Find Your
Perfect Float.

Safety — Non-Negotiable

• Life jacket (PFD) for every person Missouri law requires PFDs on the water. Keep them on children and anyone who is not a strong swimmer the entire float — not just at launch.
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• Water shoes — closed toe, secure fit Not flip flops. Ozark gravel bars are sharp and rocky. Flip flops come off in current and float away. You need a shoe that stays on your foot.
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• First aid kit Small waterproof kit. Cuts from gravel bars happen. You may be miles from a road.
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• Sharp knife on a lanyard If rope, a strap, or bungee cord wraps around you in moving water, you need to be able to cut it fast. A compact fixed blade on a neck lanyard is the right tool.
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Sun & Weather Protection

• Mineral sunscreen SPF 50 — apply before you launch River sun is brutal. The water reflects UV from below and there is no shade. Reapply every two hours. Don't forget the backs of your legs — they catch reflection from the bottom of the canoe. Mineral zinc oxide formulas are safer for Ozark waterways than conventional sunscreen.
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• Wide brim hat Get one you don't mind getting wet. Ear and neck protection matters on an all-day float.
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• Polarized sunglasses — floating style Sun reflects hard off moving water all day. Polarized lenses cut glare significantly. Get the floating style so if they go overboard they stay on the surface.
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• Eyeglass retainer strap (if you wear glasses) Prescription glasses and river flips do not go well together. A strap around the back of your head costs a few dollars and saves an expensive problem.
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• Long sleeve rash guard or lightweight shirt Dries fast and eliminates sunburn on shoulders and arms. Fair-skinned floaters swear by this.
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Gear & Securing Your Stuff

• Brightly colored dry bag for phones, keys, wallet Bright colors are easier to spot if it ends up in the water. Double bag your valuables inside — a zip-lock inside the dry bag.
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• Waterproof phone pouch with lanyard You will want your phone out. A hanging pouch keeps it accessible, dry, and attached to you — not floating downstream.
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• Bungee cords with carabiners Use to keep your cooler closed and your dry bags from bouncing overboard. Carabiners let you unclip fast if needed. See the Do Not section for the critical bungee rule.
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• Short lengths of paracord Cut a handful of 1–2 foot pieces before you launch. Use to secure bags, tie down gear, or walk your canoe through a rough section. Also useful for a rope on each end of the canoe if you have kids.
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• Trash bags — pack it out Bring one per canoe. What you carry in, carry out. Outfitters on most Missouri rivers also supply red mesh float trash bags at launch.
• Gorilla tape — small roll in your dry bag The standard field repair for a hull hole on the river. Dry the surface completely, press down firmly on the edges, and it will hold for miles. Experienced floaters carry it always. Also useful for split dry bag seams, broken gear buckles, and a dozen other river emergencies.
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• Extra zip-lock bags (assorted sizes) For snacks, a dry towel, medication, matches, and anything else that needs a second layer of waterproofing. Experienced floaters always have a handful spare.

Food & Water

• More water than you think you need Sun, heat, and physical activity add up fast. Freeze water bottles the night before — they keep food cold and you have cold water as they melt through the day. Gallon jugs work well frozen.
• Easy gravel bar food — no cooking required Hawaiian roll sliders, summer sausage and crackers, grapes, individual chip bags. Freeze your meats before the trip. Double bag everything in zip-locks and put in a sealed container in the cooler. Mozzarella sticks, cheese, and watermelon are Missouri float classics.
• Locking or tightly sealing cooler Bungee it closed so it doesn't pop open if you flip. Do not attach it to the boat — see the Do Not list.

Common Mistakes

• Do not attach your cooler to the boat Bungee your cooler closed — but do not strap it to the canoe or kayak. If you flip and the boat is pinned under water, so is everything attached to it. A free cooler can be retrieved from the riverbed. A strapped one can trap you.
• Do not tie tubes together Tying multiple tubes together makes them nearly impossible to steer and dramatically increases the chance of getting sucked into a strainer — a tree or debris pile where current flows through but you cannot. This is how serious river accidents happen. Keep tubes independent.
• Do not wear flip flops They come off in current and float away. Ozark gravel bars are sharp rock and gravel. Closed-toe water shoes that stay on your foot are non-negotiable.
• Do not bring anything you cannot afford to lose Wedding rings, expensive jewelry, irreplaceable items — leave them at home. Cold water shrinks fingers and rings slip off in current. If you must bring it, tether it or leave it in the car.
• Do not sit on the cooler in a canoe Raises your center of gravity and makes the canoe dangerously unstable. Sit in the seats or on the floor of the boat.
• Do not underestimate the sun Even on overcast days, UV reflects off the water. The backs of your legs burn from canoe reflection. Your part line burns if your hair is braided. The tops of your ears. Apply sunscreen everywhere, reapply every two hours, and wear a hat.

River Safety

• Do not go sideways — backwards is better than sideways Going sideways in current is the single most dangerous position in a canoe or kayak. The water catches the full length of the hull and capsizes you instantly. If you lose control, point the bow or stern downstream and back paddle to slow down. Sideways is how people get pinned on rocks and root wads.
• Do not sit on your life jacket Using it as a seat cushion raises your center of gravity and makes you significantly more likely to tip. It also means you cannot put it on quickly in an emergency. Wear it or stow it where you can reach it in under five seconds.
• Stay away from downed trees and log jams The current near wood debris is deceptively fast and will pull you toward it. Strainers — trees and debris where water flows through but you cannot — are the most serious hazard on Missouri rivers. If you feel unsafe, get out and walk around the obstacle.
• Check river levels and rain forecast before you go Trees wash into rivers after heavy rain and take time to clear. High water after rain is fast, cold, and full of debris. Check the Live River Conditions section above and call your outfitter the morning of your trip.
• Check water quality and fish advisories before you go Not all Missouri rivers are equal. The Big River in St. Francois and Jefferson Counties runs through the Old Lead Belt mining district and carries an active EPA Superfund designation — the Missouri DHSS maintains a Do Not Eat advisory for sunfish, carp, and suckers from that stretch due to lead contamination in the sediment. Dogs and small children who gulp water or put sandy hands in their mouths are at the highest risk. Before choosing a less-known river, check the Missouri Department of Health fish advisory map and the EPA Superfund site list. Spring-fed rivers like the Current, Black, Jacks Fork, and Courtois do not share this risk.
• First time out? Practice somewhere calm first Canoe and kayak handling on moving water is a skill. A group that has never paddled together on a flat lake before showing up on the Current River will have a harder time than they expect. Outfitters see this every weekend.

Pro Tips from Missouri Floaters

• Write your name and number on your phone case If it goes overboard and someone downstream finds it, they can return it. Outfitters see lost phones regularly.
• Freeze your water bottles the night before They replace ice in the cooler, keep food cold longer, and give you cold drinking water as they melt through the day. Gallon jugs frozen solid last all day in summer heat.
• Pack light — everything gets wet and heavy Every item you bring will be wet and twice as heavy at the end of the day. Bring less than you think you need. First-time floaters almost always overpack.
• Distribute food evenly across canoes in a group Pack everyone the same snacks so if boats get separated you don't need to stay together. Makes gravel bar stops more flexible.
• Walkie talkies for large groups Cell service is poor to nonexistent on most Ozark rivers. A pair of waterproof walkie talkies keeps a large group coordinated without relying on signal.
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• Fishing from a kayak? Use a short rod and tether it A 30–36 inch telescopic or ice fishing rod is far easier to manage in a moving kayak than a full-length rod. Slide a 6-inch piece of foam pool noodle onto the handle — it floats if you drop it. Tether the rod to the kayak with a short rope, not a bungee cord. Keep your tackle box latched at all times.