The Current is the longer and more reliable of the two rivers in the park. Fed by Welch, Pulltite, Round, Big and a string of smaller springs, it keeps a paddleable flow even at the end of dry summers when most Midwestern rivers run shallow.
The most popular floats are Akers to Pulltite (10 miles, easy day trip), Pulltite to Round Spring (19 miles, two-day overnight), and Round Spring to Two Rivers (16 miles, popular weekend). Outfitters at every put-in rent canoes, kayaks, rafts, and inner tubes, and run shuttles. The river is class I almost throughout — gentle current, the occasional riffle, no real rapids.
Camping is allowed on the gravel bars of the river under permit, which is a large part of the appeal. You float, you cook on a fire, you sleep on the rocks. Black bears are uncommon but present — hang your food. Float-by-tube crowds turn the busy stretches into a party on summer weekends; for quiet, paddle midweek or in shoulder season.