Labor Day weekend Saturday and Sunday Spring River shuttle.

[tomOzarkVideo]

We will be staying at southfork on Fri, Sat, & Sunday. Floating on Sat and Sun.

I have a van that can carry MANY kayaks.

Who's going to the Spring??

[teampaulsen]

We are interested in tagging along. We're coming down from Kansas City and would be getting in late to pitch camp. What time are you heading out in the morning?

[tomOzarkVideo]

We're usually pretty flexible as far as put-in time.

Do you know the river?
My main concern at this point is that I've never been to the Spring before. I don't know the shuttles or the runs. (I want to take the most challenging run possible.)

If not, we may take the Southfork camp shuttle ($$ Yikes!) on Saturday to get a feel for the access points and roads around the river as well as the run.

What days are you floating?

[teampaulsen]

We'll be canoeing/kayaking Saturday and Sunday. Can you give us a call?

[Wildwood]

Hey Guys,
I'm heading back to Saddler Falls/Deadman's Curve for a fun time Friday & Saturday. I think the best part of the river is right there at the falls & curve. If y'all haven't been to the Spring, you oughta put in at DAM #3 and take out at Spring River Oaks or Many Islands. It gets slower past that point. Fewer drops, but higher, perhaps. Best place to stay is Riverside Resort. They still had camper cabins available yesterday.

See ya there?

Jan

[teampaulsen]

Jan,

Would you guys be willing to coordinate drop-offs and pick-ups with us so we don't have to pay Riverside the portage/shuttle fees?

[Wildwood]

I'll see what we can do. My son is going with me. We are going to be watching carnage at the falls, not sure how much floating we will do. We floated Monday. Jay swam at Dead Man's Curve, so now he wants to watch other people flip over, and that's the best place. Just stay in touch. We are heading up Friday morning, probably float Friday, as the wild bunch is more likely on Saturday.

Have you watched much Spring River carnage on YouTube? If not, I can give you several classics.

Jan

[nike54_la]

Boyfriend and I, along with two others are planning a trip up that way, too. Anyone know of a place that might still have kayaks avilable? Boyfriend and I have our own, but we need two for the other couple coming with us.

[teampaulsen]

We will be in a canoe and our son will be in a kayak. Have not seen the carnage videos. We thought this would be a family environment not a party one.

[tomOzarkVideo]

Paulsen.. The spring is the most infamous party river in AR.
half naked, drunk, loud and crowded. especially on labor day.

[Jim Krueger]

Paulsen,

It will certainly be a big weekend on the Spring, and everywhere else. I think you can have a good trip on Saturday if you make arrangements to get an early start!, be at the put-in by 8:30 or so and you should have less parking/unloading hassel than later in the morning. In addition, the rapids should be uncrowded as you get to each one along the way.
If you float again on Sunday, you can start even later in the morning as most of the floaters from Saturday will not be up for a second day, from my experience. Still, start by 9 or 10 am to keep from getting too hot or sunburned Have a great weekend!

Jim

[Wildwood]

Mid week it's fine for families. Weekends, especially holidays, there are hundreds of metal canoes, lots of drunks, nudity (mostly topless women), and lots of rafts.

Catch YouTube CAPTAIN ALEVE SPRING RIVER, ARK 2005 for a good idea of the crowds. Or any of the Howard's Party vids.

I'm going for crowd/carnage watching as much as for floating. I may float tomorrow, but Saturday I'll be hanging out at Dead Man's Curve out of the way of all those metal canoes.

Jan