In the dog days of Summer, all the popular floating rivers in Arkansas tend to dry up and become too low to float. Sometimes we get lucky with some Summer showers. But by July, it is usually hard to find fun rivers that are floatable. However, there are some good solutions to this problem. Dam-fed floats like the lower Ouachita or Little Red River are good options as long as the dams are generating. Spring-fed rivers are an even more reliable option. So this summer, we made a visit to the Ozark foothills of Northeast Arkansas to float Dalton to Shanty on the Eleven Point River.
This would be our second visit to the Eleven Point River. Late last Summer, we did the short float that local outfitter, Trukees Canoe and Cabin Rental, calls “The Cruiser”. You can read about that float here. We enjoyed that float and decided the Eleven Point was worth a return visit. Trukees has quite a few cabins and campers for rent near the river. And they offer certain exclusive floats that are only for cabin guests. So this time, we made a weekend of it by renting a camper and doing the Dalton to Shanty float.
NOTE: This is NOT a sponsored post. We received no financial incentive from Trukees for this article.
Quick Glance
Distance: Approximately 6 miles
Difficulty: Very Easy
Put-in at Dalton (Public): 36.422131, -91.139625
Take-out at Shanty (Private): 36.372543, -91.118476
(Copy/Paste Coordinates into GPS or Google Maps search bar)
Directions
The put-in at Dalton is about 17 miles northwest of Pocahontas. On Hwy 90, about halfway between Pocahontas and Ravenden Springs, head north on Hwy 93. Drive six miles until you cross the bridge over the Eleven Point River. At the end of the bridge, turn right on Township Rd. When you see Dalton Country Market, follow the paved road wrapping around behind it. That will lead to the launch the ramp on the river.
The Shanty is one of Trukee’s riverside cabins you can rent. They also have a couple of campers for rent and some tent camping spots next door. If you stay in one of these properties, this area is the take-out. To get there, head north on Hwy 93 from Hwy 90. Go 0.5 miles and turn left on Stubblefield Rd. Drive 1.7 miles until it becomes Greengrove Trail. Continue on for 0.3 miles and turn right on Roy Clark Cir. On this circle, you’ll find whichever property you have booked
What to Expect
Exclusive Floats
First of all, Dalton to Shanty on the Eleven Point river is not exactly a public float. Although the put-in at Dalton is public, the take-out at Shanty is not. So to do this float, you need to book a stay with Trukees. Or you might try contacting Trukees to get their permission to access the take-out. They have many different float options available on the Eleven Point. Click here to for info on all the Exclusive Floats. And click here to see all of the float options that Trukees offers.
Dalton to Shanty Float
Dalton to Shanty On the Eleven Point River is a six mile float that I would classify as Very Easy. The Eleven Point River is spring-fed, so there is always enough water. Because of this, I don’t even bother checking the river level. So I can’t tell you what it was the day we floated. There was only one area on this stretch that even resembled rapids, and that was at the put-in. Aside from that, there are no rapids to speak of on this float. But the good news is, this float has a steady flow the whole way and we never dragged. We didn’t even have to paddle much. Since there was a good flow, the six miles went faster than we expected. This float can easily be done in three hours. We spend a lot of time swimming and hanging out on gravel bars to stretch the float out to four hours.
As I mentioned in my first Eleven Point River article, the scenery here is better than what you might expect. Being so close the Northeast Arkansas delta, you might expect it to be flat farmland. But it’s actually surrounded by rolling hills and green meadows of the Ozark foothills. You’re not going to see large mountains or towering bluffs, but this area is far from ugly. The best thing about floating the Eleven Point is the joy of seeing moving water that’s floatable in the driest part of Summer. Not only is it a welcomed sight, that emerald green water is nice and cold — perfect for Arkansas’ hot Summer days.
Plan Your Trip
Floating Dalton to Shanty On the Eleven Point River does take a little planning. As I mentioned, it is one of Trukees’ Exclusive Floats for their cabin guests. We stayed in their camper called “The Shack”, which is next to “The Shanty” cabin. Trukees has a wide range of accommodations for different types and sizes of groups. Cabins and campers do fill up, so be sure to reserve online or call ahead of time. For all floats, Trukees will pick you up and take you upriver to put in. You’ll end the float at your rental, or at your vehicle if you’re not staying with Trukees. There are lots of different float options available. And whether you do an exclusive float or not, I highly recommend getting a shuttle. They’re just too convenient and reasonably priced not to.
Some parts of the Eleven Point have cell service, but not Dalton to Shanty. And definitely not at the Shack or Shanty rentals. So plan on having an unplugged weekend. But there is water and electricity at all cabins and campers. Snacks, drinks, and ice are available at the Trukees store. And there are restaurants a few miles away in Pocahontas for post-float grub. Remember, NO GLASS on the river! And as always, be prepared to pack out any trash you have and leave no trace. The next time the Summer heat is leaving you searching for floatable water, give the Eleven Point River a look. It’s a great option. Enjoy!
