Weekend in St. Louis | A Hidden Floating Adventure in Mark Twain

Another Independence Day long weekend 🎆—missed the cheap flights, missed the fireworks, and all the nearby road-trip cities seemed already explored. So, we ended up on a last-minute adventure! �💨 We headed to Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri (about 2.5 hours from St. Louis) for a floating trip along the Current River! 🌊 We chose the route from Pulltite to Round Spring, starting at 11 AM (options for 8 AM & 10 AM are also available—reservations recommended). If you can camp nearby, even better! ⛺ We parked at Round Spring (behind the rental store) and took a shuttle upstream. After a quick safety briefing and some scenic highlights, we set off! �🛶 This stretch is about 9 miles, officially estimated at 5-7 hours, but we finished in 4 hours (with occasional paddling and almost no stops). Most sections are not too deep, and the shallow parts actually flow faster. Overall, it’s more about relaxing in nature than high-speed thrills. 🌿 Pro tip: Download offline Google Maps—otherwise, you won’t even know your "progress bar" on the river! 😅 PS: If you're in a raft, steer carefully—unless you enjoy frequent branch collisions! 🌳💥 Along the way: A hidden spring 🚶‍♂️ (5-min walk from the riverbank, trailhead a few hundred meters after starting, on the right side). Stunning views 📸—the water is refreshingly cool, a perfect escape from the summer heat! ☀️❄️ (But bring plenty of water & snacks!) Post-trip Mexican feast in Rolla 🌮 (Ever since Cancún, I’ve been obsessed with finding good shrimp cocktail 🍤). Boat rental: Carr's Canoe Rental #StLouis #AmericanLife #Floating #RiverAdventure #SummerEscapes #WaterFun #OutdoorLife #StudyInUSA #InternationalStudent #Missouri #MarkTwainForest #CurrentRiver