Missouri whitewater, Big River St. Francois Washington Jefferson county, From Highway 67 section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.   CLASS I     73 miles   The beautiful scenery of Missouri and the water flowing gracefully down Big River have people coming here. This stretch of Big River in St. Francois Washington Jefferson County is 73 miles long and it is classified as a class I section by American Whitewater. If you've been whitewater rafting and kayaking outside Missouri you might find the rivers here a bit more manageable, so if you're visiting here do keep in mind that many runs in     this state are very easy. The campgrounds here at Big River are pretty good. A stretch this long is of course too much for a one day trip, so it looks like you will be camping out. The From Highway 67 section is the only paddling section along Big River. The nearby hotels are a bit away from the river, but do book a room before you come because it is a very popular destination. Briefly about the general area: