AR Own Backyard is an Arkansas Outdoors site, so I try to keep the subject matter limited to Arkansas destinations. But the “Backyard” part is subjective, right? Crossing an hour over state lines still counts as our backyard, doesn’t it? Well, when you want to float during dry season, you do what you have to do. So mid-September of 2022 we crossed the state line to try floating the Illinois River in NE Oklahoma.
The Illinois River is a spring-fed river that starts in Arkansas and flows into Oklahoma. In addition to the Spring and Eleven Point Rivers, it’s one of the few spring-fed options we have. And it’s the only one I had not floated yet. So why Oklahoma? Simply because that’s where my crew wanted to go and they planned the trip. But I’m glad we did it, because I got to see what NE Oklahoma has to offer. I promise the Arkansas side is on my to-do list though!
Quick Glance
Section: Round Hollow to Peavine Hollow
Distance: Approximately 6 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Round Hollow Coordinates: 36.094569, -94.830901
Peavine Hollow Coordinates: 36.063901, -94.884107
Eagle Bluff Resort Coordinates: 36.033909, -94.915637
(Copy/Paste Coordinates into GPS or Google Maps search bar)
We set out to float Round Hollow to Eagle Bluff Resort. That would be a 12-mile float. Due to the strong headwinds in our face, we cut the float short and finished at Peavine Hollow. This ended up being a 6-mile float. We normally won’t cut a float short. But we had some littles in our group who where just DONE for the day. With the all-day shuttles up and down the river, it was an easy decision to head to our cabin and start on dinner.
Directions
There are really no special directions for floating the Illinois River in NE Oklahoma. This section of river is so easily accessible, and has many access points for you to customize your float. From the southern route, map yourself to the intersection of Hwy 62 and Hwy 10 just east of Tahlequah, Oklahoma. From there, take Hwy 10 north along the river to your outfitter or put-in of choice. From areas north of Fayetteville, navigate to the intersection of Hwy 412 and Hwy 10 and head south on Hwy 10. See the Google map below with our access points marked.
What to Expect
The Illinois River is spring fed and has good flow most of the year. The river level this day was 3.8 ft on the gauge at Eagle Bluff Resort. We had great flow throughout the float. However, we had a 15-20 mph headwind in our face all day that made paddling tough. At this level, there were a few fun shoals but no real rapids to speak of. In terms of difficulty, this is a super easy float. Well, with the exception of the strong headwind that day. There were several trees down but only one that I would consider a real hazard. Most of them were avoidable and made good habitat for fish.
The Illinois River is very rocky with lots of gravel bars and a few bluffed banks. So the water is very clean and clear. And being a spring-fed river, it is nice and cool. The temperature was perfect for a 90 degree day. I got the feeling this is a pretty big party river in the summer. That’s probably because it’s close to a college town and there are a lot of outfitters. But also because there were a lot of people on the river for mid-September. Even with all the people, the smallmouth bass fishing was pretty good. Although there were a lot of great gravel bars, I didn’t see anyone camping out on the river. So it may not be allowed here. Best to check with one of the local outfitters on that.
Scenery
Some people may not think of Oklahoma as being particularly scenic, but this part of the state definitely is. The Ozarks in NE Oklahoma and the Ouachitas in SE Oklahoma look a lot like what we have here in Arkansas. Although there were only a few big bluffs on the river, we drove past some really cool ones while shuttling. And an occasional view of the hills in the distance reminds you that you’re still in the Ozarks. There was one small section of private property that had a little Spring River feel to it. So of course we stopped there for a swim and visit with the musical maestro of the river! This is all featured in the video below.
Plan Your Trip
Since the Illinois is a spring-fed river, you don’t have to worry too much about the water level being too low. However, if you plan to go floating the Illinois River during the rainy season, you might check to make sure it’s not too high. One of the locals there told us the river has been known to flood from time to time. I see several gauges on the RiverApp, but it doesn’t hurt to check with one of the local outfitters. Cell service here is spotty but gets better the closer you get to Tahlequah. Remember, NO GLASS on the river! As always, be prepared to pack out any trash you have and leave no trace.
Unless you are local to NE Oklahoma or NW Arkansas, this is likely to be an overnight trip for you. There are quite a few cabins for rent in the area. We rented one from Eagle Bluff Resort, who also had a nice campground.* I’m sure there are plenty of other accommodations among the other outfitters along the river. (There are several). Hotels and restaurants are also available in nearby Tahlequah. And food, drinks, ice, and supplies can be found at any of the float shops on the river. Here is a handy map of the river with all the access points marked, to help you customize your float. Next time you’re looking for a new river to float during dry season, give this one a look!
*This article is NOT sponsored or endorsed by Eagle Bluff Resort or anyone else. We have received no financial incentive for any statements in this article.
