For many people in Arkansas, the hot temperatures and dry rivers of mid-Summer mean the end of float season. But that doesn’t have to be the case. That’s right, there are other float options out there that do not rely on rainfall. There are spring-fed rivers like the Eleven Point River and the Illinois River. And there are dam-fed floats like the Little Missouri, Lower Ouachita, and Little Red. Last Summer we made our first trip down the Little Red when we floated Swinging Bridge to Lobo Landing. To beat the heat this year, we went upriver to float Cow Shoals to Swinging Bridge on the Little Red River.
Quick Glance
Distance: Approximately 4.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Cow Shoals Access Coordinates: 35.513393, -91.929978
Swinging Bridge Access (Barnett Park) Coordinates: 35.489656, -91.971721
(Copy/Paste Coordinates into GPS or Google Maps search bar)
Directions
I recommend self-shuttling for this float. So first you’ll need to drop a vehicle at the Swinging Bridge take-out at Barnett Park. From the Hwy 25 Bypass southeast of Heber Springs, head east Hwy 110/ E. Wilburn Rd toward Sugarloaf Mountain. Drive 1.7 miles and cross over the bridge. At the end of the bridge, turn left into Barnett Park. This area is called “Swinging Bridge” because there used to be an old suspension bridge crossing the river right there. To get to the put-in at Cow Shoals from Barnett’s, backtrack on Hwy 110 for 0.8 miles. Turn right on Hwy 210 and continue for 2.3 miles until it turns makes a slight right bend. There, it becomes Cow Shoals (Rd). Continue for 1 mile. In the sharp right-hand curve, the Cow Shoals Access parking area will be on the left. See map coordinates above or Google map below.
What to Expect
The first thing to know about floating Cow Shoals to Swinging Bridge is that getting your gear to the put-in takes some work. The only way to get a kayak from the parking lot to the river bank is down a long series of stairs. This part is featured in my video further below. Upon exiting the forest labyrinth and reaching the shore, paddlers are greeted with a gorgeous view of the Little Red River. From there, it’s pretty smooth sailing.
The Float
The next thing to know about floating Cow Shoals to Swinging Bridge is that it’s not the float that I would recommend for the Little Red. There are a lot of down trees to navigate on the first third of the float. And aside from the beautiful riverfront homes, it’s a bit ugly in parts of that stretch. There’s a lot of vegetation on the river bottom, along with all the down trees. And there are not many good gravel bars or places to pull off and stop. Finally, the last mile or so requires a LOT of paddling. Although there is a decent flow for much of the float, that last section is nearly void of any movement. If you don’t paddle, you’re not moving. I think that Swinging Bridge to Lobo Landing is a MUCH better float than this one. It’s the only one I’ll do on the Little Red moving forward.
As for the details of this float, Cow Shoals to Swinging Bridge is only about 4.5 miles. So it’s not a long float. It took us roughly 3 hours to do, and that’s with two stops for snacks and cooling off. Aside from all the paddling, it is an easy float that anyone can do. There are a few small shoals, but nothing I would call rapids. Closer to the end, there are several long deep pools to paddle through. Did I mention there’s a lot of paddling on this float? Although it’s not as scenic as Swinging Bridge to Lobo, there are some pretty areas on this stretch. The best part about it is the water temperature. Being a dam-fed river, the water coming from the dam is super cold. Perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day.
When to Float
In my previous Little Red River article (here), I explained the differences between floating the Little Red before water is released from the dam versus after release. I recommend reading that part of the article as it’s pretty important. The short version though, is that I recommend starting the float well before they release water from the dam. There is still plenty of water then, the current is manageable, and you’ll find places to pull over. After water is released, there will be no place to stop. And due to the swift currents, all the boat docks on the river become hazardous. I elaborate on this a little more in the video further below.
Trout Fishing – PLEASE READ
First and foremost, the Little Red River below the dam is a trout fishing river. In fact, it’s one of the best trout fishing locations in the country. If you are looking for a river to party on, litter, be loud, or any other type of nuisance, please go somewhere else. (Preferably not ANY river.)This is absolutely not the place for that. People come here from all over the country – and spend lots of money – just for the world-renown trout fishing. Many people and businesses in this community rely on that for their livelihood. Please don’t do anything to mess that up.
Having said that, you’re likely to encounter some folks trout fishing along the way. You probably won’t see many in the middle of the float. But you’ll almost definitely see them around the Cow Shoals access and other hot spots. Please be quiet, give them plenty of space, and don’t disturb the fishing. You might even consider doing some fishing yourself. If so, be aware that there are different regulations in different spots along the river. Avoid getting a ticket by reviewing these rules here.
Plan Your Trip
There is only one outfitter I’m aware of that shuttles floats on the Little Red River below Greers Ferry Dam. That is Little Red River Outfitters. Their float shop is in Shirley, but they do service this part of the river if you call and schedule with them. But really, this is an easy float to self-shuttle as long as you have a float partner and two vehicles. Whether you want to do the float before or after the dam releases water, it’s a good idea to know when that occurs. Check the generation schedules here. They usually post the next day’s schedule late in the afternoon the day before. Most of the river bank on this float is private property. Please be respectful of private property while on the river. Do not go on anyone’s boat docks or in their yards for any reason.
There is cell service for a good portion of the float, but might be spotty here and there. Remember, NO GLASS on the river! And as always, be prepared to pack out any trash you have and leave no trace. If you want to make a weekend of it, there are lots of vacation rental homes and cabins in the area. Or you can camp at JFK Park Campground, or Dam Site Park. Heber Springs is just a few minutes away with plenty of good restaurant options. If you’re looking for new floats to do during the dry season, the Little Red River is a good option. But like I said, I actually recommend Swinging Bridge to Lobo Landing. It’s one I will definitely be back to do again. This one is not. Hope this helps you plan your late-Summer float.
