We are over halfway through May, and the window to consistently float the upper end of most rivers will be closing soon. Last week, I wrote about floating Ponca to Kyle’s Landing on the Buffalo while you can. Floating High Bank to Byrd’s on the Mulberry River is very similar. The water gets too low to float once summer gets really hot and we get less rain. Unless you have the flexibility to go immediately after a rain, you probably have until around mid-June to float this stretch of the Mulberry.
Floating High Bank to Byrd’s on the Mulberry River is one of my top 5 favorite floats in the state. I love it because it is such a beautiful area. And the further up the Mulberry River you go, the prettier it gets, in my opinion. It’s also a really fast, fun river to float. I have not had a chance to float above High Bank, but I imagine it gets even faster. First chance I get, I plan to do a float from Wolf Pen access. I did get to hit High Bank to Byrd’s again two weeks ago, and the water was perfect! We actually floated all the way to Turner Bend. But for this article, I’m only focusing on High Bank to Byrd’s. I’ll write about the Byrd’s to Turner Bend soon, so check back for that within the next week or so.
Directions
This is one of the easiest rivers in Arkansas to access. The access points for this float are about 45 minutes north of the Ozark exit from I-40. From Hwy 23, aka “The Pigtrail”, at the community of Cass, go east along Cass Oark Rd (Hwy 215). You will see signs for Byrd’s Adventure Center and High Bank access point. These points are mapped out for you below:
What to Expect
Emerald Water and Class II Rapids
The Mulberry is another one of those rivers with beautiful emerald water, especially this time of year. It has a really nice current pretty much all the way to Turner Bend, with very little paddling required. This particular section of the river has a lot of fast-moving water and some really fun, fast rapids. American Whitewater rates these as class II+. Nothing too crazy – my friend Meghan did the float on a paddle board. But she is also kind of a badass on a standup paddle board. The first set of rapids after leaving High Bank access is kind of a doozy, but super fun. It flipped several people that day, including Meghan. But it got a lot of people, and almost got me! Not to worry, it is a popular hangout spot with plenty of folks around to help out.
Floating High Bank to Byrd’s on the Mulberry River is only a 4 mile float that can be done in a couple of hours. That said, I would not float just this section by itself. I would actually do Wolfpen to Byrd’s (8 miles) or High Bank to Redding Campground (8 miles). Ideally, I would be writing this as Wolfpen to Byrd’s, but I can’t since I haven’t done Wolfpen yet. Still, I wanted to focus on this section separate from the rest downriver because by mid-summer, floats will most often not include anything above Byrd’s. Here is a quick video I put together to show what the water is like during perfect float conditions.
Scenic Beauty
As I mentioned, this is a very beautiful scenic area. Although it may not have the towering bluffs of the Buffalo, it does have some nice bluffs on the river. There are lots of cool rock formations, giant boulders, a couple of caves, and several springs and creeks. And plenty of mountains can be seen in the distance. About a mile before reaching Byrd’s is a giant rock shelf that is a great place to take a break. It’s fun to park your boat here and watch paddlers hit the rapids just upstream. Keep this spot in mind when you’re looking for a place to stop for lunch.
This is not a big party river like the Spring or parts of the Buffalo. But you are likely to encounter lots of fun, friendly people (and their dogs – yep, it’s pet friendly) on the Mulberry. There may be a few folks that are a little hammered, but overall it’s a pretty family-friendly river. And the people working at Byrd’s and Turner Bend outfitters are very friendly and knowledgeable. The people on and around this river are another thing that makes the Mulberry one of my favorites.
Plan Your Trip
Another really great thing about the Mulberry is how easily accessible it is. All the access points are off Cass Oark Rd, which hugs the river running east and west. The access points are easy to get in and out with no long gravel roads to travel. They may get a little crowded sometimes. So if you’re self-shuttling and leaving a car, better get there fairly early. That’s another thing – this river is super easy to self-shuttle. You can drive from High Bank to Turner Bend in 15 minutes. And there are a lot of convenient access points in between. This leaves lots of options for customizing the length of float you want to do. For a small parking fee, you can leave a car at either of the outfitters if you end your float there. But if you cannot self-shuttle, the good folks at the outfitters can get you where you want to go.
For this float, or anything above Byrd’s, it’s best to check the water levels on American Whitewater. The river sections in green on their site, are good to go. If you’re still not sure, call Byrd’s to get real-time info on the river conditions. If you are renting a kayak or canoe, it’s best to call the outfitter ahead of time anyway to reserve. Speaking of calling, it’s hard to get a cell signal anywhere on Cass Oark Rd. So if you’re meeting or coordinating with others, you’ll need to get close to the Turner Bend store for a signal.
Accomodations
There are several options for spending the night. Byrd’s, Turner Bend, and Redding Campground all offer tent camping sites with various options. Turner Bend has a few cabins for rent. And Byrd’s offers RV/Camper sites – some with full water and electric hookups. Food options are plenty too. Turner Bend Store has a great deli. Byrd’s has a full-service riverside restaurant. And just down the road in Oark, the Oark Cafe has some of the best burgers and homemade pies in the state. If you are a first time floater, check our gear list for all you’ll need. Remember, no glass of any kind on the river, and be sure to keep your trash in a bag. This is a really special area. So be sure to leave no trace, and keep this river beautiful. Enjoy the float!
