New whitewater boater

[kschenkel]

Hello all,
I'm new to WW kayaking and haven't run any of the WW Arkansas has to offer. I would like to know which runs I should start out on. I've been down swan creek in Missouri twice, and I know how to roll. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[MaxTexan]

Mulberry is a good starter... usually pretty easy to find someone to paddle with. Stop at Turner's Bend any day that the temps are above freezing and the river is over 2 feet.

Also join ACC and attend the paddling school the first weekend in May.

[BEubanks]

Where are you located? We might offer some additional options that could be closer.

I notice the Dragover section of the upper Ouachita is at a good level. It's class II at best but offers some great features to practice on, AND you don't need another vehicle for shuttle.

[MaxTexan]

The dragover is also a great place to learn...... especially if you are in Ft Smith, Hot Springs areas.

Dragover is where I learned to paddle and then later on the Mulberry.

[kschenkel]

I live in hot springs, I know rockport is close but that sounds more like a play boat spot and i to run a creek or river.

[kschenkel]

What is the name of the campground by the dragover?

[Owl]

The campground at Dragover is called Dragover Campground. It's only open for day use at the current time. See link below.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/ouachita ... 7&actid=43" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Don't discount Rockport as a place to practice and learn skills especially as you live so close to it.

[737driver]

I live in Hot Springs and try to paddle once a week when we have water. 870-243-7101. Text me your name and number and I'll be glad to show some local runs when they are flowing again.

[MaxTexan]

Dragover is a great option for someone in Hot Springs.

Rockport is a great place to practice ferries, eddy turns and other moving water strokes.

[Cowper]

Don't discount Rockport as a place to practice and learn skills especially as you live so close to it.

X2!!!

Don't waste your time at Rockport (unless you want to have a highly advanced learning curve and meet lots of other boaters this summer.).

[BEubanks]

Dragover is about 45 minutes west of Hot Springs, other side of Mt Ida. Anywhere between 3 and 4 ft is a good level for working on skills. There's a good rapid/feature upstream of the campground put in that is good for working ferries and some upstream moves. As you work down stream, there are multiple places for practicing eddy turns, peel outs, ferries, some surfing, and an occasional boof. There is some flat water to contend with, but still a good place to practice skills.

YOu can walk a trail or the road between put in and take out. I recommend the trail. Once you climb the hill going back from the take out, it's level or down hill following a ridge by the river. You can jog it in about 10 minutes.

The Ouachita has a pretty big watershed, so that stretch of river is runnable a lot of times when everything else is too low.

IN case you need some refreshment on the return trip, there's a little cafe in Mt Ida that has a great selection of shakes. I forget the name, but it's on the HOt Springs side of the intersection with the Highway that goes to Norman/Glenwood.

[Deuce]

IN case you need some refreshment on the return trip, there's a little cafe in Mt Ida that has a great selection of shakes. I forget the name, but it's on the HOt Springs side of the intersection with the Highway that goes to Norman/Glenwood.

If it's the one I'm thinking of I can also vouch for the chicken fried steak samich.

[MaxTexan]

I agree that Dragover is best between 3 and 4 feet.

You can get down it as low as 2 to 2.2 feet. Even at that level there are some places to practice basic ww skills. I have paddled it as low as 1.8 feet but I am not sure that the trip was not much more than a float and flat water paddling.

[kschenkel]

Thanks for all the great idea's, I did drive out to dragover yesterday to check it out. It's not to far and its a nice place. Ok I've got another question for you guys. I want to get my brother into ww kayaking but I only have one boat, so does anyone know of a place where you can rent a ww kayak for the day? Near hot springs or an easy run.

[kschenkel]

Thanks for all the great idea's, I did drive out to dragover yesterday to check it out. It's not to far and its a nice place. Ok I've got another question for you guys. I want to get my brother into ww kayaking but I only have one boat, so does anyone know of a place where you can rent a ww kayak for the day? Near hot springs or an easy run.