Visiting Arkasas Sept 4 to 8 and want to paddle

[Rick]

Hello, my wife and I are going to be visiting in Hot Springs Arkasas on Sept 4 through 8 and we are hoping we could hook up with some local folks to do some Kayaking. We will have all personal gear but would need to borrow or rent a couple of boats. Interested in doing some easy 2+ or 3- and explore an Arkansas river or two. Any advice on where to get gear appreciated. We wont have a rack but can carry people on a shuttle. We are experienced Kayakers and Rafters from California. If you think you could meet up with us while we are out it would be great!
Thanks,
Rick & Cindy

[Mike B]

Rick,

You probably haven't had much response because everyone is actually out paddling some rare August water. Almost everything in Arkansas is rain dependent. Hot Springs is a good place to be if you are able to get out and catch some water. There is a local play spot known as Rockport about 20 miles from Hot Springs. It is dam controlled and likely to be running. There is also a nice scenic 6 -7 mile class I float down to Rockport. You may be able to arrange for a demo boat from Ouachita Outdoor Oufitters to use at the ledge. Unfortunatly no one really "rents" whitewater kayaks in Arkansas. There are several places that rent canoes and if you just want scenery that may be a good option.

I will be out of town Sept. 6 - 8 and will not personally be able to help you. I will let you borrow two kayaks if you can find someone to hook-up with / guide you and get the boats to you from Conway (90 miles). If it's a rainy week and we have water it shouldn't be too hard to find some new friends. If conditions look good as the date approaches get in contact with me and others on the board.

The boats would be a Jackson 4 Fun and a Jackson Rocker.

Look here for creek info and gauges http://www.ozarkpages.com/cgi-bin/stages.pl?ST=level" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Some good rivers would be Little Missouri (II-III), Cossatot (II-III/IV), Dragover (I-II, Ouachita River, shuttle can be walked), Caddo (I-II), South Fourche Lafave (II), and Rockport (play, class II ?), Cadron Creek (II). These are all within 2 hours of Hot Springs.

Good luck, I hope you bring some rain with you.

[Lifejacket]

Rick,

Unfortunatly no one really "rents" whitewater kayaks in Arkansas. There are several places that rent canoes and if you just want scenery that may be a good option.

Some good rivers would be Little Missouri (II-III), Cossatot (II-III/IV), Dragover (I-II, Ouachita River, shuttle can be walked), Caddo (I-II), South Fourche Lafave (II), and Rockport (play, class II ?), Cadron Creek (II). These are all within 2 hours of Hot Springs.

Good luck, I hope you bring some rain with you.

You can rent set-on-tops form http://www.caddoriver.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; , great people too. Other than that might be able to find renters up at dragover. Best bet if anythings running is bumming boats for Little MO, my personal favorite or Cossatot.

[Rick]

Mike,
Thanks for the information. I will make contact with the Outdoor center and see about demoing a couple of boats and thank you for your generous offer for the use of your boats. I will keep an eye on the gauges this week before we leave & while on the road. I am hoping to get some kind of contact information for some paddlers out there so I can get in touch when we are there but sounds like the Outdoor center again may be a good place to hook up?
If your ok with it I would like to call you discuss a bit more. My direct email address is RPatrinellis@hughes.net if you want to send me a note with your # & I can give you a call.

I really appreciate the information, too bad you are not available that week, would have liked to hook up with you for some paddling

Rick

[Rick]

Rick,

Unfortunatly no one really "rents" whitewater kayaks in Arkansas. There are several places that rent canoes and if you just want scenery that may be a good option.

Some good rivers would be Little Missouri (II-III), Cossatot (II-III/IV), Dragover (I-II, Ouachita River, shuttle can be walked), Caddo (I-II), South Fourche Lafave (II), and Rockport (play, class II ?), Cadron Creek (II). These are all within 2 hours of Hot Springs.

Good luck, I hope you bring some rain with you.

You can rent set-on-tops form http://www.caddoriver.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; , great people too. Other than that might be able to find renters up at dragover. Best bet if anythings running is bumming boats for Little MO, my personal favorite or Cossatot.

Thanks, I contacted the outfitter "caddoriver" and if nothing else we can rent sit on tops from them but at least we can get on the water. that could work for at least one day while we are in Hot springs.. I realized that on the way to hot springs we will be going right by Cadron Cr. This will be on Sept 4th. I am wondering if anyone might be up for paddling that with us then?

Rick

[Roger]

Rick,

Unfortunatly no one really "rents" whitewater kayaks in Arkansas. There are several places that rent canoes and if you just want scenery that may be a good option.

Some good rivers would be Little Missouri (II-III), Cossatot (II-III/IV), Dragover (I-II, Ouachita River, shuttle can be walked), Caddo (I-II), South Fourche Lafave (II), and Rockport (play, class II ?), Cadron Creek (II). These are all within 2 hours of Hot Springs.

Good luck, I hope you bring some rain with you.

You can rent set-on-tops form http://www.caddoriver.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; , great people too. Other than that might be able to find renters up at dragover. Best bet if anythings running is bumming boats for Little MO, my personal favorite or Cossatot.

Rick, if the creek is running, you can probably get a tandem or a sit-on at Cadron Creek Outfitters there at the put-in. Or if you will return it, I got an old Mohole (Bluehole knockoff) beater that you could use. We would need to make arrangements for you drop it off with someone around the area that knows me. Check your private messages.

Thanks, I contacted the outfitter "caddoriver" and if nothing else we can rent sit on tops from them but at least we can get on the water. that could work for at least one day while we are in Hot springs.. I realized that on the way to hot springs we will be going right by Cadron Cr. This will be on Sept 4th. I am wondering if anyone might be up for paddling that with us then?

Rick

[Lupe]

Hey Rick -

Like Mike said - just about everything whitewater here is rain dependent. That there has been whitewater on free flowing rivers in August is a very rare event. We would need to get more rain over the next week even for the Cadron to still be running on Sept 4. For the most part, whitewater plans here really have to be made spur of the moment. So there might be some folks who would meet you for a Cadron run, maybe even loan you some boats and gear, but probably we won't know until Sept 1, 2 or 3rd if the Cadron will even be running.

Here's a good overview of the gauges in the state: http://www.ozarkpages.com/cgi-bin/stages.pl?ST=level" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The Cadron is up right now (again - very rare!), but it will drop out by Sept 4 without more rain. If you can check the gauges again closer to your trip or post again then, you might have better luck. I, too, will be out of town during that time...

I normally would have said you have almost no chance of catching a free flowing ww river in Arkansas first week in September, but this has been one wacky (and wet) year, so maybe you'll get lucky after all!

[Rick]

Hey Rick -

Like Mike said - just about everything whitewater here is rain dependent. That there has been whitewater on free flowing rivers in August is a very rare event. We would need to get more rain over the next week even for the Cadron to still be running on Sept 4. For the most part, whitewater plans here really have to be made spur of the moment. So there might be some folks who would meet you for a Cadron run, maybe even loan you some boats and gear, but probably we won't know until Sept 1, 2 or 3rd if the Cadron will even be running.

Here's a good overview of the gauges in the state: http://www.ozarkpages.com/cgi-bin/stages.pl?ST=level" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The Cadron is up right now (again - very rare!), but it will drop out by Sept 4 without more rain. If you can check the gauges again closer to your trip or post again then, you might have better luck. I, too, will be out of town during that time...

I normally would have said you have almost no chance of catching a free flowing ww river in Arkansas first week in September, but this has been one wacky (and wet) year, so maybe you'll get lucky after all!

Lupe,
Thanks for the reply. So it looks like it will be very hit or miss as to whether or not there will be water though I will try and bring some with me! I wont have a laptop on the trip but we have a web enabled phone so hopefully I can check in on the website as we get close! I remain optimistic. Thanks again all that replied! Much obliged.

[pacorollo]

Hey, Rick. If water's up at Cadron on your trip, phone for Cadron Creek Outfitters is 501-679-5050. He has canoes and some kayaks; I think I saw a couple of play boats too. Has a good place to put in, too-$3 bucks a boat plus $3 a person.

Paco

[Rick]

Paco,
Thanks for the contact information.. I am starting to feel like we may have a couple of options if only the rain will come. If there is water on the 4th Cindy and I will be at cadron creek outfitters on our way to hot springs. I hope some of the ACC club members will be there to join us and that would make it all the better! Think rain!
In the words of a friend,
"Life is short so paddle hard"

Rick