Paddling near Alley Spring, MO

Alley Spring sits in the Ozark Hills of Shannon County, Missouri, at the edge of Ozark National Scenic Riverways — the first national park unit created to protect a river system. The area is defined by the Jacks Fork River and the Current River: spring-fed, cold, and clear Ozark streams widely regarded as among the finest float rivers in the country. Alley Spring itself is the tenth largest spring in Missouri and pumps enough water into the Jacks Fork that the river below it runs reliably year-round, making the Alley Spring to Eminence stretch the most popular summer float on the river. Canoe and kayak rentals, along with shuttles, are available through several authorized outfitters operating directly on the water.