My first question when I heard about the Eleven Point River was why they just did not round down the name to ten. The answer is obvious. The Eleven Point river float trips goes to eleven. If you understand that reference then you have seen the movie Spinal Tap. The name gives the river an extra boost in appeal in my book.
Towering bluffs highlight my Eleven Point River float trips
The Eleven Point National Scenic River
The Eleven Point River is better known as The Eleven Point National Scenic River. Leaving out the national scenic river part is like leaving the “sir” off of a knight. The Eleven Point River is a 138 mile river originating in southern Missouri and flows into the Spring River near Black Rock, Arkansas. Only a 44 mile section of this river is designated wild and scenic, and this is the stretch I paddled through the Mark Twain National Forest.
Selfie by the National Wild and Scenic river section by the access point at Thomasville.
Spring Break Eleven Point River float trips
On a recent spring break outing to Missouri, I decided to see what the Eleven Point River was all about. I have been coming down to paddle the Ozarks National Scenic Riverways for years, but I have always stuck to the Current or the Jacks Fork River.
Related: GoPro canoeing adventure on the Ozarks National Scenic Riverways
Thomasville, Missouri landing
My plan was to put in at Thomasville, and paddle to Riverton and camp two nights on the river. I contacted Hufstedler’s Canoe Rental in Riverton and arranged a shuttle to Thomasville. Their canoe rental is a quarter of a mile walk from the take-out, so I parked my car there. I also arranged for a cabin rental for the night after my river adventure ended.
I spent a lot of time on Day 1 watching the river flow from my campsite in Thomasville.
River levels up
As soon as I was dropped off in Thomasville, I realized that the Eleven Point River had some of the same magic as the Current and Jacks Fork River. The water was crystal clear with golden gravel bars and bluffs and cliffs along the river. The river was quite narrow in Thomasville and resembled the Jacks Fork although water levels were somewhat high and the current had a decent clip to it.
My only river pic from my short lived first day paddle
Early end to day one of the Eleven Point River Float Trips
I paddled around two corners and there was a gorgeous campsite. I had a hectic couple of days getting down to Missouri, which included a second Covid vaccination, so I was a little wore out. Having made the mistake of passing on a good campsite early in the day before, I decided to get off the river early and enjoy the day, the scenery, and relax.
Eleven Point River camp
Eleven Point River float trips camp with a few dead soldiers – Please note – Campground was left cleaner than I found it as I cleaned up all of my trash and some trash from other campers.
Looking back on this decision, I wish I would have paddled about ten miles because the farther you go towards Riverton, the more remote the river is. There were plenty of amazing campsites along the river I paddled past the next day. I only saw one kayak paddle past me while I was at this campsite, so I had tons of solitude, but the river was definitely prettier and wilder as you adventured deeper into the Mark Twain National Forest.
Beautiful gravel bar landing at my first night’s campsite
No regrets though as I enjoyed a beautiful day along the river. I hung a small tarp and sat under and protected myself from the sun and enjoyed one craft beer after another while soaking in the gorgeous day and scenery. Later, I made a campfire and a full moon came up over the river. It was a memorable evening.
Nothing like a full moon to end a beautiful day on the river.
Day two – Eleven Point River Float Trips turns into a paddle like hell
The other drawback to ending my first day so early was I really had to make time and distance the second day. I woke up and got on the river as soon as possible with the intent to put some miles in. It was another really nice day although a little cool.
Beautiful blooming dogwood along the Eleven Point River
One can usually expect a little warmer weather in Missouri in early April, but temperatures were not much warmer than they were in Chicago. There were not leaves on the trees either although a few dogwoods and redbuds had bloomed which provided some color to the bleak forest.
Eleven Point River – My day poling was short lived
Started off poling, but soon sat down
I started off poling, but due to the strong current, I did not feel all that comfortable standing up. Early on, I came around a corner and the whole channel was obstructed by a log jam. Due to the current, I could not reverse and go back the other channel. I just floated into the log jam straight on and was able to pull my canoe over it.
The start of a long day paddling
Changing character of the river
I mentioned the river resembled the Jacks Fork at the beginning, but this changed rather quickly. The river began to build as tributaries and springs entered into the river. The river then became more like the Current and widened out. By the end of the trip, I felt like the flow and width was even bigger than the Current, at least the stretch north of eminence. The most notable reason for this is the addition of 200 gallons of water per day that joins the river at Greer Spring about ten miles into the trip.
Sawed my way through a logjam on the Eleven Point River
Due to the current and semi high water, I had no trouble making up time lost from the early stop the day before. There was one more deadfall that obstructed the river, and I took a half hour sawing through it. After that, the river was clear of logjams. There were many small rapids, but at this water level, I breezed right over them through the standing waves.
This picture from day two shows a much wider river from day one.
Low water bridge – My one Eleven Point River float trips complaint
A few miles before the Greer Bridge, there was a low water bridge at a float camp. I had to portage my canoe and belongs to the other side. Not expecting a portage, this was rather a pain in the ass. It was an unfortunate obstacle on this beautiful river and hindered the experience and was kind of an eyesore.
A big thumbs down and loud boos for the low water bridge near Greer on the Eleven Point River.
Eleven Point River gets an 11 for scenery and remoteness
The rest of the day though was just gorgeous. The river flowed through the Mark Twain National Park. Despite all the miles I traveled on this day, I did not see one human except for two cars going over the Greer Bridge. I did not see one other paddler or one fisherman on the shore.
Amazing bluffs on an amazing day on the Eleven Point River
The scenery was as stunning as the forest was remote. Cliffs as high as the Buffalo River towered over the Eleven Point. My one problem in making time on this day I needed to put in miles was I was stopping to take so many pictures.
The scenery started to gradually improve with small cliffs and kept getting better.
A beautiful spring enters the Eleven Point adding to the gathering flow of the river
A record number of river otters
The wildlife highlight was seeing a record number of otters in one day. I once saw ten river otters on the White River in northern Wisconsin. This new record was partly due to being on the river later than usual. I saw several lone otters feeding as it got near sunset.
Beautiful Eleven Point River cliff face
Related: White River northern Wisconsin adventure
The other reason is I saw ten otters together at once. I was fiddling with my camera when I heard a stampede break out river left. I looked up expecting wild horses. Instead it was otter mayhem with ten running parallel to me on the shore, and they jumped into the river in formation. They frolicked ahead of me as they disappeared around the corner.
The only wildlife I captured was this bald eagle on my phone
Besides otter, I saw a few bald eagles and tons of pileated woodpecker. The night before a beaver was slapping its tail in front of my campsite. It was apparently not pleased with my presence.
Eleven Point River float trips – Camp for night 2
Another campsite and full moon
I finally made camp around 7:30 p.m. I set up my tent and quickly got a fire started. My camp was at the base of a bluff and the moon rose over the bluff making for another incredible Ozark Missouri scene.
Canoe packed for day three of the Eleven Point River float trips adventure
I woke up the next day to a cooler morning. The sun took awhile to rise over the bluffs to warm things up along the river. Its presence was short lived as a cold front rolled through and brought a little rain and the sky clouded over.
Razorback crossing
Since the weather went south, this gave me more of an impetus to head back to the canoe rental and my cabin as quickly as possible. I battled some wind on a few stretches and some rain, so it was not the best paddling day weather.
I heard some movement in the brush to my right coming from the shore. It was a decent sized animal, so I figured it was a deer. To my astonishment, a wild boar appeared in a clearing. I continued downstream, and I heard more rustling from the shoreline and another pig appeared in front of me. This time, the razorback actually got in the water and swam across right in front of the boat. I could have paddled up to it and hit it over the head with a paddle. That was how close it was.
A wild boar swimming the Eleven Point River
I have heard about the legendary Arkansas razorback my whole life, but have never seen one. I have seen a wild boar in the Smoky Mountains, but this was my first Ozark sighting.
Thumbs down on Hufstedler’s cabin
I took out at Riverton and got my car, loaded my canoe, and returned to the cabin. I would not recommend Hufstedler’s Cabin for many reasons. First of all, the scenery from the cabin was pretty decrepit. There was an Amityville Horror type of house that looked like it recently burned, so it was just the hulk of the house. There were canoes and run down buildings all over the property, which was a shame because this setting is right in the National Forest.
Eleven Point River float trips take out at Riverton
Then I could not get the heat to work in my cabin, and it was 50 degrees. I could call them because there was no cell reception and no Wi-Fi (another big downer). Later that night, I drove into town and called, but I could not get a hold of them. I was disappointed because I thought staying at their cabin would be like staying in the great outdoors for another night, but have some amenities, but having no heat and no Wi-Fi really sucked. I recommend their rental and shuttle service, but not the cabins.
Adventure on!
The Eleven Point River float trip looks like a great trip. I am impressed by the abundant wildlife: otters, boars, and bald eagles.
Hello Bryson,
I love paddling through remote stretches of river that go through national forests or any type of protected land. I saw 14 otters and about 4 people in the three days, so that speaks volumes for the amount of wildlife one can see on a canoe camping trip on this stretch.
i have been floating the Eleven Points since 1965. Stopped going about 1990 because of to many people. Looks like you had a
good float. A couple of comments on your post. Greer Spring puts out avg. of 222 MILLION gals of water a day not 200 gals.
Sorry to hear you saw so many otters, while fun to watch they are the worst thing the MO. Conservation Dept has ever done with
the reintroduction. They wreak havoc with the fish in the river.
Also if you let a small thing like a grease rack bridge across what is little more than a creek at that point and the spot where the bulk of the floaters and fisherman put in is just below this bridge become the ruin of your float, when you only have to carry your gear about 15 ft. is absurd. That bridge has been there to allow access to private property on the other side of the river for at least 70 years. Perhaps you prefer to float down the Illinois River closer to home. Hopefully.
Since you seem to have problem with reading comprehension, I will post what I wrote about the bridge once again “My one Eleven Point River float trips complaint
A few miles before the Greer Bridge, there was a low water bridge at a float camp. I had to portage my canoe and belongs to the other side. Not expecting a portage, this was rather a pain in the ass. It was an unfortunate obstacle on this beautiful river and hindered the experience and was kind of an eyesore.”
Tell me where I said it was the ruin of my trip? When you do not expect a portage and you have one, it is a pain because I had all my gear spread out and was unprepared to carry it across a distance. I might come back and paddle it again and the only reason I might is because your stupid ass won’t be there.
I figured I would get that kind of response which is exactly why I wrote it. I wish we could build a wall along the
Mississippi and keep all you DEEP thinkers on the East side of the river. It seems no matter where I run into
someone from Ill particularly the Chicago area and usually north of I-64 you have your noses so far up in the air
that it is amazing you don’t drown when it rains. I have had similar experiences with you self described elitists
from Alaska to S. America and many points in between. I have had many such issues on Mark Twain lake in
NE Mo. It seems your state is so freaking ugly N. of 64 that you can’t wait to cross the state line.
I don’t know how old you are but when you grow up you will be more than welcome most anywhere in Missouri.
Until then why don’t you just keep your butt over on your side of the Mississippi in that screwed up state you
live in. If you were so damn smart you would not be living there and obviously have no friends or you would not
be tripping and floating hours from home by yourself. You probably still live in your mommies basement.
When you make a douche bag comment you will get a douche bag return comment, so you were right to expect it. If you met me in person, I am fairly certain you would like me. If we met in a bar in different circumstances, I would probably like you. I am a teacher in Chicago working with special needs kids. My mom has dementia, and I visit her twice a week in the nursing home. I was on this trip by myself, but visited friends in your state who welcomed me in their home, and hope that I return. I have many paddling friends, but sometimes I choose to paddle by myself.
I absolutely loved every minute I spent in your state. I went fishing on the Current River with a guide who refused payment because he wanted to advertise his service on my blog. We had a great time together. I am glad your hateful comment does not reflect how the majority of the state feels about visitors. It is called the “Show me State” and I feel most in your state are proud of it and want to show people like me what it is about. Despite your less than welcoming sentiments, I will be back.
My initial comment was not meant to be hateful or dumbass etc. It was merely to point out that out of all that beauty you
chose to bitch about the bridge. Most people that are not from that area don’t realize that you are floating on a river that
has only in recent history has been in the National Scenic Waterway status. I was trying to emphasis that the locals who
built and maintain that private bridge were there long before the influx of people once it was taken under the gov. wing.
To be very honest most of them unless they are making dollars off of the floaters would rather it was like it used to be.
I used to float it and see at most 1 jonboat that someone had put in on a pool and was just fishing. That is what I miss
and why I have had to go elsewhere.
As I stated I have had some very irritating experiences with Ill. people such as I fishing a shoreline on Mark Twain moving
along w/trolling motor and had two guys from Ill roar in about 150 ft. in front of me and start toward my boat and procede
to go between us and the shore line we are casting to. That has happened twice there. Sorry for my viperous response
when I saw where you were from. Chicago is not high on my list of places to go particularly now with the way the city is
being run. Sorry to hear of your mothers issues. Best Regards
Thank you in regards to my mom. She will not get any better, but she is in a comfortable place that she likes. I am glad we ended this tiff peacefully. There are always local concerns that often times conflict with tourism, so I get where you are coming from.
Hey traveling Ted!! Would love for you to come to the Arkansas side of 11 point and try our outfitters and stay with us sometime in one of our river side cabins or RVs or even a campsite!!
Trukees.com
Hello Teresa,
Thank you for the comment and the kind offer. I would love to experience the river in Arkansas. Perhaps I can make it down there during my spring break in late March.
Ted, love the breakdown you provided. We are doing the eleven point in April as well and was wondering if you had any GPS files/coordinates of any points of interest? Looking for some places to hammock camp along the way and wanted to see if you had any reports? Thanks!
Hello Jonathan,
I am sorry, but I do not have any GPS files or coordinates to share; however, if you paddle the Thomasville to Riverrton section, I can assure you that you will find many places to pitch a hammock. As far as points of interest, the springs coming into the river are really cool. The scenery of the river is stunning, especially the section through the Mark Twain Forest.
Great float report. Do you have any idea what the river level was (at any USGS water collection point) when you went?
I am sorry Eric, but I did not take note. It was somewhat shallow at the beginning, but a lot of water joined the river. As soon as you start passing the springs, the water level goes up considerably.