2 or 3 night July float - Help

[Jeff_L]

I've only floated the 11 Point once and it was early June.  I'm interested in doing a 2 or 3 night (Thursday to Saturday or Sunday) float in late July.  Any recommendations for a stop / start?  More interested in scenery / avoiding congestion / good on river gravel bar campsites than fishing.  I've floated pretty much all the rivers, prefer Upper Buffalo, Upper Jack's, but late July it seems our options are limited to 11 Point, Current, N. Fork (floated many times)???  Any suggestions appreciated.  I assume the river is back to navigable after all the floods, but suggestions on a car ferry service would be helpful also.  Thanks everyone!

[2sheds]

My favorite 3-night summer float is Greer to The Narrows.   Camping at (1) Stinking Pond Float Camp or Horseshoe Bend gravel bar, (2) Boze Mill Float Camp or Connor Spring gravel bar, and (3) Morgan Springs Float camp.  That itinerary leaves plenty of time for fishing (my preference) or playing in the Springs at (1) Turner Mill North, (2) Connor and/or Boze Mill, and (3) Morgan Spring plus an evening hike up to top of the Narrows followed by a dunk into Bathtub of the Gods at the final night Float camp.

Brian in Alton at Eleven Point Canoe can set you up with watercraft and/or shuttle service.

I like to camp at Greer Access the night before floating.  If you arrive with extra daylight that afternoon, you should either hike down to enjoy Greer Spring or else hike from the old mill restoration down the logging road to the old cabins on the spring branch.  Very cool in mid-summer.

[Mark]

See Trip planning thread pinned at top....

Rivers levels should be good. All depends on how many miles you want to cover daily and if you are floating 2 full days or 3 full days. The Greer to Riverton float is 21 miles and the most scenic section but also the most traffic, although traffic is never what I consider congested on the 11 pt except for holidays. The river flattens out below Riverton for a good stretch, but the Narrows area is pretty. Open gravel bars can get scarce so you want to start looking by 5 or 6pm. If you haven't explored the springs on your first trip, I would recommend taking the time - Greer is a hike but worth it, Turner, Boze, Morgan, and the Narrows are all scenic. Lots of firewood!!

Trout fishing was good 2 weeks ago. From Turner access down is White Ribbon - any bait, limit of 4 any size. Throw a line out 30' behind you as you float w/hook and enough sinker to bounce off the bottom and use corn, worms, catch a craydad or seine a few minnows, and you'll likely catch supper. Trout tap it lightly, be ready to set the hook!!

Mike and Wendy Jones at Huffstedlers Canoe Rental at Riverton are good too and down river where you will likely take out. They will shuttle you or your vehicle.

The MDC mile by mile map is useful.

 

[Brian Sloss]

I can get you shuttled on an overnight float, call 417-778-6497.  Greer to Riverton, 20 miles, is good if you move slowly, otherwise, I would go down to 142, 29 miles.

 

[Jeff_L]

Thanks everyone.  Now looking (unfortunately) at a Friday - Sunday trip.  WE have our own kayaks and only camp along the river, not at organized camp sites.  Brian, I will call you.  Hoping we can get there early enough on a Friday to get in the water and camp 2 nights.

[Jeff_L]

I assume the flood rearranged gravel bars, etc.  How are they between Greer and Riverton?

[Ham]

4 hours ago, Jeff_L said:

I assume the flood rearranged gravel bars, etc.  How are they between Greer and Riverton?

Few and far between

[Ham]

Seriously, look at Google maps.

[2sheds]

Jeff,

Significantly fewer gravel bars than you find on the Current.  But there are a few good gravel pile ups along the shore that make nice campsites (inside Horseshoe Bend, across+downstream from Connor Spring), plus some decent Float camps (Stinking Pond, Greenbriar, Bose Mill) that Make for great river camping options.  And if you float a 3rd day down to the Narrows at H142, the Morgan Springs float camp is my favorite with lots to see if you arrive early enough for a hike up to the top of the Narrows followed by a plunge into Morgan Spring back near river level.

[Jeff_L]

Thanks Sheds.  I've looked at Google maps, I've camped on many, many rivers.  The flood rearranged things, so Google maps is not reliable in this instance.  Nothing is a substitute for eyes on the ground.