A Canoeing and Kayaking Guide to the Ozarks

by Tom Kennon

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780897328272
Publisher:	Menasha Ridge Press
Publication date:	02/01/2010
Series:	Canoe and Kayak Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	974,366
File size:	30 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Tom Kennon began paddling in 1974 and wrote his first book, Arkansas Whitewater Rivers, in 1978 due to the lack of information about paddling in the area. In 1988, the book was expanded to include more comprehensive river descriptions. Kennon lives in Fort Smith, Arkansas and is still an active paddler and ACA canoe instructor closely associated with the Arkansas Canoe Club.

Read an Excerpt

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 aclass 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.

Table of Contents

	Map Index	viii
	Map Legend	ix
	Acknowledgments	x
	Preface	xi
	Introduction
	An Overview of the Ozarks	1
	Using This Guide	3
	River Hydrology	7
	Safety	10
	Conservation and the Law	13
	Legal Rights of Canoeists	14
Part 1	The Eastern Ozarks
	Archey Creek	15
	Big Creek	17
	Cadron Creek	19
	Cove Creek	22
	Middle Fork of the Little Red River	24
	North Sylamore Creek	27
	Salado Creek	29
	South Fork of the Spring River	31
	Spring River	33
	Strawberry River	36
	White River	38
Part 2	The Central Ozarks
	Big Piney Creek	44
	Buffalo National River	50
	Crooked Creek	60
	East Fork of the Illinois Bayou	63
	Falling Water Creek	65
	Hailstone River	67
	Hurricane Creek	70
	Illinois Bayou	73
	Little Piney Creek	75
	Middle Fork of the Illinois Bayou	77
	North Fork of the Illinois Bayou	80
	Richland Creek	82
	Shoal Creek	87
	Spadra Creek	89
Part 3	The Western Ozarks
	Cedar Creek and West Cedar Creek	91
	Clear Creek	94
	Cove Creek	97
	Frog Bayou	99
	Illinois River	104
	King's River	106
	Lee Creek	112
	Little Mulberry Creek	116
	Middle Fork of the White River	119
	Mulberry River	122
	Osage Creek	129
	Upper White River	130
	War Eagle Creek	132
	West Fork of the White River	134
Part 4	The Ouachitas
	Alum Fork of the Saline River	137
	Baker Creek	139
	Big Creek (Oklahoma)	141
	Brushy Creek	143
	Caddo River	145
	Cossator River	148
	Eagle Fork Creek	154
	Jack Creek	156
	Little Missouri River	158
	Lower Ouachita River	162
	North Fork of the Saline River	165
	Ouachita River	167
	Saline River	172
	South Fourche Lafave River	174
	Sugar Creek	176
Part 5	The Missouri Ozarks
	Bryant's Creek	179
	Current River	182
	Eleven Point River	188
	Jack's Fork River	193
	North Fork of the White River	198
Part 6	The St. Francios Mountains
	Big Creek	201
	Castor River	204
	Marble Creek	206
	St. Francis River	208
	Turkey Creek	213
	Appendices
Appendix A	Clubs and Organizations	216
Appendix B	Additional Books and Videos	220
Appendix C	Maps	222
Appendix D	Recommended Web sites	224
Appendix E	USGS Waterline	226
	Index	228