Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

I was looking at the Tot on topo maps and noticed something that surprised me. The word "rapid" kept appearing on the section below Gilham Lake. I looked at the satellite images and there are quite a few rapids in the first couple of miles down to the next road crossing. This section of the river is dam controlled too. According to the USGS gauge, it tends to have quite a bit of flow. There's also what appears to be a significant rapid on Carter's Creek running into this section.

Anyway, has anyone ever run either of these?
Cossatot River - Gilham Lake Dam to Mize Crossing (Co Rd 263)
Carter's Creek - Polk Rd 246 to Cossatot Mize Crossing (Co Rd 263)
(There's an unnamed road off Polk Rd 246 that crosses closer to the rapid.)

Terrain Map
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UT ... 7&t=p&z=14

Carter's Creek Rapid
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UT ... 03439&z=18

they been runnin that for a long time now they meaning sombody

Whats up Roman, Waterhog, the lower tot is a good float for first time boaters but there really is'nt much to it, try the upper upper tot or the lower little mo from 84 down those are much better runs.

Hmmm...I still may go check it out. Being dam released, it might be available when everything else is low. Plus, I really want to get a look at the rapid on that creek.

I couldn't find the old post in which I described the preferred release level for the Cossatot below Gilham Dam ( I think they used to release 900 cfs during the slalom races held just below the dam), but here is part of a post which has a bit of a description of the first few miles:

There are some waves and holes at the upper end of the Cossatot Reefs campground and another nice wave before you get to the low water bridge; you can surf on the downstream side of that bridge. There’s a road access that goes to the bank about a mile below the low water bridge crossing. It looks like you are driving through someone’s yard, but it is a public road. It actually passes between their house and barn. I have waved at the folks there before and gotten a wave back, so I think all is cool with them. There are a couple more waves to play on in that last mile, so that is why I take out on the private-looking road. If you go down to the next bridge, you will have a lot of flat water.


It's a fun run with some optional channels. There may be some entertainment below the first high bridge. I've driven along the river all the way down to highway 70 and saw several spots that could have entertaining rapids; there may be some heavily grown up sections, too, so be careful. If you want company to explore the area, post and I may be able to join you.

I have paddled up to the first rapid on the side creek that comes in just above the low bridge. It looked rough. I've also heard that the creek is pretty rough upstream from there.

Captain Aleve, alias Mike Coogan

CAPTAIN ALEVE wrote: I have paddled up to the first rapid on the side creek that comes in just above the low bridge. It looked rough. I've also heard that the creek is pretty rough upstream from there.

Captain Aleve, alias Mike Coogan

Sounds fun! I'll give you a holler when I head that way!

Roman, you should come up next time the Tot is up and we can paddle the whole thing, from top to bottom. About the lower part, its fun on a tub, we done it back in high school.

KAYAKN wrote:Roman, you should come up next time the Tot is up and we can paddle the whole thing, from top to bottom. About the lower part, its fun on a tub, we done it back in high school.

I mainly want to paddle that first couple miles below the dam and document the rapids for the AW page...gps points and pictures.

I’ve floated from the dam at Gilham to the Hwy 71 bridge. (A little over 15 miles.) Some spots are pretty good and some are horrible. It all depends on water level.