Illinois River - HWY 59 (Oklahoma)

[fettsway]

Has anyone floated the Illinois where they put in at Oklahoma HWY 59 bridge? About 15 or 20 miles down river is where Flint Creek (Kansas, OK) runs into it. I have floated the Illinois River section that starts about 6 to 7 miles above Flint Creek, down to my take out at Flint Creek (actually Fiddlers' Bend). But was wondering what the section further up river was like.

If anyone has info about the Arkansas HWY 59 bridge as a put in, would be interested in getting that feedback as well.

- corey

[Victor Caballeros]

After AR 59 it's slow than you come into Lake Francis. There is a dam there that is about 20 Ft high. You DO NOT WANT TO GO OVER THIS!! You can portage on river right, or you can take river right next to the dam and drop off the falls there they are about 7 to 10 ft high. but I don't remember whats underneath there? If i was you I would put in at OK 59 or Lake Francis and check out the falls and go from there. After OK 59 there is some Class I stuff

[fettsway]

Thanks Victor for the reply.

What is the scenery like when you put in at OK 59 / Lake Francis and go down river?

Also, how far would you saw the float is from AR 59 to the Lake Francis Dam area?

I plan to scout out the Lake Francis area in May and heard that remnants of the former dam were still there.

- corey

[Victor Caballeros]

Quiet Float. Dam is still there. I would check the dam out just don't fall over the side it hurts the water pours over it about 8". The river also breaks off to river right and drops off a 7' ledge this could be ran. Right at the dam would make the prefect locating for a ww park

[fettsway]

can you access the Lake Francis dam area by road/walk off of OK HWY 59?

[Victor Caballeros]

It's senic not compared to Buffalo. There is three ways in. The easiest way for me to explain is take OK 59 south bound cross the bridge and than take the first road on your left go about 1/2 mile and the road T's take a left there that takes you striaght into the bottom of the dam lots of parking easy to drag the boat up to the lake and put-in. You can also take Twin springs Rd?? but the guy that owns the land charges $5.00 to park. this is where the 7' to 10' ledge nicer to put chairs and fish