In the heartland of America rise the Ozark Mountains, teeming with cascading, free-flowing streams. Situated astride the Missouri/Arkansas border, the Ozarks represent a canoeing and kayaking wonderland. Still a comprehensive, accurate and readable guide, but now with a new design and format, A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to the Ozarks (formerly Ozark Whitewater) catalogs the varied rivers of the region. Inside are updated descriptions of all the classic rivers, including the Buffalo National and Little Missouri, as well as exciting new reports of today’s steep creek runs: Bryant, Turkey, and many others. This guide is the definitive sourcebook for Ozark river sport.

Tom Kennon began paddling in 1974 and wrote his first book in 1978, Arkansas Whitewater Rivers, after gathering information about rivers in Arkansas due to the lack of information about paddling in the area. In 1988 Ozark Whitewater expanded the original book to a more comprehensive description of rivers in the Ozarks. He lives in Fort Smith, Arkansas and is still an active paddler and ACA canoe instructor closely associated with the Arkansas Canoe Club.

Map Index

viii

Map Legend

ix

Acknowledgments

x

Preface

xi

introduction

An Overview of the Ozarks

1

(2)

Using This Guide

3

(4)

River Hydrology

7

(3)

Safety

10

(3)

Conservation and the Law

13

(1)

Legal Rights of Canoeists

14

(1)

part One THE EASTERN OZARKS

Archey Creek

15

(2)

Big Creek

17

(2)

Cadron Creek

19

(3)

Cove Creek

22

(2)

Middle Fork of the Little Red River

24

(3)

North Sylamore Creek

27

(2)

Salado Creek

29

(2)

South Fork of the Spring River

31

(2)

Spring River

33

(3)

Strawberry River

36

(2)

White River

38

(6)

part Two THE CENTRAL OZARKS

Big Piney Creek

44

(6)

Buffalo National River

50

(10)

Crooked Creek

60

(3)

East Fork of the Illinois Bayou

63

(2)

Falling Water Creek

65

(2)

Hailstone River

67

(3)

Hurricane Creek

70

(3)

Illinois Bayou

73

(2)

Little Piney Creek

75

(2)

Middle Fork of the Illinois Bayou

77

(3)

North Fork of the Illinois Bayou

80

(2)

Richland Creek

82

(5)

Shoal Creek

87

(2)

Spadra Creek

89

(2)

part Three THE WESTERN OZARKS

Cedar Creek and West Cedar Creek

91

(3)

Clear Creek

94

(3)

Cove Creek

97

(2)

Frog Bayou

99

(5)

Illinois River

104

(2)

King's River

106

(6)

Lee Creek

112

(4)

Little Mulberry Creek

116

(3)

Middle Fork of the White River

119

(3)

Mulberry River

122

(7)

Osage Creek

129

(1)

Upper White River

130

(2)

War Eagle Creek

132

(2)

West Fork of the White River

134

(3)

part Four THE OUACHITAS

Alum Fork of the Saline River

137

(2)

Baker Creek

139

(2)

Big Creek (Oklahoma)

141

(2)

Brushy Creek

143

(2)

Caddo River

145

(3)

Cossatot River

148

(6)

Eagle Fork Creek

154

(2)

Jack Creek

156

(2)

Little Missouri River

158

(4)

Lower Ouachita River

162

(3)

North Fork of the Saline River

165

(2)

Ouachita River

167

(5)

Saline River

172

(2)

South Fourche Lafave River

174

(2)

Sugar Creek

176

(3)

part Five THE MISSOURI OZARKS

Bryant's Creek

179

(3)

Current River

182

(6)

Eleven Point River

188

(5)

Jack's Fork River

193

(5)

North Fork of the White River

198

(3)

part Six THE ST. FRANCIOS MOUNTAINS

Big Creek

201

(3)

Castor River

204

(2)

Marble Creek

206

(2)

St. Francis River

208

(5)

Turkey Creek

213

(3)

appendices

Appendix A: Clubs and Organizations

216

(4)

Appendix B: Additional Books and Videos

220

(2)

Appendix C: Maps

222

(2)

Appendix D: Recommended Web sites

224

(2)

Appendix E: USGS Waterline

226

(2)

Index

228

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

West Cedar Creek drops at a rate of 40 feet per mile in this section and continuous class II and III rapids can characterize it. The paddler is greeted with a good class II drop at the put in. The Creek is constricted on both sides by bedrock, creating a fast flow with good eddies and surfing opportunities. Another good drop is just below the Highway 162 Bridge followed by a rapid that drops through a tight boulder field that requires precision moves at just the right moment. The rapid can be run on the river right or river left chutes. The left chute is more difficult and drops into a hole that can be a boat eater at higher levels. The right chute requires an approach from middle river left to river right in preparation for a quick left then right maneuver to run this rapid successfully. Class II rapids continue non-stop for approximately one quarter mile and then the paddler encounters a class II+ slide ledge that takes the paddler under a large rock shelf with no danger. It is just spectacular! Note the waterfall on the right side of the creek! The creek swings to the left (east) and drops over a four-foot waterfall that should be run on river left. There are several good surfing holes here. The paddler encounters a low water bridge less that a quarter mile from the falls. Pull out on river left and portage to avoid the culverts in the bridge. This is alternate Put-in for this section that can be used to shorten the trip by approximately one mile. The creek continues with sporty class II rapids for a short distance then East Cedar Creek enters on river left as the paddler passes under the old wagon bridge. Just below the confluence of East Cedar Creek the paddler encounters a class II+ run that is very exciting. Not far downstream the creek splits. Take the left channel and prepare for a very tight fast run. One should always be on the lookout for fallen trees! Just downstream, the confluence of Cedar Creek enters on right, as the creek turns left. Eddy out and surf the waves here! Just downstream is a low water ford. River left is the safe route. Hydraulics form from the middle to river right of the low water ford. The creek slows its drop for the next two miles but the current still moves and very little paddling is required.

Excerpted from A Canoeing and Kayaking Guide to the Ozarks by Tom Kennon
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