Looking for recommendations - family trip in mid-July

[rjp]

Hello all,

I'm looking for a family river trip for mid-July. (mom, dad, 3 high school sons). We would have to rent the canoes. Either a multi-day trip where we camp riverside or in a cabin - or - we can do different day trips. Ideally, I'd like a trip with scenery and some small hikes off the river, plus I would prefer to avoid the "party" atmosphere. Perhaps a little fishing - not a requirement, though.

Obviously, with low river levels, our choices are limited, but hopefully this group will have a few recommendations to consider. Thanks.

[Deuce]

Lower Buffy. This fine young man will outfit you. http://www.buffaloriverfloatservice.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[rjp]

Duece, I'll check that out, thanks.

We're traveling from out of state. Any other "must see" or "must do" activities while in Arkansas?

[Clif]

where is out of state? Blanchard Springs. Cave is good to see and excellent on a 100ish degree day, natural ac. Hiking there also. Buffalo point has a trail or 2 worth doin. Rock house is neat.

[RespiratoryMan]

Just 2 weeks ago we floated the upper current river from Cedargrove to Round Springs. Good float trip with very few other people, as it was the middle of the week.

[thebob.com]

If I were you I would NOT subject my family to the drunks & jon boaters present on the Current river on a weekend; particularly on a saturday.
The drunks favorite sections to paddle are from Akers Ferry to Pulltite, and from Pulltite to Round Springs.

Unless of course you want to give your teenage sons a lesson about what not to do, when not to do it, where not to do it, and have multiple, negative examples of drunken, loudmouthed, obscene, "river dorks", readily available as your teaching aides.

Weekdays should be ok.

BOB

[rjp]

Just checking back in to let you know our trip has been postponed to mid-August. (We'll be driving up from the Houston area.)

In response to Bob's note: My two oldest are huge Jimmy Buffett fans, so they've seen firsthand (at two concerts) the effects of too much alcohol.

Thanks to all for your recommendations. I'm looking forward to visiting AR.

[Tim Eubanks]

Make sure you check out the Cossatot Falls, since you will be coming up from Texas. Worth the diversion.

[Richard]

I just finished doing a boy scout White River Adventure. I would recommend repeating what we did with some modifications.
We spent two nights at Red's Landing. There is a chance you will have the whole place to yourself if you are there midweek.
Spend one day and paddle Norfork Dam back to Red's Landing. 12 miles and do not paddle. Fish!
If you want to swim go to Norfork Lake. The White is too cold. It is a world class trout stream.
If you want to do an overnight then paddle from Red's to Allison. 27 miles with an overnight primitive stay at Boswell Shoals. Then one or two nights at Blanchard Springs. Good swimming and hiking. Blanchard Springs Caverns is a must see tour. Do the Discovery Tour if this is your first time. They also have a wild cave tour if you are into caving. I don't think there is a cavern to beat Blanchard.

[rjp]

Hello all,

Just wanted to write up a trip update. Since we ended up traveling in early August, we did the Jacks Fork / Current rivers (on kayaks), staying at a cabin in Eminence (we decided to skip the hassle of camping out). What scenic rivers!

Since we were there during the week, it was not that crowded, nor rowdy. I can only imagine how much better the river is during higher flows. Since we were staying in Eminence, we could stop at our cabin for lunch while floating the Jacks. We also splashed around at Rock Creek Falls on our way out of town.

Turns out that my brother-in-law has done a multi-day canoe trip on the Buffalo, so I'm hoping to float that one in the next few years.

On the way home, we stopped at Blanchard Springs Cavern for the cave tour. We had wanted to do the Wild Cave Tour (crawling while wearing helmets, kneepads, etc.), but I was told by the reservation line that slots were not available for that day. Turns out, that slots were available (no one had signed up for the day we wanted), but that the Park needed 24 hours to arrange a guide for it. So, if you want to do the Wild Cave Tour, call the local number at the Park, not the toll-free number on the website.

Thanks again everyone for your suggestions.