Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

I began hiking my collection of new creeks with the one that has the most gentle gradient, only 37 feet per mile, thinking that I could take my least experienced buddies on this "beginner creek" so let's get it checked out right away. Gradient isn't always an accurate indicator for what makes a creek exciting.

Here's the put-in which looked pretty much like what I expected:


PUT-IN FOR A LAZY CREEK? by CaptainAleve, alias Mike Coogan, on Flickr


This feature is big enough to show up on an aerial photo:


BIG SURPRISE SHOT 1 by CaptainAleve, alias Mike Coogan, on Flickr


BIG SURPRISE SHOT 2 by CaptainAleve, alias Mike Coogan, on Flickr


BIG SURPRISE SHOT 3 by CaptainAleve, alias Mike Coogan, on Flickr


I know the fall is a two-step affair, but that sucker is TALL, I'd guess about 6 feet.

You never know what you might find on a new creek, hence the hiking. The feature below made me nervous just looking at it; that's about a 4 foot drop. I doubt you could see the root when the creek is runnable.


IS YOUR LIFE INSURANCE PAID UP? by CaptainAleve, alias Mike Coogan, on Flickr


Live long and prosper!


Mike Coogan, alias Captain Aleve

A few more photos from miles 2 and 3 of this 7 mile creek:


PLAYFUL BEDROCK SECTION by CaptainAleve, alias Mike Coogan, on Flickr


SURPRISE ENDING TO A GENTLE RUN by CaptainAleve, alias Mike Coogan, on Flickr


A RELAXED SECTION by CaptainAleve, alias Mike Coogan, on Flickr


Mike Coogan, alias Captain Aleve

This creek appears to have an old railroad embankment running alongside it, too, like Brush Creek has.

Mike Coogan, alias Captain Aleve

I've finished hiking this Ouachita Mountains creek and will publish full data on it soon. Got an okay to paddle it from the only landowner with a house on the privately owned section of the creek. On today's hike I found an old rock wall and some nice scenery.


ROCK WALL SHOT 1 by CaptainAleve, alias Mike Coogan, on Flickr


ROCK WALL SHOT 2 by CaptainAleve, alias Mike Coogan, on Flickr


BLUFF SHOT 1 by CaptainAleve, alias Mike Coogan, on Flickr


BLUFF SHOT 2 by CaptainAleve, alias Mike Coogan, on Flickr


ON TO THE TAKE-OUT by CaptainAleve, alias Mike Coogan, on Flickr


I don't plan to hike the last two miles which run through private pasture land and should be the most gentle part of the seven mile run. My best guess is that it will be open and free of hazards, but I'll probably paddle it at low flow to verify that. The last picture should be fairly typical of what to expect. I will publish a full collection of photos of the creek in addition to the location and access data soon. It has a large drainage area and won't take much rain to bring it up. I think a rec boat will be able to maneuver well enough for an adventurous rec paddler to have a fun trip. The six foot fall can be portaged if so desired. I flagged a tree at the killer root location. There is a pool just above that spot and an easy alternative path around the hazard.

Mike Coogan, alias Captain Aleve