bear creek near Ohmaha

[flotininarainstorm]

I'm from up in mo and am wanting some info on bear creek optimal level and some acsess points thank you all

[hollohead]

I just moved to Harrison and was wondering the same thing, need to hook up with some paddlin friends, I got a flexible schedule and good shuttle ride. Just need to spend time in my boat and get back into it.

[Sparky]

Great surfing at the right levels. Best in the Ozarks in my opinion. The put-in is on Hiway 14 east of Omaha (around 10 miles from old 65). To get to the take out go west on 14 to the top of the hill turn right and follow to Bull Shoals Reservoir. I can't remember the road name, so a gazeeter would be of great help...or GPS.

1'-2' on the bridge gauge is optimum, add 2' to the usgs gauge making 3'-4' optimum. Big waves, medium waves, small waves and a variety holes. The land surrounding the run belongs to the feds, it's inundation land for Bull Shoals. That being said, when the lake is high this run goes under. Not the case right now. This creek headwaters around Harrison and Bear Creek Spring and runs generally north to the White River. Alot of the watershed is stripped for cattle, so it doesn't hold levels for long.

Lot's of good surfing in the creeks as they enter the White River in this area. Swan, Bull, Roark, and Cane creeks all have their something to offer.

Now it's time to watch the gauges spike.

Brent

[RussellPresley]

9/10/10
Me and a few others are going to be at the put in around 10 or so.

[Cowper]

Great surfing at the right levels. Best in the Ozarks in my opinion. The put-in is on Hiway 14 east of Omaha (around 10 miles from old 65). To get to the take out go west on 14 to the top of the hill turn right and follow to Bull Shoals Reservoir. I can't remember the road name, so a gazeeter would be of great help...or GPS.

Too late to help anyone today, but check me out on this for future reference:
Put in at N36.4495 W93.0752
Take out at N36.4681 W93.0531 ???
Turn was on Old Lowry Road, with another right turn on Minnow Drive???
Also looks like you could turn right on Orr road, and then right again on Old Lowry, if you wanted to get off Hwy 14 sooner.
About a 5 mile run, with the last 3/4 on the lake?
Cut-and-paste those coordinates into either Google Earth or maps.google, and it will fly you to an aerial view so you can check me out and let me know if those are correct.

This sounds to me like something you need to write up and add to the American Whitewater page listing of Arkansas Creeks!

[Sparky]

Cowper, I'll follow your suggestion. I'll double check the roads on my gazeeter. I first ran Bear with David Harris (I believe thats right) and the Harrison, AR boys around 25-30 years ago. Back then there were no roads signs or gauges or doppler rader, just drive and pray. Hit it at 2' first try. I haven't been on it in a few years.

If any one ran it today please post a bridge reading if it's still there. If not give an impression of the level you ran it at. The usgs gauge was around 3.5' at 10 am. I'm not sure the 2' conversion is still the same, there's been alot of big floods on Bear this year. I don't want to post something inaccurate on AW.

Someplace for you southerners to go when there's no water in the mountains. Lots of ledges and bedrock in the Springfield Plateau.

Brent

[RussellPresley]

Had a great run today! When we got there, the river was just barley touching the 1 foot mark. It's about the lowlest I would want to run it at.

[hollohead]

what class is creek? I want to join in next time.

[RussellPresley]

I sent you a e-mail i think. I'm heading to the St.Franics and will not be back till late saturday night.