?s on Quachita from Acorn to Little Hope Road

[MissEllie]

Has anyone made this trip?

I would like feed back on what you think the best level for running it is. It is rated a I-II but would like a little more feel for it before jumping in.

Thanks,
Ellie
501-247-5935

[Bozman]

Wow, has been many years since I've floated from Acorn down. I'm not sure on what the best gauge reading would be, but we used to always catch it after big rains, when it was visibly high enough to clear the shoal at whatever bridge we started at. These upper areas don't get many paddlers, be prepared for tight turns.....into trees, with a generous helping of barb wire (from previous floods) that can easily look like "just" vines, at a glance. We always used to carry some good wire cutters...... You may even find new fences stretched across the river in a place or two.

[Louiscov]

Here's a site that relates the river from Acorn to the lake. http://southwestpaddler.com/docs/ouachita2.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It says optimum flow is 500 - 1000 cfs (probably 3.5 - 4.5 feet) on the USGA gauge: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/uv/?s ... 0065,00060" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I've done Cherry Hill to Pine Ridge (over 20 years ago) and Pine Ridge to Oden (3 years ago). The second trip was at around 3.7 feet, a remote section I really enjoyed; lots of flatwater in the first half but well worth doing. It was a great day on the water.

PADDLING HIGHER UP WOULD BE A TRIP I'D DEFINITELY BE INTO. I'd probably try it at 3.25 feet and be willing to drag some since I love exploring. Maybe some of us can watch the river and DO THIS!!!