Month: June 2020
Tyler Bend to Gilbert Float on the Buffalo River
I have seen a lot of requests lately asking what is the best float for beginners. I have seen this asked in various social media groups and been asked several times directly. There are a lot of great floats in our state that are great for beginners. And maybe one day I’ll devote a whole article to that list. But there’s one float that comes to mind that I recommend more than any other. The Tyler Bend to Gilbert float on the Buffalo River is, in my opinion, the best float for a first time or novice paddler. Why is that? I’m glad you asked. It’s a combination of several reasons. First, it’s an easy float that is safe for beginners. But it also has beautiful scenery, and enough swift water to make it fun. Next, it’s location makes it the quickest on the Buf...
Floating Byrd’s to Turner Bend on the Mulberry River
There is a general rule of thumb for floating the Mulberry. The deeper we get into summer, the further downriver we have to start our float. Occasionally we will get enough rain to change that rule. But for the most part it pretty much stands true. By mid-June, floating Byrd’s to Turner Bend on the Mulberry River is a popular choice for many paddlers. When the water level is above 3 feet, floating Byrd’s to Turner Bend on the Mulberry River is a really great float. At 2-3 feet, you’ll drag in a few spots and have to paddle more, but still have a run float. At 2 feet, you’ll probably have to start at Redding Campground. So for me, 3-4 feet is the sweet spot for this part of the river. I have been able to do this float a few times when most other rivers were dried up....
Hike to Terry Keefe Falls
With the recent rain, the next few days will be a great time to see some waterfalls in Arkansas. I have written before about the many options along Falling Water Rd in the Richland Creek Wilderness. On my last venture to this area, I took a friend out that wanted to spend a day seeing some falls. On our last stop of the day, we made the beautiful hike to Terry Keefe Falls. Before we started this hike, we had made stops at Falling Water Falls, Six Finger Falls and Fuzzy Butt Falls. We were prepared to see others after Keefe Falls, but those got rained out. I have seen other people comment in different forums that Terry Keefe Falls was not their favorite in the area. I would have to agree, but only because the other falls in the area are so great. This waterfall is still absolutely worth hik...
Hemmed in Hollow Falls Via the Buffalo River
Did you know that the highest waterfall between the Appalachians and the Rocky Mountains is located right here in Arkansas? Yep, that’s right. Hemmed in Hollow, located on the Buffalo National River, is 209 feet tall. That makes it the highest waterfall in Mid-America, according the National Park Service. From the regular trail head it’s a pretty tough hike. It starts in the hills above the top of the falls and ends at the bottom of the falls. So the steep uphill hike out of there is the difficult part. But for anyone that’s physically unable to do this hike, I have good news. You can access Hemmed in Hollow Falls via the Buffalo River and it’s a very short, easy hike. OK, so if you thought I was going to tell you about some special elevator, zip line or something, ...
Helton’s Farm to Long Pool on Big Piney Creek
A lot of people know about the extreme paddling of the Cossatot River in the Ouachita Mountains of western Arkansas. But did you know you can go whitewater rafting in the Ozarks? It may not be the extreme whitewater rafting you see in Colorado or the Grand Canyon. But when the water is right, floating Helton’s Farm to Long Pool on Big Piney Creek can be some pretty intense paddling. I had a chance to run this stretch with some buddies last summer, and man what a ride! NOTICE – This is NOT a float for beginners! There is one outfitter here, and they will not rent to or shuttle novice paddlers for this float. And for good reason. Floating Helton’s Farm to Long Pool on Big Piney Creek is another one of those floats that you have to catch when the water level is right. Just l...
