NW Arkansas paddling spots?

[jimmacha]

Hello - We are Jim & Chris, paddlers from Wisconsin. We own a variety of canoes and kayaks, and enjoy them all. Jim has been doing week-long wilderness trips with brothers-in-law, our kids, neices & nephews, and now grandkids for years, and Chris likes quiet paddles around serene scenic lakes.

We will be in Fayetteville, Arkansas in mid-April visiting some of these relatives. They have single and tandem rec kayaks, and want to do some paddling with us. We'd love to! But they are pretty much green rookies, and have recently moved there from Minneapolis. They've been out a couple of times with the boats, but have not done a bunch of exploring.

Any of you familiar with that country and have some cool destination spots for a couple of hours of paddling? No whitewater, but remote or scenic will be great. Fishing will not be a criteria.

Thanks a lot. Central WI is still frozen over, but Canoecopia ( http://www.canoecopia.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or 1-800-I-PADDLE ), the major paddling expo of the upper Midwest, is just a few weeks away. The paddling itch is really setting in! It will be good to get on the water in the Fayetteville area.

TIA for any suggestions.

cYa, Jim & Chris

[Richard]

You should get several suggestions about Beaver Lake since it is close to Fayetteville and several ACC members live in the area.

BUT! After traveling 800 miles to get here, just a little more driving will put you on the Buffalo. America's first national river. For the most part it is class I. You will miss out if you don't make it a part of your itinerary.
Here is a taste of what it can be like. http://community.webshots.com/slideshow/570003321jgrReA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I came very close to attending Canoecopia this year. Got my Gazette 2009 last week. Darren does a great job putting that event together. Its in my plans for next year.

I hope you have a great visit in Arkansas.

[Bob Stout]

I agree with Richard -- paddling in Arkansas would be incomplete without a few miles on the Buffalo River. Richard's video shows a part of the lower section of the 153 miles of river which flows from the Upper Buffalo Wilderness to the White River. The USGS Gage at the Hwy 14 bridge was reading a couple of inches either side of 5' when we camped that weekend.

Although there are a few mild rapids - with one exception - I would suggest the 8 mile section from Steel Creek Campground to Kyles Landing. It's much more scenic and you would get a chance to walk the "Goat Trail" - a gap in a 500+ foot high bluff at a little over the 300' level above the river, see the highest water-fall (204') in Mid-America (after a short hike, .7mi up Hemmed-in-Hollow), and my personal favorite, a series of waterfalls from a few inches to about 20' high, just off "river left", on the creek that run down Bear Cave Hollow into the Buffalo.

The Rapid at Lick Ford, (it's just a few yards above Bear Cave Hollow) is, I believe, the largest drop between Ponca and the White River. It's easy if you enter the rapid on "river right" - angle across at about 45 deg., and exit the rapid on "river left".

I hope that Richand and my post have encouraged you to paddle the Buffalo while visiting Arkansas.

[mjamja]

How about the Illinois River over in Oklahoma? Seems like there are some outfitters pretty near Fayetteville. I have not paddled it but did run across info when I was looking to paddle in that area.

Can any of you comment on its suitability for them.

Mark

[Fish]

The Illinois would be a good float - it's flat and some pretty neat scenery in Oklahoma, as would the Kings R. in NWA. But if I were coming to Arkansas and and had not done the Buffalo, it would definitely be at the top of the list! This time of year, it's always floatable from Pruitt down, and the rapids down there are mild class 1. Be sure to check gauges for high water (http://www.ozarkpages.com/cgi-bin/stages.pl?ST=level" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) which is common in April. That's true of any Ozark area stream. The closest stretch of the Buffalo to Fayetteville is Ponca to Pruitt, and it will likely have enough water to get down. A little bit bigger rapids there, but if it's low they're generally fine for a rec boat.

Glad you have a chance to come here when the water is running. Have a good one!

- Fish

[Z-yak Davis]

The Illinois is a good float if you catch it out of season, very scenic bluffs and a lot of eagles. Once spring break hits, and through the summer, its pretty crowded and a lot of drinking, cussing, nudity,vomiting, etc. If you take your own boats, you have to stop by one of the outfitters, or the rangers station, which is right on the highway paralleling the river, and buy a permit to float the river. I think its only 3 bucks a day, but you have to wear a rist-band while your on the river. The Buffalo is a much better float, I would drive 3 1/2 more hours for the 1st national river over the Illinios any time.