#standupPaddleBoard
Floating War Eagle Creek – Hwy 23 to Hwy 45
The Ozarks, a vast and scenic mountain range stretching across Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, is a paddler’s paradise. With an abundance of options ranging from gentle floats to adrenaline-pumping whitewater, the Ozarks cater to all paddling skill levels. In the Arkansas Ozarks, iconic rivers such as the Buffalo, Kings, and Mulberry garner most of the attention, and rightfully so. But beyond these popular rivers lie some lesser known gems like War Eagle Creek. Floating War Eagle Creek is a must-do for anyone seeking a scenic and relaxing experience in nature, away from the crowds. My first glimpses of War Eagle Creek came while I was driving to Marble for a float trip down the nearby Kings River. I knew right then I had to come back to float this one too. This gentle waterway is o...
Long Pool to Hwy 164 on Big Piney Creek
There are certain floats in Arkansas that have a very short window of opportunity for floating. You have to catch these floats during prime float season, and often within days of a good rain. Floats like North Sylamore Creek, or Helton’s to Long Pool on Big Piney Creek are good examples. Big Piney Creek is one of my favorites, and I think a very underrated float river in Arkansas. And although the window of opportunity is often short, there is a section that’s a little more forgiving. Of course I’m talking about Long Pool to Hwy 164 on Big Piney Creek. Long Pool to Hwy 164 on Big Piney Creek is a float that I have done many times. You might also see it called Long Pool to Moore’s, or Long Pool to Twin Bridges. I like it for several reasons. One, it has some really f...
Floating and Fishing on the Upper Ouachita
For the past two summers, I have joined up with my paddling friends in Hot Springs to go floating and fishing on the Upper Ouachita River. I have written about floating the Lower Ouachita before. Even though this is the same river, it’s an entirely different float. What I call the Lower Ouachita runs from out of Lake Catherine down to Malvern and beyond. But what I call the Upper Ouachita is the western portion of that same river, running into Lake Ouachita. The Upper Ouachita is very different from the Lower because it is not fed by a lake. So the water level gets pretty low. I really don’t recommend this river in mid-summer for anyone looking for a fun float with good flow. But I DO recommend it for anyone looking for a place to float and fish. It is great river to catch some...
Floating High Bank to Byrd’s on the Mulberry River
We are over halfway through May, and the window to consistently float the upper end of most rivers will be closing soon. Last week, I wrote about floating Ponca to Kyle’s Landing on the Buffalo while you can. Floating High Bank to Byrd’s on the Mulberry River is very similar. The water gets too low to float once summer gets really hot and we get less rain. Unless you have the flexibility to go immediately after a rain, you probably have until around mid-June to float this stretch of the Mulberry. Floating High Bank to Byrd’s on the Mulberry River is one of my top 5 favorite floats in the state. I love it because it is such a beautiful area. And the further up the Mulberry River you go, the prettier it gets, in my opinion. It’s also a really fast, fun river to float....
