2023 Pulltite to Round Spring Gravel Bar Survey

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I have been wanting to document all of the gravel bars on the river for some time.  I know that these will change with time and I will update changes every 2 to 3 years.   This is the 3rd section that I surveyed and it was done in July 2023 (Pulltite Spring to Round Spring - 9 miles).   On the normal 4-5 hour float it took me 8+ hours to document them all.   I found 32 gravel bars along this stretch and I ranked them 1-10, with 10 being the best end of the scale.   The bars are labeled by two sets of numbers and 2 letters.  The first number set is the year surveyed and the second number set is the order at which they come while going down river.  The 2 letters on the end of the 2nd number set is the location (i.e.  PR means Pulltite to Round Spring, AR means Akers to Pulltite, CA means Cedar Grove to Akers).  Some higher ranked bars will be given a name that I will denote, since I feel they are worthy of more than just a number, but also a name too.  I do not list any bars that are less than 10' wide, since I don't feel they are worthy for any extended stay.   Also, the composition of the bars can vary from gravel, rock (which is larger), sand, dirt or grass.  The one that I put first in order is the main content, and lesser will be after (i.e.  Rock/Gravel/Sand vs. Sand/Gravel/Rock).  All of my stop times have been taken out of the below data, so what I state floating minutes that denotes how many minutes on the average the bar is located if you were to drift/paddle without any stops from the put in point.  On this trip I drifted about 70% of the time and paddled about 30% of the time.   I know the rivers will change every year, so I will update this data accordingly every 2 to 3 years.  This stretch is a 9 mile float and you will average 2.5 miles per hour + stops in a canoe.   Kayaks a bit faster and rafts a bit slower.  The best outitter for this 9 mile stretch is  Carrs Canoe Rental at Round Spring.    If you are going to Two Rivers, then Two Rivers Canoe Rental.  Always try to leave your vehicle at your take out spot for the best convenience.

About 21 minutes after pushing off from the Pulltite landing and drifting down river without paddling you will come to where Pulltite Spring floats into the Current River on the right (Video).  To access this location rom the campground by foot you will need to walk to the very south of the group campsites area and cross the river and walk a little further south through the water to catch the foot trail that parallels the spring branch up to it.

Bar on the left which is ~26 floating minutes from the Pulltite put in.    Size=200 long x 25' deep, partly shaded, Composition=Gravel, Rank=3

Spring gushing from bluff on right ~27 floating minutes from the Pulltite put in and about 1 minute past last gravel bar (VIDEO).

Spring water bubbling up from the ground in the river on the right about 1 minute past Fire Hydrant Spring. (VIDEO)

Quiet, slow & peaceful stretch

Gravel Bar on left ~32 floating minutes from Pulltite.   Size=100 long x 10' deep.  Cleared wooded area, flat above it where you can tent or hammock camp.  Deep hole in front.  Rank=5, but would have given it a 7 if there wasn't so much TP on the ground.

Island  ~37 floating minutes from Pulltite.   Size=1000' long x50' deep, Center has cleared gravel area, slightly raised for campsite.  Island is 70% covered with plant life.  Rank=4.

Bar on theright ~40 floating minutes from Pulttite.   Size=1000 long x 50' deep, Covered in plant life.  Rank = 1

Bar on the left ~41 floating minutes from Pulltite.   Size=200 long x 25' deep. Nice upper area campsite 50x50'.   Shaded.  Current in front.  Rank=8  PHOTO1 - PHOTO 2

Gravel bar across from last gravel bar with Boyd's Creek next to it.   Gravel bar is 50x50' and has upper area too.  Telephone pole & line crosses river here.  I would not camp here if rain is forecast.  Rank = 3

Sand bar on the left ~58 floating minutes from Pulltite.   Small opening opens to 25x25' sandy, shaded area that looks like an old country road no really used.  On the other side of the river the old road continues.  Rank = 3.

Boyd's Hollow Gravel Bar on the right ~1 hour and 1 floating minutes from Pulltite.   Size=500 long x 50' deep, Deep hole in front with boulders in the river.  Bluff.   Private cabin just through the woods for rent as an AirBNB.   (details). Rental is on private land, but gravel bar on Ozark Natinal Scenic Riverways land.    ---  Aerial View -   Rank=7

Gravel bar on the left ~1 hour and 2 floating minutes from Pulltite.   Size=2000 long x 50' deep, 50% plant life, middle section has campsite area.  Rank=4.

Rock bar on right ~ 1 hour and 13 floating minutes from Pulltite.  Size = 50x50'.  Rank=1.

Rock bar on left ~1 hour and 20 floating minutes from Pulltite.  Size= 25 x 25' deep, Deep hole just below, then around bend on same bar another 25x25' bar in front of deep hole.   Rank=1

Rock island~1 hour and 24 floating minutes from Pulltite.  Size= 300 long x 25' deep, Rank=1 

2 minutes past island.

Cute small shaded 25x25' sand bar on left ~1 hour and 30 floating minutes from Pulltite.  Current in front, deep hole just below.   Rank=5  PHOTO 1 - PHOTO 2

Rock/gravel Bar mainly to left ~1 hour and 32 floating minutes from Pulltite  Size= 500 long x 100' deep Rank=1

Rock/gravel Bar on left ~1 hour and 33 floating minutes from Pulltitte.  Size= 50 long x 15' deep, Phone line crosses river here.

.Just after gravel bar there is a house on the right (PHOTO) with a wet weather creek next to it.   Good rapids just after.  

Gravel bar  ~1 hour and 34 floating minutes from Pulltite.  Size=100x25' with shade right in front of good rapids.   Big bluff across from it on lower portion of bar.  Very enjoyable spot.   RANK=8  PHOT0 1- PHOTO 2

Gravel bar on right ~1 hour and 41 floating minutes from Pulltite.  Size= 1000 long x 50' deep, Sporadic plant life.  Best portion is on southern edge.  Rank=4 

Gravel Bar on right  ~2 hours and 7 floating minutes from Pulltite.  Size= 500 long x 15' deep,  Rank=2

Gravel/rock bar on left  ~2 hours and 10 floating minute from Pulltite.  Size= 300 long x 100' deep,  Rank=2

Extension of same gravel Bar on left  ~2 hours and 12 floating minute from Pulltite.  Size= 200 long x 50' deep, Rank=2

~2 hours and 20 floating minute from Pulltite put in is a big wooded island.  Go  right and near the end is a cute little 25x25' sand/gravel spot with shade on the left .  Rank=5   PHOTO

Gravel Bar on left at river bend to the left  ~2 hours and 28 floating minute from Pulltite put in.  Size= Small 200 long x 25' deep, Current in front of bar and cave directly across the river on right.   This cave (also called Merritt Rock or Little Gem Cave) is closed to access and fines have been given by the park service for entering.   Don't do it.   You can however hear a waterfall in the back of the cave when listening from the entrance opening.   This in my opinion is the last great stop before ending at round spring.  PHOTO 1 - PHOTO 2

After leaving the waterfall cave gravel bar stop you will see off in the distance on a hill top the Shannondale fire tower lookout.

Gravel/rock Bar on left  ~2 hours and 41 floating minute from Pulltite.  Size= 100 long x 50' deepRank=1.  At this point you will start hearing vehicle sounds from the Sinking Creek bridge that is about 17 more minutes down river.

Gravel Bar on right ~2 hours and 50 floating minute from Pulltite.  Size= 200 long x 50' deep, Rannk=2

Large gravel bar on left  ~2 hours and 58 floating minutes from Pulltite called the Sinking Creek Primitive Campground.  The WARM waters of Sinking creek flows into the COLD water of current river on the left just past this gravel bar.   Where the 2 meet is the transition zone in the water and worth checking out with a dip.

Gravel bar and wet weather creek on right @ ~3 hours and 9 floating minute from Pulltite.  Size= 100 long x 50' deep, You will  hear the sounds of Round Spring bridge where it crosses the Current River from this point on.  Rank=3

About  minute past last gravel bar.

Rock Bar on left  ~3 hours and 15 floating minute from Pulltite.  Size= 25 long x 25' deep, RANK=1