ADVENTURE OUTDOORS, has been working in the river rafting, camping industry for Ten years now. We hope you enjoy the river as much as we do. We are happy to offer you an unforgettable outdoor experience with people from around the world. If this is going to be your first float, don’t be shy, if you have any questions, please ask for canoe &paddle instructions. This might sound silly but – yes, you must paddle on these floats. If you just drift you will not get until very late in the evening. We like to ask that our guests be in before dark. And if you have young children and are wanting to float, I would like to suggest trying a raft. This way you will not have to worry about flipping and we will feel better knowing your children will be safe on the water. Rafts have tubular cylinders that are made for sitting on and also reduce the stress on the bottom of the rafts. In Missouri there must be a floatation device for each person in your craft. Children seven years old and under must wear a floatation jacket or vest at all times. Safety is very important to us at Adventure Outdoors, and we want to make sure that you, your family and friends have a safe and enjoyable float. Some people while under the influence of alcohol forget about safety. Please! NEVER dive into the river, without checking to see how deep the water is and that there are no rocks below the surface. Everyone enjoys stopping at the sand bars along the way, but try and remember to allow for time to swim, eat and rest. Floating times vary according to the type of boat, river conditions, and how hard you paddle. The upper float is a 9 mile float and is estimated to take Canoes 5.5 hours and rafts 7 hours. The 6 MILE float is estimated for Canoes to take 4.5 hours, rafts 5.5 hours (add extra time for frequent stops). When stopping at Sand Bars please respect that there is private property along the river. Some places have been marked with purple spray paint on their trees letting you know to stay off. Also, this float is a trophy trout and trophy Small mouth management area and you will see fishermen, so please be polite, and don’t cross over their lines.
Clean Stream works hard to keep this river unpolluted, so always clean up by using your litter bags we supplied you with. Don’t TIE Multiple Boats Together! Try to avoid other boats and obstructions in the water, if a collision is going to occur and you want to avoid tipping, grasp the sides of your craft and use your weight and attempt to keep the boat upright. If your canoe should tip, don’t try to swim against the current, go with the current and try and avoid snags and log-jams. If you see something you are unable to miss with your canoe, we suggest getting out and walking it around the problem area, so that to avoid turning over. A lot of people lose their glasses, cell phones and gear on floats, so we would like to suggest using a strap for your glasses that you can purchase a tour store. Keep your gear, cell phone in water tight containers that are firmly attached to your craft.
Always Lock valuables in car out of sight. Unfortunately, many people lose their keys on floats. To avoid having to wait on a locksmith – see the office and we will be happy to hold onto your keys till you return from your float. The weather can change very quickly sometimes, so it is a good idea to always bring something warm to wear and a rain poncho. Also an extra change of clothing if you should get wet. Be sure to get off of the water during storms with lightening and try and take cover.
And remember, just because the news channels forecast for rain, give us a call-because sometimes when it is raining in St. Louis, it has totally missed us and the sun is shining!
