The Caddo River is the premier floating river in the Ouachita region for casual paddlers. For those that don’t have the whitewater paddling skill to tackle the Cossatot or Little Missouri Rivers, the Caddo is the place to be. A good argument can be made for the Ouachita River, which has some very scenic stretches. But it doesn’t tend to keep a good flow for as long as the Caddo does. A good reliable flow is why floating the Caddo River from Caddo Gap to Glenwood is one of the most popular floats in the area.
As someone that mostly floated the Buffalo and Mulberry Rivers for the longest time, I was late to the party on floating the Caddo. But once I finally floated it in 2013, I was pleasantly surprised at what a great float it is. In fact, it’s regular trip for me nearly every float season. No, you’re not going to see the towering bluffs and mountains you see at the Buffalo. You won’t see the emerald green waters of the Mulberry here. But this is still a great floating river in a beautiful part of the state. What you will see at the Caddo is a scenic river with clean and clear water, cool rock formations, fun rapids, and good fishing. While I wouldn’t call it a “party river”, there’s usually a fun crowd there. Best of all, it is so convenient. It’s really close to Central and Southwest Arkansas and all of the put-in and take-outs are easily accessible. If you haven’t floated this river yet, you should put this one on your list.
Quick Glance
Distance: 7.5 Miles
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Caddo Gap Public Access: 34.386312, -93.607578
Arrowhead Put-in: 34.383900, -93.606366
Arrowhead Take-out: 34.320172, -93.551732
(Copy/Paste Coordinates into GPS or Google Maps search bar)
Directions
It depends on which outfitter you use. For Caddo River Canoe Rental, map yourself to Glenwood. Take Hwy 70 and turn left immediately after the bridge, just past McDonalds. (On the right before the bridge if you’re coming in from the west). If you are renting from Arrowhead, Lucky’s, or self-shuttling, head north of Glenwood up Hwy 8/27 toward Caddo Gap. Arrowhead will be just off Hwy 8/27 on AR-240, just across the river. And about a quarter mile north of that is the Caddo River Access point (public). This is the same place Caddo River Canoe Rental drops their people off. All of these points are included in the Google Map below.
What to Expect
Floating the Caddo River from Caddo Gap to Glenwood is a 7.5 mile float. When water levels are good, it mostly has a nice swift current with some stretches of deep pools and slower water. There are quite a few fun, easy rapids (Class I-II). In fact, you’ll get some of the best rapids as soon as you hit the water. Where the river crosses under the bridge by Arrowhead, it gets narrow and the current is really fast. When the water is high it produces some pretty large swells here, so be ready. Just after that are some large rock outcroppings that also make for some fun paddling. There are several more of these as well as some shelf drop-offs along the way to keep things fun.
This float can be done in 4-5 hours at moderate speed without a lot of stops. But there are plenty of gravel bars and swimming holes to stop at if you want to make a full day of it. This stretch of the river is pretty reliable for having good water levels most of the time. I’ve only been on it once when it was really low. When the water is low, expect to drag quite a bit and for the deep pools to be really slow. On a nice weekend with good water, expect to see plenty of other paddlers on the river. Not too crowded or crazy like the Spring (and sometimes the Buffalo). But usually enough to make it a fun day.
Fishing on the Caddo
Fishing is pretty good on this river when there are not too many paddlers. Even on a busy day, there are still spots where the fishing can be good. It’s mostly smallmouth bass, rock bass, and bream. So if stream fishing is your thing, this river is a good option.
Plan your trip
Like with all floats, always check the water levels on the RiverApp or at American Whitewaterbefore going. If you’re still not sure, check with one of the local Outfitters (Arrowhead, Lucky’s, or Caddo River Canoe). Most of this float is pretty close to Glenwood. So you can expect to have cell phone service for most of it, minus a few weak areas. When renting from one of the outfitters on a busy weekend, it’s best to call ahead to reserve a canoe, kayak or raft. If you have your own boat, they all have good shuttle services. If you have never floated before and don’t know what to pack, refer to the gear list found on our Paddling page. Remember – NO GLASS BOTTLES. And be prepared to pack out your trash and leave no trace
The Caddo River is a close enough drive to Central, West, and South AR to go for the day and drive home. But there are several options for spending the night if you plan to have a few drinks. There are several campsites in the area. And Arrowhead even has cabins and bunk houses. A Google search will also show an abundance of AirBnb options. Definitely call ahead for those things. Glenwood is a nice little town with a few local hotel options and several good restaurants for post-float dinners (You can’t go wrong with either of the Mexican restaurants there).
There are other floats further up river from this one. Norman to Caddo Gap is another great float. But you have to catch that one when the water is high – at least 5.5 ft on the River App. And 6 ft would be more ideal. If it’s iffy, just opt for the Caddo Gap to Glenwood section. You can’t go wrong with that.
