Help a Stranger and his Dog

[Alan Gage]

Hello all!

I'm from NW Iowa but will be heading to Hot Springs tomorrow and after a few days of obligatory work plan on spending a couple weeks in the area. Joining me will be my Springer Spaniel (Rudy) and Bell Magic solo canoe. We're looking for some good hiking and canoeing. There appear to be many options in the state and I'd love some help in sorting through it all. The trip came up late last week so I there hasn't been much research time. I don't need to stay in the Hot Springs area and have even considered heading to southern Louisiana.

For starters, we're not looking for any white water. The ideal area that I have built up in my head would be a remote swampy area where we could paddle for many miles if we wished but also be able to find dry ground for camping and nice hikes. Since I'll be alone (other than the dog) I won't have a drop vehicle so if it's a river I'd prefer somewhere with slow enough current that I can paddle upstream without too much trouble.

The Bayou De View and Big Woods area have caught my attention and I'd love to know some more about it. Once I get in the area where can I find specific info like maps and water conditions? It looks like the area is divided up and managed by different groups/organizations. Will I need to get ahold of each individually for maps/info or are there some places in the area that can get me what I need?

Open to any other suggestions. I'm not only looking for paddling, hiking suggestions would be much appreciated as well. The fewer people the better. I'm also into bird watching so am looking for tips there too. I'm not looking to spend my 2 weeks searching for the Ivory Billed Woodpecker though. :)

I'll have my laptop so can check responses on the road.

Thanks!

Alan

[Roger]

Calling Cowper and Debo

[T Yamashita]

Hiya,

i'd recommend the ouachita river up around mt ida. The dragover loop is a nice one where the river loops back on itself & you have a half mile shuttle walk back to the put in. The local state parks are also pretty nice- Lake Ouachita SP has good camping, flatwater canoeing & hiking nearby. If you want swampy stuff pretty close by, you can head down to millwood lake near the SW corner of the state for some nice swampy looking areas. Other state parks in southern AR with lakes will also have swampy areas to explore. Check out the AR state parks website as well as the AR nature conservancy & AR natural heritage commission websites for places to go. The eastern AR swamps are also a hoot & cowper & deb can steer you in the right direction there. Hope you have a good time while you're here. Check out Ouachita Outdoor outfitters in HS while you're there!
ty

[Cowper]

There's so much info, I think it would be good if you can find a time to call me and/or DeBo to talk. (Check your PM's for a phone number) Much of what we have learned over the last 3 or 4 years is not yet available in any "official" location.

#1 - Not a swamp, but consider the Buffalo National River. A mid week float this time of year will leave you with the river to yourself; commercial shuttle services are available. Info for this one IS available on-line. Why do I suggest the Buffalo when you are asking about swamps? One, it is a great place, two, this is Duck Hunting season AND deer hunting season, which complicates swamp paddling a little bit.

#2 - Bayou DeView - You can do some "in-and-out" paddling here, but mostly are better off with "day" trips instead of overnighters. Levels have recently dropped, only a few sections of river will still be good for paddling. Also, private land in-holdings make it difficult to choose an overnight campsite and know that it is on public, not private land. On the “plus” side, this is some of the best “big woods” paddling, even if the corridor of big woods is relatively narrow, being squeezed on both sides by extensive farm operations.

#3 - White River National Wildlife Refuge - Probably one of your best bets for some swamp paddling right now. Water levels are high; for this reason the area is "closed" to deer hunting. That leaves duck hunting. By regulation, duck hunters must stop at noon, so if you don't mind sleeping in, you can launch about 11 AM and pretty much have the place to yourself from noon on, and not have to worry about interfering with anyone's hunting. There won't be much hiking - some of our paddling this weekend was on flooded roads and four-wheeler trails. But you might find enough dry land to camp overnight. One option would be to call the WRNWR at 870-282-8200 to ask about "back country" camping. Their official regulations are silent on back-country camping, and only mention camping in designated sites. A PERMIT IS REQUIRED FOR ALL ENTRY (other than travel along public highways). The "permit" is just a signed copy of the refuge brochure (which includes a map and all the rules). These can be picked up at information kiosks found at some of the roads that enter the back-country areas, or at the headquarters in St. Charles. To put it another way, camping in the backcountry seems to be almost on a “don’t ask / don’t tell” basis. Someone in a motorboat setting up a major camp is probably going to be considered in violation of the rules. Someone in a canoe, outside of hunting season, probably won’t see another person and thus won’t be asked to leave. But right now, the issue would be “favoritism”. They can’t tell duck hunters it is NOT OK to camp overnight, and then allow a bird watcher to do exactly the same thing.
I’d suggest looking at taking several day trips out of a base camp at Maddox Bay, or possibly Sweatt’s Landing. Current in this area meets your criteria – slow enough to paddle upstream. In some other areas, due to high water the current is too fast right now to make paddling upstream a practical option. See the thread on our Recreational board about a trip there last Saturday for maps and one suggested trip.

[Alan Gage]

Excellent.

Just heading out the door now. Will be in touch in a few days, after I've arrived and figure out my schedule (if you can call it that).

Thanks!

Alan

[DeBo]

We are working with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on creating signed water trails in the state. Our first trail is open and ready for use in Wattensaw Bayou. You can find a map and description here:
http://www.agfc.com/misc/awt/awt-trails ... ensaw.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Primitive camping is available at the upper access and the lower access. There are also a number of spots with high ground along the trail. We will be building camping platforms on this trail in the future.

We are planning a trip this Saturday to the lower refuge if you would like to join us. We are hoping to go to H Lake if the roads are above water. The trip will be posted on the Recreational and Touring Board.

All these areas mentioned are beautiful. Have a great trip and good weather!