Saline River - Benton, AR

[daxhaltom]

I am thinking about doing a day float this coming Sunday on the Saline River close to Benton. The info on American Whitewater is vauge at best. Just curious if anyone has any recommendations on a good water level to float this river or any other information about it. As of right now I am thinking of floating the North Fork of the Saline from steel bridge road down to lyle park or possibly to the bridge that crosses I-30. I would also like to try floating the Alum Fork of the Saline sometime as well. I have driven under the bridge there. Thanks for any suggestions or info.

[Roger]

PM Mr. Jim Kreuger aka Moose. He got the skinny and the beta.

[ROBERT GEORGE SCHARNHORST]

i have paddled all the above all the way down to hwy 63 outside of warren. the north fork section is great. alum fork is pretty good, it goes by the bsa camp quapaw, whitch brought back memoes of old times. the section down to I-30 is ok but short. past thier is a little slow amd a lot of hunting clubs and u might see a gater or too down around warren... robert

[cj5752]

Did a float from Peelers Bend to Lyle Park a month or so ago. Was a nice float of about 5 miles with an easy shuttle. First part is a little slower with a couple of good riffles in the middle. I believe about 4.5' on the Benton gauge is about optimal. You can also check with Saline River Canoe Rental for more info.
I may try to float the Saline Monday if the water levels don't work at other places.

[Marlo Krueger]

Dax,

I live right here by the Saline (1/2 mile from Riverside Gro. Access& Saline River Canoe Outfitters)
We floated the Steel Bridge run down to Riverside several times last Summer. I like this float for the fishing and solitude, the run is 'woodsy' and every time I have paddled it there have been from a couple to several logs to portage. Because of this, I like to float it when the level is about 4-4 1/2 feet on the Benton gauge. The trip down to riverside is about 5 miles. If you continue on past Riverside, the N.Fork hits the main Saline about 300 yards further, then about 2 miles to Lyle Park, then another 3miles on to the I-30 access. On the Riverside to I-30 stretch, there are two possible hazards to look for, a low bridge to pass under just where the N. Fork hits the main Saline, then a 3' tall low-head dam at the Benton water works about a mile above I-30. When the Benton Water works structures come into view you can ease up and look at the dam. at 4' I usually run it in the center slot in the dam if I'm in my WW boat, or portage in canoes or rec. boats.
If you don't have a shuttle, I'd sure visit with Mike or Tonya at the SRCanoe Outfitters, they're very nice folks. If you should try the Steel Bridge float you will need to be dropped off as there isn't really any parking there. please let me know if you have any other questions. One of the floats I also like is to be dropped off at The Paul Wright Ford on the Saline and float the 10 miles to Lyle park.

Best Regards
Jim

[daxhaltom]

Thanks for all the input. Depending on the water level Sunday I plan on trying the Steel Bridge to I-30 in my canoe. I will be prepared to portage a few trees and the dam you spoke of. I looked at the dam and the bridge on google earth and it looks like portage shouldnt be too bad. My girlfriend lives in Bryant so I am up that way quite a bit now. If the water will hold through out the summer I would like to try some of the longer floats on the Saline. Also, if I ever catch the water right while I am there i would like to try out Rock Creek in the kayak if I can find someone in Little Rock to run it with.

[Jim Krueger]

Do make a report Dax. Sounds like a good weekend for everyone ,on many streams. the last time I portaged the water works structure, I found the river left side a bit easier.

Jim

[daxhaltom]

Floated the North Fork of the Saline River Sunday. Got on arund 10:00 and got off the river abour 3:45. We put in at the bridge on steel bridge road and floated all the way to the game and fish access at I-30. There still is not a great place to put in your boat at the bridge, but I drove down a driveway on the east side of the bridge and it wasnt to bad getting to the river. There are no parking signs at the bridge so I took a four wheeler trail down under the bridge. I do not recommend this. When we got back there were alot of people parked on the sides right next to the no parking signs so I am gonna assume they dont write many tickets there. River was at about 4.5 when we put on. It was a shallow float but no dragging. We had to get out 4 times for downed trees. No major carrying though. Pushed the canoe under two of the trees amd eas able to pull over the other two. A chainsaw would do quick work to 3 of them, but one of the trees is a giant. All the downed tress were pretty close to the out in. There are no tress from Hwy. 5 down to the confluence of the Alum Fork of the Saline. We continued on to the !-30 bridge. It is mostly flat water. The dam was the only cool spot which we ran right through the middle. At that level there isnt much of a drop. We got a small splash in the open canoe and my gf got a little wet but it was fun. I imagine at lower levels the drop at the dam gets much bigger. Overall great float which i recommend. Next time I will be getting out at Lyle Park or the park next to Hwy. 5.