#rafting
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...
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...
Floating the Lower Ouachita River
As the mid-Summer sun beats the Arkansas paddling rivers down to an unfloatable trickle, finding a place to paddle becomes a challenge. This is when it becomes necessary to turn to spring-fed options like the Eleven Point River, or dam-fed options like the Little Red or Little Missouri Rivers. For many in Central and South Arkansas, floating the Lower Ouachita River from Lake Catherine to Malvern is the go-to option. I had never floated this river until 2014. But I was pleasantly surprised by it and have made many return trips since then. I really like this float for so many reasons. Aside from being a short drive, the put-in and take-outs are also really easy to access. It’s a float that you can do fairly quick, or you can make it last all day. And best of all, the river almost alwa...
