Missouri Vacation: A Float Trip on the River

It’s no secret that people from Missouri love float trips on the rivers. It is a favorite activity for people of all ages during the summer months. From families to retirees, to college students, know how to have a good time on the river and they live for it. This past summer my son, Clayton and I, had a chance to go and it was one of my very favorite weekends! We went with another family and stayed in a cabin and rented a raft and a kayak for Clayton and his two friends to share throughout the day. There is nothing like chilling on the river and just enjoying the sun and the water.

I booked a cabin at the Huzzah Valley Resort in Steelville, Missouri at the beginning of the year for the weekend after the 4th of July weekend. One thing I have learned from other people is to not book a weekend down at the river during a holiday or three-day weekend, as it will be packed with people from all over. If you book during Labor Day weekend you are stuck trying to find your way around all the college kids looking to drink twice their weight in alcohol and for a good time.

The Huzzah Valley Resort exceeded all expectations and made for a memorable time. Our cabin was not that big, but we did not spend much time there, so it was not too bad. The only thing I would change about our accommodations is that we would get a cabin that has a little more space and one that has two bathrooms instead of just one for all six of us, which included three boys. Thankfully the boys kept the bathroom clean and there were no surprises!

For this trip, I reserved an eight-person raft so that we had more room for the cooler for our lunch and drinks and another bag with the essentials, such as sunscreen, water, and bug spray. I also reserved a kayak that everybody took turns using. None of us had ever used a kayak and didn’t want the kids to get too tired halfway through the trip, however, they loved it, and it is definitely something that we will keep in mind for when we all go again next year. As much as the raft cost, my friends and I think it will be better to rent canoes for the next trip. It gives everybody a chance to do more of their own thing, plus canoes are cheaper.

For this trip, we chose to go to the Huzzah Valley to Scotia for our activity. It takes approximately six to eight hours to complete for rafts, but they have several other options to choose from. One of the best parts of this particular river, was that there were many places to pull up onto and rest. The kids were able to enjoy jumping and swimming in the river and there were many shallow areas around to stand and still be in the water. Clayton and his friends loved the little currents that they could “ride” down and then run back up and go again and again. There were also great spots to pull up onto so that you could eat your packed lunch that we brought with us from home. However, you should leave any glass at home, as they do not allow any kind of glass containers on the river. The resort provides trash bags for you if you rent anything from them. This way there is no trash left along the river and everyone can enjoy the beauty of Missouri without it being spoiled by litter and beer cans. I noticed that everyone that was on the river did a really good job picking up after themselves and making sure there was no trash left behind and that was nice to see.

Float trips will definitely become an annual trip now that I know how to do it. I have never gone on a float trip before and not really being from Missouri, I had no idea what to do. I didn’t know to choose the river, how to rent a raft, canoe, or kayak, or how to get those to the river, or where to stay. I had a cousin mention Huzzah Valley Resort and so that is how I chose this particular place and they made it all very simple. It made me wonder why I thought it would be so difficult unless you grew up knowing how to plan a float trip. Next year we may try a different place to stay and a different river so that we can experience other parts of Missouri.

I hope that you will plan your own float trip here in Missouri and be able to enjoy every minute of it. The best part is that there are no worries. You don’t have to be anywhere at a certain time, and you don’t have to worry about planning activities because the river is the activity. The best part is that you can disconnect from the busy life of cell phones, technology, and the noises of everyday happenings. We all enjoyed each other’s company, played games, made smores, and made memories to last a lifetime!