Access to and floating on Dry Fork of Upper Meramec???

[Conor]

Well, the only thing better than the Dry Fork is the Little Dry Fork.  We put in Sunday on the Little Dry Fork not far from Rolla.  We were dropped off at the easternmost and most downstream crossing on County Road 3000 near where it runs into County Road 3220.

The scenery is great from the start and you pass through scenic sandstone canyons on the way to the Dry Fork which has the same scenery on a grander scale, then proceeded to the take out at Boys Town.

I have found several access points farther up.  I feel that the western crossing of CR 3000 at the old WPA bridge would give you access to the remaining best scenery and topography based on the maps although one can tell it just gets more rugged as you drop farther through the watershed towards the Dry Fork.  There are signs and houses here as well so would need to be dropped off.  This is a higher bridge so hopefully could stay on road right of way.

There are more numerous high water access points up in the city limits of Rolla and nearby.  Some are in city parks near public walking trails that follow the tributaries of the Little Dry Fork.  I have lived in Rolla for years and it is like a new connection has been made.  These creeks drain much of the City of Rolla, especially the eastern and southern portions of the city.  I drive over them daily and now look at them in a new way.  I think the best high water access for something that isn't too crazy would be the Acorn Trail Parking at Deible Branch where it crosses Hwy O heading south out of Rolla.  The other issue is adding miles.  Both these trips were about 21 miles already so getting out before Boys Town is almost required.  I think I could gain private property access near Hwy 8 which would cut off 3 miles at the bottom.  There is also the possibility of getting picked up since this is near town and cell phone reception is good.  You could call for a ride before you reach the end.  Possibilities for this include the slab on CR 3000 near 3220 where we started or the CR 3410 "Pink Bridge" although that one is higher and the surrounding landscape is plastered with signs and purple.

There was some trash in this stream but I would say it is overall very clean considering that this drains heavily populated areas with residential neighborhoods, businesses, and major roadways.  You usually deal with lots and lots of trash in the river when you get near a city but this wasn't bad at all.  I am used to seeing the Bourbeuse near Union and the Big River.  The Big River is unfortunately a special case when it comes to trash.  The entire thing has a decent amount but the lower 30 miles or so is the worst.

I also found several Youtube videos of a guy kayaking these urban creeks through Rolla in flash flood conditions.  Yes, there is real whitewater in the city limits of Rolla!

Conor