Meramec River
🏔 Scenic River
Crawford / Franklin Co. · 218 mi · Class I–III
2,790CFS/ 4.72 ft
Optimal↓Falling slowly (-40 cfs/hr)· -60 cfs in 3h
Optimal: 500–3,000 CFS · USGS #07019000
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Optimal
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Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
Meramec State Park · Onondaga Cave State Park · Missouri Scenic River candidate
Missouri's most popular paddling river — 218 miles from the Ozark highlands to the Mississippi near St. Louis. The Meramec flows past Onondaga Cave, through Meramec State Park, and over Class I–III rapids in the upper reaches. Its proximity to St. Louis makes it the gateway river for Ozark paddling.
Trip sections
Meramec Spring to Meramec State Park — 25 mi, Class I–II, spring-fed headwaters
Meramec State Park to Sullivan — 20 mi, Class I–II, cave country
Sullivan to Pacific — 40 mi, Class I, lower valley
Upper Meramec — Steelville to Meramec Spring, 15 mi, Class II–III
Outfitters
Meramec State Park Canoe Rental
Canoe and kayak rentals at the state park, Sullivan
Ozark Outdoors Riverfront Resort
Meramec River float trips, camping, and cabins near Leasburg
72-Hour Flow Forecast
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10-Year Flow Patterns
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Your Optimal Range
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Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.