Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

Was looking at possibly exploring Big Creek and wondered if anybody might be able to give a little insight into the run, the watershed, and directions.

Thanks,
Sharon

Sharon, I take it you're talking about Big Creek in Cleburne County? If so, I live near it but it not's run too much and there could be some access issues depending on where you put in. Take out is sketchy as the area around the bridge is grown up and on private land. Based on information from a friend who has done it, well, he's never done it since. Let me know if you want some more info. Tom Kennon's book includes this run if you have it.

Or are you talking Big Creek in Newton County? Dale

I love this game, is it big creek on the North Carolina-Tennessee Border?

Sorry for not being specific. I meant the one in Cleburne County. I saw it in the Ozark Whitewater book, but couldn't figure why I had never heard it mentioned before. I guess "access issues" solves that mystery.

There is one bridge on a county road between Floral and Wilburn that you can access. Not sure what the distance is from there to the bridge on McJester Road. Can also access through the Big Creek Nature area hiking trail. Probably got a 3/8 mile walk to the creek from the parking area, Not sure of distance from there to bridge.

I think the access that Kennon uses is gated by landowners-corporations/county on the roads. Was a big party place evidently. Kim has a bit more info on that one.

Access at the bridge is grown-up and steep with not a lot of eddy space to get out plus the private property issue. Just looked at a house (we're in the market) with creek-front property about fifty yards down from the bridge!!!

Not saying it can't be done, it's just not a lot of action on the stream. Can see most of the stuff from the bluff not far from the house.

A paper/timber company gated the low-water bridge, much to the consternation of locals, who have used the road for generations. I know at least one Quorum Court candidate was trying to get it re-opened. In the meantime, the road is open for hunting season. If you have a lightweight boat, though, the Big Creek Natural Area access isn't bad. Water levels were high on Friday, but I have no idea what they're like today.

It runs right through a private "resort" called "Shephard of the Ozarks". The ACC held it's winter board meeting there for about 5 years in a row before moving it back to lake Ft. Smith St Park last year. The creek requires a bunch of rain to get it up and running but it looks nice. Class I and II similar to the upper Buffalo.

Huh, Gordon, Cleburne County!!!!! Of course, there's a Big Creek in Oklahoma as I recall!

And there's one in White County.

I believe Gordon is talking about the Big Creek in Searcy Co. It's a pretty little thing I'm hoping to run sometime this Winter... any volunteers to come along on the trip? There are several places to access it from. Class II is prolly about right. We ride 4 wheeler trails along it in the Summer. It runs into the Buffalo, but without looking up a map, I don't recall exactly where.

Big Creek in Newton Co enters the Buffalo at mile 63
Big Creek in Searcy Co enters the Buffalo at mile 140
Big Creek in Cleburne Co enters the Little Red below Grears Ferry dam

Big creek in Okl. enters the Poteau river in Hodgen , and starts near Rich mount. before the stateline or at the BAR

Okay guys, give it a break. You've had your fun. The poster came looking for info not a bunch of out-work-comedians.

Bootload knew better.

Keefe and I ran Big Creek in Searcy County in the early 90's. We put in at the Highway 14 Bridge on Big Creek and took out at Shipps Ferry on White River. We spent two nights on Big Creek and planned to spend another night on the Lower Buffalo, however, Big Creek needs a lot of water to run and the Lower Buffalo was at flood stage when we got there. We made it from the confluence of Big Creeek and the Buffalo to Shipps Ferry (18 miles) in about 3 hours. The trip on Big Creek contained mostly class I & II rapids with one that might be a II+ and you might want to scout it (we didn't). The scenery was great and the fishing was good. We did see a truck upside down in the river at a low water ford. I was able to drive to that same ford some years later (it is near where Spring Creek enters Big Creek) but I am sure that it is on private property so access might be questionable. I am glad we did it, but I will probably not go back. The length of the trip combined with an epic shuttle and big brown water at flood stage on the Lower Buffalo just have not enticed me to go back. I would recommend getting to know local landowners and shortening the trip if anyone does want to do it.

Wow, what a boatload of info! Thanks!

Kim - so we can access the bridge during hunting season? how far is the wildlife access from the bridge?

Thanks!