Big Sugar Creek (SW Missouri) Trip Report

[Mike_P]

Had a nice float on Saturday with my 9-year old (he paddled his own kayak). Great trip for anyone in NW Arkansas looking for an quick drive/shuttle, easy float (watch for strainers though). I've posted this info before but in case you want it:

http://www.sugarislandcanoe.com/Canoeing.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (This outfitter doesn't really "open" until May 1st...but was very happy to have us take out at his place & camp on his campground at a reduced rate).

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?07188653" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Note I have found minimum ideal level is 3.5 ft (100 cfs). Also note in the past year the river now diverts to the left above "Deep Ford" public access. You can still park there but have to hike a little ways upstream to catch the river now.

[jkm001]

Which part did you float? Last week I went from Deep Ford to Mt. Shira. Shortly after Deep Ford there is a low water bridge that I portaged. Closer to Pineville is a single drop I'd estimate at 1-2 feet (though it may have been 3 feet). This was my 1st time being on a river in 20+ years so these things scared me. I would have liked to have gone from Cyclone to Pineville but was unable to find anyone willing to do a shuttle.

Stayed mostly dry. Was able to avoid most trees down in the river after seemingly hitting everything in the first 5 miles.

[Mike_P]

We did Deep Ford to Sugar Island (short float prob less than 3 miles).

[jkm001]

Have you done anything above Deep Ford?

[Yellcounty]

If you're interested we did Cyclone to Deep Ford last spring, really enjoyed it...except for the downed trees. According to an outfitter we called after the trip they focus on keeping Deep Ford and lower open.

We shuttled ourselves with mt. bike.

Had great fishing on our trip, but didn't account for the length of time from carrying around trees, etc.

[jkm001]

How did you work the mountain bike shuttle? I've seen carriers that can attach to a bike, but their practicality seems limited. I'm guessing what you did involved hiding of canoes and bikes and possibly chains around trees. I can carry my bike and kayak on the car at the same time so that may be really interesting. Were there any obstacles (low water bridges, sudden drops) other than trees above Deep Ford?

Thanks.

[Yellcounty]

You're right, chained my bike at Deep Ford (then chained boats at takeout) and actually dropped vehicle at an outfitter less than a mile north of Cyclone bridge (I think it was $2 to park).

I don't remember any low water bridges or drops. Actually I don't remember any unexpected strainers, but after about 1/4 of the float it seemed like every pool had a tree all the way across the channel. Thankfully you could see it coming and in most cases I remember the current being minimal and just portaging around. In our case the process was more of a challenge (2 adults/2 kids/2 boats).

Hope this helps. I remember telling my wife we needed to organize a cleanup, really nice float.

[jkm001]

I'm going to try heading up that way tomorrow or Thursday to scout on that road that parallels the creek.

I hope to float the Cyclone to Pineville section the weekend of the 30th or sometime in the week following that. Would anyone be interested in joining? Looks like a 6-10 mile float and equivalent bicycle ride back to Cyclone. I can only carry 1 kayak on my car but would be open to a truck shuttle if that works better.

[GloryDaze]

You should try putting in even further upsteam at Powell- Mike's Creek enters there and there is a campground you can pay a few bucks to keep your car there.

Powel to Cyclone is a good float- the low water bride you are talking about is Craig O' Lee- it's fun to run it when the water level is high, not too fun when it's low.

[jkm001]

I went up there today. Pineville has public access right before the old highway 71 bridge, and I wouldn't be too worried about chaining up bikes/boats there.

The few places I could see the river between Pineville and Cyclone were wide and clear. I talked to the people at Cyclone that run Camp Tilden and they said it would be $2 to park there. They aren't really open until later in May so it would be a good idea to call ahead.

The road between Pineville and Cyclone is paved and relatively flat...which is good for doing the bicycle shuttle. I didn't go all the way to Powell, but the most obvious road between Cyclone and Powell is dirt and has at least 1 big hill.

Powell to Cyclone and Cyclone to Pineville both appear to be about 10 miles according this site:

http://www.missouricanoe.org/river-maps/elksugar.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;