Which One Is Best For Overnight Float?

[moguy1973]

We are planning an overnight float the weekend after Labor Day. We have a few different floats in mind to do and will be camping on a gravel bar over night on whichever one we do. The 4 we have in mind are:

1. Meramec from Meramec Caverns to Red Horse (18.5mi)

2. Jacks Fork from Alley Spring to Two Rivers (15mi)

3. Big Piney from Boiling Spring to Slabtown (14.2mi)

4. Gasconade from Hazelgreen to Mitschele/Hwy 7 (17.8mi)

We will be shuttling ourselves, and one of our concerns is leaving vehicles at each end overnight, so that is a big consideration.

[Coosa]

I did a three day trip on the big piney last year. The man at boiling springs kept our truck there at boiling springs then brought it to slabtown in the morning of the day we were getting off. We were warned not yo leave a vehicle at slabtown

[moguy1973]

I did a three day trip on the big piney last year. The man at boiling springs kept our truck there at boiling springs then brought it to slabtown in the morning of the day we were getting off. We were warned not yo leave a vehicle at slabtown

I guess that would be an option on both the BP and the JF.

[Al Agnew]

Yep, leaving a vehicle at any public access overnight is always questionable, and it's safer to leave one at a canoe rental/campground. If that's your biggest concern, and perhaps it should be, it narrows your choices to the Piney or Jacks Fork. Of the two, the Piney would probably have fewer people. Either could be good fishing, and both are really nice streams.

You might consider a different stretch of the Meramec or Gasconade, though. There are plenty of choices on the Meramec where there's a canoe rental at one end and/or the other, and there are a couple of canoe rentals on the Gasconade.

[moguy1973]

It's too bad that new campground at Hwy 7 on the G-Nade isn't shuttling yet.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I wouldn't leave my vehicle at hiway 7. If there is adeqate water you might consider ending at Gascondade Hills above Hazelgreen?

[Flysmallie]

I wouldn't leave my vehicle at hiway 7.

We left one there for 2 nights with no problem. Having the new campground right next door made it seem safe. I felt safer about than I did the access at 44.

That's a long ways in two days. But not a bad stretch. Maybe start at 133.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I didn't realize that was where the campground was. Is it immediatly east?

[Flysmallie]

I didn't realize that was where the campground was. Is it immediatly east?

Yep, right next door. We parked up along the fence between the two. Campsites were right on the other side.

[moguy1973]

Might be doing the Meramec stretch. My wonderful wife has volunteered to meet us at Red Horse and drive one of us back to the put in to get my car. That is if we chose to do that float. It would knock off a big chunk of the Meramec that neither of us have floated.