Looking for some insight on the Cossatot

[jnewcomb]

Planning on heading to the Cossatot once school let's out up here in Fayetteville. Just looking for some paddlers who've done it enough to know a little about it. I.E., good put in / take out points, camping spots, fishing tips, just whatever. Never been there. I'm an experienced kayaker but haven't done (much) white water paddling. Thanks!

[Jaytee]

I can't answer the questions you post but can make a recommendation: buy a copy of a Canoeing and Kayaking Guide to the Ozarks (formerly "Arkansas Whitewater"). It is an invaluable guide for questions just like the ones you ask.

On a river by river basis, the book lays out the most common day-long paddling stretches, gives a classification for the difficulty, describes most significant features and hazards, and tells you which water guage to check and what the recommended level should be.

Since we started paddling in the last couple of years it has guided our choices in a big way.

[Michele Jackson]

Good suggestion on the book.
You may want to post this question on the "General Discussion" forum. That is the primary forum for whitewater paddling. The Cossatot is definitely a whitewater river, not generally considered a "beginner" whitewater run, quite the contrary in fact. Some sections are easier than others. But like all whitewater rivers in Arkansas it is very rain-dependent and only runs after a significant rainfall, and generally just for a few days before it gets too low again.

The following is a link to the Ozark Creek Information Summary which gives the river levels for the popular rivers and creeks in Arkansas and the surrounding area. If you click on the river name it will take you to a description of the river. I will say, however, that the put-in and take-out info for the Cossatot is somewhat confusing on this site. In general, it would be best to go to the Cossatot with someone who has been there before.
http://www.ozarkpages.com/cgi-bin/stages.pl?ST=level" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Randy Dodson]

I might also add that if you haven't done much whitewater paddling, you might want to spend a year on the Mulberry, Big Piney, Lee Creek, Illinois Bayou, Frog Bayou honing whitewater skills in a whitewater boat before you tackle the Tot. Just my opinion.

[Cowper]

Nah, just go for it! (but let us know when, so we can be there!)

Folks who go to the Tot mostly for the WW tend to forget there are some easier sections too, and anyone who hasn't swam in the pools of the falls in summer when it is too low to run is missing a real treat!

You'll be lucky to catch it up when school is out, unless you have a two week "window" and watch the weather carefully. But even if it is low, the area is worth visiting.

Definately, spend a few days at the tot, visit the falls, and if it is low enough that nobody is boating it, then just enjoy the pools and try to imagine it with more water.