Flatwater Canoe & Kayak Floating in Southwestern Missouri's Elk
River
 Clear flowing water, scenic bluffs and easy paddling on the Elk
River make Noel,
Missouri a
road trip well worth making. The Elk River in Noel, MO is loaded with canoe and kayak livery
operators and is only a short drive from the Ozarks of Oklahoma or
Arkansas. The Elk River is a great kayak trip for novice paddlers
and it is close enough to
Eureka Springs, Arkansas paddling or
Oklahoma's Illinois River to squeeze them into the same road
trip. You could also hit this river on your way to the Buffalo River
National River, if you head for Harrison, Arkansas going east on
Highway 412. There is only one small riffle near the end of the most
commonly paddled portion of the Elk River. The river is lined with
several great canoe & kayak outfitters, campsites and cabins so
you don't have to bring your own shuttle-bunny when you kayak the
Elk River.
Timing is key for canoe trips the Elk River. On
Summer weekends, The Elk River is a party river popular with young
folks loaded into slow moving rafts overflowing with: Jello
shots, ice chests and funnels for their beer. Most partiers
travel by raft, so a kayak or canoe will usually allow you to bypass
the festivities fairly quickly. If you want to join the slow moving
float trip party, rent a raft. They offer the option of having
lots of friends and cargo aboard, plenty of room to stretch out plus
it is easy to slide on and off the raft for the occasional bit of
swimming. These features make sunscreen even more important
for rafters than for kayakers, don't play chicken with skin cancer.
 Families and church groups looking for a more peaceful, more scenic, less PG-13,
float
trip should consider a weekday trip in Spring or Fall.
Barring that, depart early in the morning or ask your outfitter
about a float trip down Indian Creek or Big Sugar as they are not
really party places in any season. Personally, I can
enjoy either kind of wildlife...be they tramp-stamps or Osprey...they both make fine
fodder for my camera! This fairly quick, but easy kayaking on the
Elk River is
too much fun to ignore. The wide, green and clear Elk River
makes a great introduction to moving water for novice recreational
paddlers. In fact, I rented an SOT kayak for my son's first trip on
moving water. I paddled it with no serious problems. Too bad a
surprise Spring shower doused us all to the bone. That day's
kayaking lesson was to avoid cotton garments and pick
modern fabrics like Heatgear for paddling ..even in the Summer.
Pineville, MO To Mt. Shira, MO on the Elk River
08-23-2009 Float Trip Report:
 Unlike
the lower Mt. Fork River, the Elk River from Pineville MO to Noel,
MO drops gently but consistently. The water moves faster over the
shallower areas making paddle-work nearly optional. This makes it
popular with rafter during Summer Vacation. Hitting the Elk River on
this Sunday morning in August, we were surprised to see more canoes
than kayaks or rafts. Dianne enjoyed the river much more with the
lighter traffic and more family friendly atmosphere. The eight hours
of driving...not so much. Next time, we might seek lodging in Jane,
MO.
There are loads of outfitters on the Elk River in Missouri and the
river flow is so consistent that folks float it all year long. Visit
the Elk River on a Saturday during summer vacation to see hundreds
of other crafts on the water. From church group outings to bachelor
parties everyone is out enjoying the summer on the Elk River.
 We
put-in at Big Elk Camp & Canoe, right off Highway 71 near
Pineville, MO. They charged
us $30 to shuttle us and our boats back to our truck from the Shady
Beach Campground at Mt. Shira, Missouri. Many outfitters won't
shuttle private boats, so plan carefully and call before you drive.
With so many outfitters in Pineville and Noel, you are sure to find
someone to take your money. I usually end up spending more on
t-shirts and other mementos than shuttling. This time, it was close.
Since I have never gotten a decent restaurant recommendation from an
outfitter in Noel or Pineville (strange phenomenon peculiar to the
Elk River), Dianne and I drove around in desperation seeking Sunday
lunch... at 2pm when we got off the water. Right next to River Rat
Pizza in Noel (they were closed), we found Rosa's Mexican Store and
restaurant. The window said "Buffet, All Day, Everyday"... and
the congregation shouted: "Amen!" Rosa's had the best buffet
I've tried in ages and a cool little ethnic food market right next
door! They make wonderful breads and pastries at the market!
Yakker didn't make this trip, so I wasn't able to test
self-shuttling options in the area. Someday, when I have more time
in the area, I would like to make a list of the public use areas on
the Elk River. It is truly a great river for recreational paddling.
Until then, consult this map for public access points on the Elk
River:
Elk River area map.
I
don't believe I have ever seen so many baby fish swimming around my
kayak as I did this weekend. As Dianne said: “the water is so clear
you can read the labels of the countless beer cans that litter the
bottom of the Elk River”. A small fortune in aluminum cans awaits
someone in 'The Canoe Capital of the Ozarks'. Other than that it was
lovely. I'll bet I saw 20 soft shelled leather back turtles. It was
so cool watching them swim through the crystal clear water. It may
not be challenging whitewater, but it moves along nicely through a
very scenic portion of the Missouri Ozarks.
According to our outfitter, the water levels on Big Sugar and Indian
Creek were too low, but we might be able to catch some deeper water
this fall.
From Tulsa, you can head up north on I-44 for about an hour, then
east on US 60 and finally south down Highway 71 to reach Pineville,
MO. However, there are scores of routes to get to the Elk River
including many slower routes popular with bikers. Don’t miss the
town of Noel, Missouri…the highways there are bordered by really
scenic bluffs! I can't wait to see the area when the fall colors set
in, it really isn't very piney, so there should be quite a change.
Pineville, MO Kayak Float Trip on the Elk River
06-28-2008 Trip Report: Dianne, Dylan and myself drove up the Pineville, Missouri for an
8-mile float trip on the Elk River. I decided that the clear, cool
Class I water of that Ozark river would be perfect for Dylan's first
kayak paddling trip in current.
 To save a little money we decided to wake up early for the drive,
paddle the river and head straight home. This is a bit of a shame
since there are loads of great paddling resources in the area. We
rented an Old Town Typhoon Sit-On-Top Kayak for Dylan to paddle. He
enjoyed paddling it, once his mother traded the extremely heavy
outfitters kayak paddle for her lighter Carlisle Day Tripper kayak
paddle. Outfitter paddling gear tends toward ruggedness more than
comfort or features.
The water is fairly fast, straight and quite clear. Gravel
bars are common and the trees are a mixture of mostly deciduous
trees with some cedar and pines mixed in.
 Our outfitter was Big Elk Camp and Canoe. Their store is at the put-in for the 8-mile trip down to Shady Beach Campground in Noel Missouri. Big Elk is open all year renting canoe, rafts and SOT kayaks. They are pretty easy to find right off Highway 71 and they had a wide selection of kayaking t-shirts and other paddler goodies.
We grabbed
this cool shirt with an Elk River map on the back. You know I
love collecting new paddling t-shirts! Read all about our
2008 Elk
River Kayaking Float Trip on our OklahomaRoadTrips.com
paddling blog.
Noel, Missouri - Paddling Town in the Missouri Ozarks
We love Noel,
Missouri, (heaven for canoe paddlers) but the town is small and the
lodging options are pretty limited. (Jump
to our Elk River Outfitters List). Sometimes, we like
to
paddle the Illinois River on the same day that we paddle the Elk
River. They are that close! Dianne and I are
always looking for lodging near the Elk River that offers a Jacuzzi
rooms.
FYI - In the town of
Noel, MO they pronounce Noel with a silent 'e' like
The Grassy Knoll,
as opposed to the short 'e' sound as in The First Noel.
A new Elk River area lodging option I just stumbled upon is:
Boones Lick Lodge
Offering two locations. One location is in Jane, MO
Phone: (417) 226-1888 and the other is in Neosho, MO
Phone: (417) 455-0888.
The motels have 45 rooms, 33 with two queen-sized beds and 12
with one king-sized bed. One of the rooms is a handicapped
accessible room, and one of the rooms with a king bed has a
whirlpool bath. The rooms have luxury bedding, in-room
microwave and refrigerator, high speed internet, and free HBO.
The motels also have a heated pool and hot tub.
Got lodging tips for the Noel, MO / Pineville, MO. area?
Use the email contact link at the top of the right hand column
on this page.
 Longtime favorite destination of fly fishing enthusiasts, Noel, Missouri is a great little paddling town just across the
border from Oklahoma. Plenty of outfitters are available to provide
a number of great float trips. Also, check out the nearby King's
River in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
Trip Report - 6/4/05 The
Elk River
The Wide and Friendly
Elk River
The Elk River is rated as a Class I to II stream with no significant rapids or waterfall drops. Its watershed headwaters originate in Big Sugar Creek and Little Sugar Creek. The two streams merge near Pineville, Missouri to form the Elk River.
In Oklahoma, the Elk River flows out of Missouri and forms the Elk River Arm of the Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees.
This river has been widened in some places to improve float conditions
for family canoe and kayak trips.
Dianne and I paddled the
Elk River's wide and easy flatwater in a tandem canoe, but our
canoe outfitter also offered kayaks and rafts.
Wayside
provided us with a very nice canoe complete with seat cushions and
backrests, however the river proved so tame that I wish we had
chosen kayaks instead.
There are loads of commercial outfitters and affordable lodging providers in Noel, MO. Since
we are still um.. shopping for our own kayaks and canoes, we love to
visit well-outfitted paddling rivers like this one.
Camping and Floating on the Elk River is just across the border from Oklahoma, only a few hours from Tulsa. Take a road trip
soon and find out why Noel, Missouri has long been called 'The Canoe Capital of the Ozarks'.
Fun easy flatwater float trips are on tap all summer long!
ELK
RIVER OUTFITTERS
Choosing a float trip outfitter on any river often comes down to
deciding on a put-in outfitter or a take-out outfitter. Down river
on The Elk goes from Pineville to Noel.
Choosing a put-in outfitter in Pineville will usually get
you on the water earlier, however you have to wait at the take-out
for pickup. I often choose put-in outfitters because
kayak photography works best
early in the morning and the river offers more shade.
Choosing a take-out outfitter in Noel means you have to
wait for the shuttle to get on the water in the morning, but you
will probably take-out at or near the parking spot for your vehicle.
This allows you to proceed immediately to the nearest restaurant
with no delay.
Noel, Missouri
Eagles
Nest Campground and Canoe Rentals
417-475-3326 • 1-800-843-7080
53 Eagle Nest Lane • Noel, MO 64854
Elk
River Floats / Wayside Campground
417-475-3230 • 417-475-3561
P.O. Box 546 (Jct. Hwys 59 & 90) • Noel, MO 64854
(Tested and Approved)
River
Ranch Camp & Canoe Resort
1-800-951-6121 • 417-475-6121
101 River Drive, Hwy 59 N • Noel, MO 64854
Private kayak shuttle: 1 person kayak for $10 or a 2 person kayak
$15. Great price!
Shady
Beach Family Campground
1-800-745-6481 • 417-475-6483
P.O. Box 473, Hwy 59 N • Noel, MO 64854
FYI -
Shady Beach Campground at Mt. Shira is the takeout for the Big Elk
Camp - 8-mile trip.
Two Sons Floats & Camping
1-800-693-1892 • 417-475-4774
15806 Hwy 59
Noel, Missouri 64854
twosonsfloats@twosonsfloats.com
Offers camping, plus rental of canoes, kayaks, rafts & tubes. Shop
for souvenirs, snacks and more while you enjoy the large swimming
beach. No boat rentals after 2 P.M. Open from mid April till
about the 1st of October, depending on weather & customer demand.
Pineville, Missouri
Big
Elk Camp & Canoe
•
417-223-4635
Reservations: 1-800-813-0907
402 South Hwy 71 • Pineville, MO 64856
(Tested and Approved
in 2008 & 2009)
Big Elk Camp & Canoe will shuttle privately owned canoes for $30
each. Pricey, but they did a decent job. Sadly, they don't open
until 9:30am on Sundays.
Kozy
Kamp
•
417-223-4586
P.O. Box 449, Hwy 71 • Pineville, MO 64856
Kozy
Kamp does not allow the launching of private vessels nor does it
offer shuttle service for private boats.
Three
River Campground LLC
•
417-223-4746
Reservations: 1-800-496-3261
P.O. Box 697 • Pineville, MO 64856
Nothing cools you down faster than a spring fed river or a crisp clear lake on a hot Oklahoma day. Check out our
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