Canoe Camping

[Tyler Sanford]

What is your favorite canoe camp trip in central AR? I love canoeing and camping, but I've never done any overnight camping trips, and I'm looking to change that. Is anyone willing to share recommendations?

[canoe]

You can't beat the Buffalo. dale

[Half Ton]

You can't beat the Buffalo. dale

[JustinHill]

I've also been looking to do some canoeing camping on the Buffalo. I would love to get out there this weekend but the water levels have been all over the place. I was thinking about doing a one nighter, maybe putting in at Erbie or Ozark and taking out at Hasty. I will have some unexperienced canoers in the group and was wondering what water levels I should be looking for at the Ponca low water bridge to ensure a relatively mild trip. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[cpresoz]

Buffalo definitely. Woolum to Baker Ford, Ozark to Carver, etc.

[cdavis]

I've also been looking to do some canoeing camping on the Buffalo. I would love to get out there this weekend but the water levels have been all over the place. I was thinking about doing a one nighter, maybe putting in at Erbie or Ozark and taking out at Hasty. I will have some unexperienced canoers in the group and was wondering what water levels I should be looking for at the Ponca low water bridge to ensure a relatively mild trip. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

12 to 16 inches air space at the Ponca bridge is good for beginners to intermediate. I too enjoy canoe camping. I paddle a 14' Mohawk solo.

[Tyler Sanford]

Thanks for the advice.

I'm really looking forward to doing the buffalo. Living in Memphis is such a pain to travel so far to find good water, but I know it will be worth it . The Spring river "nearby" can be nice (3 hrs), but I think there is a 90% chance it will be a big drunkfest on Memorial weekend.

Does anyone know how the levels on the Ouachita (Mt Ida/Oden area) are right now? It's important to me that it not be yoohoo, I usually don't have much luck with smallmouth unless the water is crystal.

Also, is anyone familiar with the Fourche river north of Jessieville?

One more thing for all you Pro's out there:
I'm paranoid about overnight camping on private property, I had run-ins with 12 ga, .22, and angry landowners last year. When you plan these trips what is the best way to avoid problems?

The buffalo has surrounding protected land, so it should be safe, but I've had many problems around the Saline river that have made me cautious everywhere now.

[AR-Nimrod]

Ouachita near Mt. Ida is currently 5.15. Should stay in the floatable range thru the weekend. There are several campgrounds on it (private and public). Dragover section is floatable down to 2.75. It would be a little bony but doable.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/uv/?s ... 0065,00060" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOC ... 288894.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

First link is water levels. Second link is FS Campgrounds. There are some private ones too. We have personally used Two Spirits Canoe and Ouachita River Haven. Both fairly nice with good service. Hope this helps.

[fishhomer75]

Crooked creek and south fork of the spring both have camping available on the water. Public on crooked and pay on south fork. And they are two of the best smallmouth streams in the state. They also should be less crowded than most other streams, but who knows on a holiday weekend.

[Deuce]

90% chance of drunkfest on the Spring? Try 120%. Love the South Fork. Great fishing and nice folks at the campground. No gravel bar camping, but it doesn't sound like that's a must for you. Also, if you're looking for a challenging float the South Fork won't scratch that itch. If you have your own boat(s) they'll shuttle you, or of course you can use theirs. There's also really good bank/wade fishing right at the campground, and they don't tolerate any of the Spring River hooliganism. Check this out when you get a chance. Very helpful.
http://southwestpaddler.com/indexAR.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[fishhomer75]

There is also an outfitter on war eagle now. Offers canoes,shuttles, and camping. I have not floated it yet due to all the high water this spring, but have heard great things about it. Hope to hit it up next weekend.

[tomOzarkVideo]

You can't beat the Buffalo. dale

It's AMAZING!!

[Jim Krueger]

I also agree with the opportunities on the Upper Ouachita this weekend! Compared with the Buffalo, Spring, and other streams, the Ouachita will probably feature a lot more solitude. Currently the level is up enough to float any section of the river from Mena to Lake Ouachita... From Pine Ridge to the lake is all within the Ouachita National Forest, so you should be able to camp along the way anywhere it's a good site, good gravel bar, and you like. There are also several established 'formerly' National Forest service maintained camps along the way as well.


Best Regards
jim

[cate the rafter]

We just did the Buffalo a few weekends ago from Ponca to Erbie. We camped at the mouth of a dry creek just upstream of where the trail for Hemmed in Hollow is. The total trip was 15ish miles, it was fun, yet all of the canoes had no problems. We had a few novices that dumped kayaks, but that was it.

[Van]

I agree with Jim on the upper Ouachita, but there is some private land along the river banks. There are 5 or 6 float camps between Pine Ridge and the lake and several outfitters along the river offering camping. Check with the forest service and they have maps of all the old FS float camps.
The water should be great and the Ouachita is one of the rivers where you might not ever see another boat all day except around Dragover.