Blakely Dam to Hwy 270

[MissEllie]

We have friends coming to Hot Springs next weekend. They have never kayaked so we want it to be a good experience for them.

How is the paddle from Blakely Dam to Hwy 70? We have never done it.

Thanks for any information.

Ellie
501-247-5935

[737driver]

It's all flatwater lake paddling and will be hundreds of power boats trying to run you over. I'd stick with Remmel dam or dragover

[datsevlu]

The hometown showdown is this Saturday as well so there will be many kayakers headed to Remmel.

[MissEllie]

Sorry... not this weekend but next. So the activities this weekend will not be an issue in the play area.

I was hoping for something a little more out of the "city" type thing. Away from roads & noise.

Any other ideas? The Buffalo will probably be down by then... Besides did not want to drive them to far since they are here for relaxation.

Thanks for the feed back.

Ellie

[Jim Krueger]

Miss Ellie,

My wife and I, and another friend made the Blakley Dam trip once about eight years ago and I also have to agree this isn't the best trip to take your friends on. The Caddo is getting pretty low, however if it gets a little rain before Sat. that might be a choice, needs to be about 5.50ft.
There is a very short 2+ mile section of the Caddo at Arkadelphia that would be good to get them lined-out in kayaks, but need to get an early start before all the tubers.

Best Regards
Jim

[Deuce]

If you're looking for a nice flatwater paddle you might consider Carpenter dam to Remmel dam on Lake Catherine. There will be power boats, but not very many and the Catherine crowd is pretty mellow. Plenty of stuff to check out and you can paddle into the bay and show them Camp Couchdale where we have Rendezvous. Y'all can fish too if you're so inclined.

[MissEllie]

Sounding good... those are good options. They wanted to do the Buffalo but with the distance & the lower water levels was not to sure. If the rain keeps up might still consider if the Hwy. 14 bridge to Rush is looking good. Not as many "white-throated beer suckers" on that section.

We just need full water flows from February to December... can take January for low water. If I were queen!

[MissEllie]

We did the Buffalo from Hwy. 14 Dillard's Landing to Rush. They wanted to see the Buffalo & the level was good for beginners. They now want to do more kayaking!

There were more white-throated beer suckers than I have ever seen on that section but a good group over all. At take out ran in to some of "our group" that were just putting in to head to Buffalo City.

Thanks for all the info....