Thanks for the kind words! Just getting started, 2024 is going to be big for us!

[@TheRealLakeSideSam]

Thank you, Patriot, for your stunning display of the beautiful Niangua rivers. I’m several miles east of Fiery Fork and love it. If I ever see you upstream I’ll give you a holler. I’m sure you will get the “Patriot” thing. Great production!

[@OzarkMediaCo]

Hope to bump into you on the rill sometime!

[@ricksmith6537]

Love the current river all the bluffs cave - my son took a float in the middle of winter said it was even better 😊

[@OzarkMediaCo]

That sounds fun! And cold....

[@ConcealedArtLeather]

Content is looking good. Makes me want a kayak and I don't like water.

[@mackjenkins7721]

That look like an awesome trip man with the family. I want to take my family there because I have a buddy of mine who lives in Springfield missouri & we are talking about doing a kayak camping trip on this river. All 6 of my sons are ready for some kayaking camping trip right now & so am i. Good video buddy & i am glad to see you & your family had fun on this trip especially your son. Thanks you for sharing this video buddy.

[@OzarkMediaCo]

Thanks as always, Mack! Table rock is a beautiful lake to paddle around on in that area.

[@KhlaBaiTong]

So amazing 😘

[@OzarkMediaCo]

Thanks!

[@NarleyAdventures]

👍👍👍👍👍😀

[@johnkuthe1]

I LOVE The Current River! :-)

[@fl5966]

Your production is really good, keep it up and I'd imagine your channel will grow. As a kayaker in mid Missouri you make me want to travel south for better rivers.

[@OzarkMediaCo]

Meramec and Gasconade are great, too! Vids on them sooner or later!

[@SouthernPaddler]

Great video! We ended our trip at Big Spring so it was good to get to see what the lower Current looked like. 💯

[@OzarkMediaCo]

Don't know that we'd go past Big Spring unless there was something special taking us further down stream. Too many good MO streams without jet boats!

[@henryhaake500]

Another great adventure!!

[@greenridgeoutdooradventure3433]

Excellent videography! Where do you get your music from?

[@OzarkMediaCo]

Multiple sources, but mostly license free from epidemic sound.