Upper Jacks Fork Logistics

[coldwater]

I'm the organizer for Dad/Son upper Jacks Fork trip. Levels permitting, we hope to put in at Prongs and float for two days. The goal is to have fun and not do too far of a float. So, we are hoping to take out at either Blue Spring or Rhymers. A couple of years ago we floated Prongs to Bay Creek, and had to hustle on Sunday to get out.

The question is how to do this without getting seriously dinged on car shuttle/canoe rental costs. An Alley Spring livery will charge $65 bucks to shuttle a car to Rhymers and will also charge more for canoe rental, since Rhymers is out of the way for them.

My thought is that all dad/sons drive to Rhymers, park there, meet a livery who will shuttle us to Prongs and then float back to Rhymers, spending two nights on gravel bars. If we get too late of a start, camp at Rhymers on Friday night.

My specific questions: Is there a livery that can better service Rhymers? Is Rhymers a decent place to camp? OK to leave cars at Rhymers? Est shuttle time from Rhymers to Prongs? Is Blue Spring a better takeout?

thks, Warren in StL

[Gavin]

Thats a tough question. How big is your party? You can camp @ Rymers, but there may be a fee involved. Check the ONSR website for camping regulations and a number to call and ask about overnight floater parking. I usually go through Windy's and have em pick me up at Rymers at a set time when I float from Prongs or Buck Hollow. I dont mind paying for extra time on the water, and I'm not sure that I'd want to leave a car there. If you do, dont leave anything in it. Cheers.

[GloryDaze]

Those two options are two totally different mileage's- One is 9 miles and one is 16 miles!

If you wanted to do 16 miles or so, you could put in at Rymer's and float down to Alley Spring. If you wanted to do less, maybe 9 or so you could do Rymer's to Bay Creek. I just wouldn't feel comfortable leaving all those cars at Bay Creek though. I did this trip last week and when we passed Bay creek there was a huge group of locals drinking, hollering and blaring their music.

As you know, the upper section is just beautiful being in the mountains and all- If it were me I would go from Buck Hollow to Bay Creek and just make sure there were no valuables left in the car.

Harvey's is who we used for the shuttle and he charged my $45 to shuttle from Buck Hollow to Alley Spring

** Not sure if you have seen this mileage map, but it sould help: http://www.missouricanoe.org/river-maps/jacksfork.html

[Al Agnew]

Yeah, I'd forget about putting in at the Prongs, and do Buck Hollow to Bay Creek. From the Prongs to Buck Hollow is really no better and probably not as good scenery as from Buck Hollow on down, and can be more difficult floating if the water is either up (willow jungles) or down (skinny water).

There are no other choices for canoe liveries other than those at Alley Spring.