Bryant Creek Paddle
April 13 @ 9:00 am – April 14 @ 4:00 pm (Free – $11.50)
Bryant Creek is a scenic Ozark stream in southern Missouri known for wilderness character, fishing, and paddling. There are springs, creeks, and scenery features such as bluffs, hardwood forests and pine stands. It is a relatively wild stream and provides only slightly less paddling mileage than the North Fork. It has less volume than the North Fork and is more difficult to float because it is narrower and has more obstacles, but it also has some fast riffles.
Camping options: We will be camping at the Vera Cruz Access campground. State Hwy AB, Ava, MO 65608. There is no need to make reservations; first come, first serve.
This is a Class I, sometimes Class II, river.
Class I: Fast-moving water with riffles and small waves; few obstructions, all obvious and easily missed with little training; risk to swimmers is slight; self-rescue is easy.
Class II: Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting; occasional maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium-sized waves are easily missed by trained paddlers; swimmers are seldom injured and group assistance, while helpful, is seldom needed.
Skill level required: Confident Beginner (paddler who has a strong forward stroke, knows other basic strokes, has stamina and skill to finish a 10 to 12-mile river trip, and can maneuver their boat through and around obstacles in moving water.)
Type of boat required: Over 10′ length.
Participants must bring: *
- U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD (life jacket)
- a “pealess” whistle
- If the air or water is chilly, a complete change of clothes in a dry bag (if not wearing a dry suit).
- Water and a snack.
- As we will be base camping, you will need to bring camping gear and food.
* For a list of items to bring that might be helpful for new paddlers, here is a link: Kayaking Gear for Every Trip
How to dress: Appropriate clothing for kayaking. No cotton. If wearing sandals, they should have back straps.
This trip is only for adults over 18 years old.
Please check out the Club Sanctioned Trips forum for additional information as it is posted, or to ask questions or post comments. Club Sanctioned Trip Info & Comments – St. Louis Canoe & Kayak Club
Hazards or difficult sections of water paddled (other hazards may also be encountered on the trip):
Portages, strainers, fast riffles, and obstacles.
Risks involved: Paddlesports and related ACTIVITIES INVOLVE RISKS AND DANGERS OF DAMAGE TO PERSONAL PROPERTY AND SERIOUS BODILY INJURY, INCLUDING PERMANENT DISABILITY, PARALYSIS, AND DEATH. These Risks and dangers may be caused by my own actions or inactions, the actions or inactions of others participating, leading, or helping in the Activity, and the condition in which the Activity takes place, There may be OTHER RISKS AND SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LOSSES either not known to me or not readily foreseeable at this time.
Tip leaders: Shelly Green and Dorine Johnson
To attend this trip/event:
You must reserve a ticket for each person attending (see tickets below).
This provides the trip coordinator with important information for safety and communication and gives the club important information we need for reporting to ACA.
If you purchase a ticket for this trip but decide you cannot attend, PLEASE contact the trip leader to let them know.
- If you are an ACA member, please make sure you have an annual waiver signed on their website and have linked your account with St. Louis Canoe and Kayak Club. You must have re-signed this waiver since January 1, 2026 because they have updated their website. Here are instructions: Linking your ACA account to St. Louis Canoe and Kayak..docx
- If you are not an ACA member (American Canoe Association), you will be asked to sign a paper waiver from ACA at the meet-up location. Here is the waiver to read before attending the trip: aca_waiver__release_of_liab