The Meramec River - Missouri Kayak Camping 4K

[@pringals]

The Huzzah and Courtois Creek are beautiful tributaries to the Meramec near Steelville. I recommend adding these on your list of rivers to float, but avoid weekends. They tend to be crowded on weekends.

[@AVAJourneys]

Outstanding, will do, thanks for the advice!

[@natesambo9759]

I agree, the Courtois was about as clear and secluded as you could want when we floated it.

[@SDeanP]

Lived in Ballwin close to what is now Castlewood State Park, but my grandparents also owned property just a short walk from Dillard and the Huzzah. I grew up very blessed, always had a good-sized creek just a stone's throw away from either house's front door, either creek could take me to a river pretty quickly.. I had my own private world!

[@ombrom.6040]

I love getting out on that beautiful river she is always changing so every fishing kayaking trip has something new

[@terrywilkinsonu2231]

Excellent video! The music, the scenery, and the fall colors made for a great view! From someone who grew up on this stretch of the river I knew I was home!

[@AVAJourneys]

That’s awesome and exactly the feeling we want to bring to folks! We are so pleased you enjoyed it!!!!

[@michaelbertucci1436]

You deserve so many more views, amazing video commentary and footage

[@AVAJourneys]

Thank you so very much!!

[@ShowMeCreeks]

I love our river. Tons of beautiful things to see and fish to catch. Nice job.

[@AVAJourneys]

Thank you! It was a pleasure to float it and film it!!

[@ShowMeCreeks]

@@AVAJourneys I've floated that stretch not to long ago.

[@ombrom.6040]

She's a beautiful river I am hooked on her one of my favorite place to go

[@AVAJourneys]

Indeed! One of our favorites.

[@jefflanham1080]

Nice job! I didn’t realize this river was so incredible ….

[@AVAJourneys]

Thank you!! It’s a fantastic river.

[@pringals]

My happy place. When life gets too heavy, I crave these waters. I nice quiet float is how I refuel my mental tank. Thanks for sharing once again!

[@AVAJourneys]

We feel just the same. We love our rivers!! Thanks for viewing!

[@sherrydaniels5060]

how beautiful is this area! my family is from wv and i thought that state had beautiful scenery but missouri is a close second to hills , forests and rivers . it has been on my bucket list to visit for a few years now and i will get there some day! thanky ou for another great video! looking forward to more.

[@AVAJourneys]

Thank you, Sherry! We're glad you enjoy them! There is so much to see!

[@ShowMeCreeks]

I agree Sherry. I'm from West Virginia also and love it here. Feels like home .

[@sherrydaniels5060]

@@ShowMeCreeks i live in illinois right now but in next couple yrs plant o go back to wv. if not i will check out mo. flat land doesnt do a thing for me.

[@ShowMeCreeks]

daniels unfortunately for me the only time I make it back is a funeral. Nice to meet you. Have a good evening.

[@sherrydaniels5060]

@@ShowMeCreeks nice to have met you too. enjoy rest of your weekend

[@laurierounds7102]

Love, love your videos

[@AVAJourneys]

Thank you so very much!!!!

[@jimparker7778]

Don't be confused by the Meramec! Down near St Louis it's muddy and just another river, but upstream near the springs it's heaven on earth. Be sure to visit.

[@AVAJourneys]

Well said!

[@natesambo9759]

I floated that part of the Meramec with that spring you're showing at around 11:36 into the video. You may already know, but it is apparently called Fishing Spring. This river is really underrated. Its beauty probably deteriorates some as you get closer to St. Louis, but it's a very gentle nice stream between Meramec Springs and all the way to Bourbon, MO area in my experience. I've floated various parts of it 3 times now. I can't say it's as pretty as the Current, Jack's Fork, or Buffalo, but it's still very nice. I just love your videos, just recently stumbled across them because I have gotten into paddling different streams in the past couple years.

[@AVAJourneys]

Thank you! We agree, the Meramec was a pleasant surprise. We would definitely run it again, when the opportunity presents itself. Your comment is very much appreciated!

[@BoneZone]

Nice watching a video like this. Since moving from those areas, I take a trip to see the Missouri river ways every year. Reminds me where I'm from.

[@AVAJourneys]

Thank you! Missouri rivers are definitely incredible. We will be returning to the Eleven Point soon, with far superior cameras.

[@BoneZone]

@@AVAJourneys Bring it on! Looking forward to it.

[@neo24561]

Nice video haven't taken a trip down the meramec in awhile kinda want to again after seeing your video sometimes I forget how great the river I live right next to is. Hope you had a great time and didn't run into any cottonmouths or water snakes.

[@AVAJourneys]

Thank you! Yes, we really enjoyed the trip! Very beautiful, and relaxing, as a whole. You have a nice river near you! Luckily, we didn’t encounter any snakes. Maybe timing of the year was getting cooler and slowing them down?

[@harrissean]

Nice work! What a beautiful place and presentation.

[@AVAJourneys]

Thank you so very much! It was a great run for certain!

[@olladypaddlin8891]

Love your video 💙. One day I’ll paddle that same river

[@AVAJourneys]

We’re glad you enjoyed it. It was a great time out there!

[@flushot6513]

Too cool to have been down same path some one like Jesse James had been

[@AVAJourneys]

Indeed it was. Hearing the story from local Missourians while growing up was interesting to say the least. To hear it told, verses reading about it ..added mystery.

[@bobanderson2250]

Do you know where that stretch is at 15:07? I've done all of what you floated, but in portions and it's been decades since I did anything other than 10 miles of Steeleville and 10 down from Leasburg. The water at the mentioned time looks like a place I want to target Smallmouth Bass.

[@AVAJourneys]

I am so sorry, but it’s been quite some time since that run. We’ve discussed it, but cannot recall that specific section location. I do definitively remember that that river was loaded with fish. I’ll check old raw footage and see if I can isolate a timeline and estimated location. No guaranties though.

[@bobanderson2250]

@@AVAJourneys I understand and appreciate it. You're right, some of the best fishing around is in that stretch. Thanks for the Vid. Watching it got me excited, and ready to do a long one myself. Ideally I'd spend a week on it, start higher than you and finish lower. I've only been saying that most of my life, but really think I may do it this year.

[@AVAJourneys]

@@bobanderson2250 You definitely should! We actually started as high as we could at the time. Right at the Spring. Any higher wasn’t runnable due to water levels.

[@austinfreeman7871]

Beautiful video, my friend! I just moved to St. Louis and was hoping to explore Kayaking in MO. I love kayaking, but have never had a multi-day trip. I'd love to pick your brain on how to plan/prepare for a trip like this. How do you know when the river is right for it? Do you know if there are any Kayak rental options in the area? Too many questions for here lol, but thank you for the video. I'll be watching all your other ones as well!

[@AVAJourneys]

Thank you Austin! Pete Beck (River Kings) and Gatewood Brown both have very helpful videos on that topic. We may film one in the future, now that you mention it.

[@jamesstewart6754]

This river seems too slow but it might just be that time of year. I would suggest the current river just south of Salem. Put in at Baptist Camp and get out at pulltite.

[@AVAJourneys]

You’re correct… It was rather low on this run. But, better than we had expected due to dry weather, though.
We agree with the Current being a great run… you can see a few of our vids there, under different conditions… including winter, and a flood. Also, maybe check out the Jack’s Fork Part 1&2.
Thanks for watching!

[@iowamatt2519]

Great river from the looks of it. Is it safe to say there were no bears in camp on this trip?

[@AVAJourneys]

Yes, lol, no bears! Great to hear from you Matt!

[@ava-brendadillard7131]

LOL...no bears...

[@saltykunt]

What section you are floating would be nice.

[@AVAJourneys]

What is known as the 1st section. Woodson K Woods, near Meramec Springs to Meramec State Park. Roughly 88 miles.

[@gregneal8487]

Where did you put in and end your float trip??

[@AVAJourneys]

We put in at Meramec Springs and took out approximately 64 miles down river near Meramec State Park.

[@bolt4694]

Beautiful, but treacherous around the St. Louis area. This river has claimed may lives over the years.

[@AVAJourneys]

Indeed. For that very reason, we respect all waterways. Thanks for watching!!

[@flushot6513]

There's looks like a woman face in the clouds

[@AVAJourneys]

Interesting, never noticed that 🤔