The 2021 Spring has been a crazy float season in Arkansas so far. The rain has been even more unpredictable than usual. I’ve cancelled more floats this year than ever due to water being either too high or too low because of the crazy rain. We’ve even had some cold weather all the way into mid-May! This can be frustrating, but it also presents opportunities to float sections of rivers that are rarely floatable. One of those sections I finally got to float this Spring was Norman to Caddo Gap on the Caddo River.
I have made countless Caddo floats from Caddo Gap down to Glenwood.. And it’s till my favorite float on the Caddo so far. But I like to float as many different sections of rivers as I can. So when Norman to Caddo Gap on the Caddo River was finally floatable on a day I could go, I jumped on it. I was not disappointed.
Length: 8 miles Difficulty: Easy (Class I)
Directions
If you are renting, just go to any of the outfitters between Glenwood and Caddo Gap, and they’ll handle the rest. If you self-shuttle, take Hwy 27 north out of Glenwood to Caddo Gap. Leave a vehicle at one of the access points there (marked on the map below). We saw signs at the Caddo Gap public access saying no temporary parking. So we left a shuttle vehicle at Arrowhead Cabin and Canoe Rental. You could also leave a ride at Lucky’s just before that. Either way, expect to pay a small fee for parking. To reach the takeout, take Hwy 27 north to the small town of Norman. Just as you enter Norman, look for the brown Caddo River Access sign. Turn left into what looks like a city park. You’ll find the river access down there. These points are all marked on the map.
What to Expect
The River
Norman to Caddo Gap on the Caddo River is about an 8 mile float. It took us about 7 hours to do it. But we fished, made plenty of stops, and had a strong wind in our face all day. It is an easy float with no sketchy rapids or anything crazy. The water was a little low the day I went, but I didn’t see any rapids I would consider to be over Class I. Even at a low level, this section had a nice current to it for most of the way. We only saw 4 other paddlers on this float all day. The more popular floats are downriver from this one. So if you like a quiet float without a lot of people, this is one is for you.
Don’t expect to see the kind of scenery you’ll find on the Upper Buffalo. But there is some nice scenery to be had on this float. The water is super clear on this stretch, allowing you to see the river bed for most of the float. And the river bed is very rocky, with a lot of cool marble-looking bedrock in it. Most of the river banks are private property, so I wouldn’t attempt to camp out on the river. But there are a lot of good gravel bars to stop and hang out on.
Fishing
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
Check the river level on the RiverApp or at American Whitewater before you go. The only gauge readings you’ll find are at Glenwood or Caddo Gap. If the river there is at 5.5 feet or less, then Norman to Caddo Gap will not be good. Caddo Gap to Glenwood will be good at that level. But for this section to be good, the gauge needs to be above 5.5 ft, and really above 6 ft is ideal.
Don’t expect to to have cell phone service for most of this float. There are a couple of spots with weak service, but that’s about it till you get closer to Glenwood. If you are 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. Like most rivers in Arkansas, the Caddo is rocky. So take river shoes. No glass bottles allowed. Be prepared to pack out your trash and leave no trace. If you have never floated before and don’t know what to pack, refer to the gear list found on our Paddling page.
The Caddo 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 in the area as well. There are several campgrounds between Glenwood and Caddo Gap. And Arrowhead even has cabins and bunk houses. 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. Norman is pretty small, but does have a convenience store for any last-minute float necessities. Be safe out there and enjoy the float!
