Kayak Oklahoma Blog Sunset

It looks like the Kayak Oklahoma Blog may be soon coming to an end. The folks at Blogger.com have decided to end support for authors who own their own domain. Although it is kind of a bummer that they are dropping this service right at the start of Spring kayaking season, I hope it will open up more time for paddling.

Still, OklahomaRoadTrips.com will continue. Dianne and I are still eagerly paddling all of the local waterways that we can manage, so you can expect to find float trip reports and kayaking photography on this site...just not on this page.

This Summer we are heading south to visit a cabin on Caddo Lake in Texas. We are also planning a trip on the Caddo River and the Ouachita River in Arkansas. As usual we will hit our two favorite Oklahoma rivers: The Lower Mountain Fork River in Broken Bow, Oklahoma and the Illinois River in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Also, keep an eye on our site to get the details of Dianne's kayak fishing exploits as she goes after Gar, one of Oklahoma's largest and oldest fish species.

For late breaking news on Oklahoma kayaking issues, look me up on Twitter (username: FreeWine) and if you want to contact me you can always email me or hit me up on Flickr or Facebook. Until then, I hope to see you on the water!

Happy Paddling!

Thomas Jones (FreeWine)
http://www.oklahomaroadtrips.com

Mulberry River Whitewater Two Hours from Home

Our first visit to The Mulberry River in Ozark, Arkansas this weekend was a blast!

Just a couple hours down I-40, the Mulberry River offers a fun ride with constant current and loads of fairly easy rapids. In fact, the Mulberry offers about 40 miles of great canoe & kayaking water. This river is rainfall driven, so you must plan your trip carefully. Too much water makes it very dangerous and too little water means dragging your kayak through the shallows. Visit the Turner Bend website for a daily updated gauge of the current river level. They will even sell you a detailed river map and canoe guide with all of the named rapids listed.

Since Dianne and I arrived at Turner Bend late in the afternoon, we took the short four mile float trip from the public access at Redding Campground in The Ozark National Forest down to the Turner Bend take-out at the Highway 23 bridge. The Mulberry River level was at 2.05 feet according to the Turner Bend gauge. The river level was perfect for a couple of recreational kayakers like us. As you can see from the picture on the right, the Mulberry provides lots of chances to test how cold the water is! The nice folks at Turner Bend shuttled both of our kayaks for a mere $16. I am eager to return and paddle more of this thrilling river.

Kayakers had better snap on the sprayskirt for paddling the Mulberry River. Although it is not as rocky as the LMF, there are loads of ripples and standing waves that make it difficult to see the rocks that are there. There are many more rapids on the Mulberry River than the Lower Mt. Fork River. Rather than the typical pool & drop, the Mulberry River water descends at a consistently swift pace through rapid after rapid.

Since we launched so late in the day, we had the river practically to ourselves. This was surprising because the Turner Bend store where we arranged the shuttle was absolutely packed with bikers! Turner Bend is located where the river crosses Highway 23. This is part of 'The Pig Trail', a scenic roadway popular with motorcycle clubs and car clubs. The Pig Trail and the National Forest campgrounds bring folks from all over the country to this beautiful part of the Arkansas Ozarks.

One of the best features of this river is the great put-in and take-out spots. Our put-in at Redding Campground was large and made with tons of lovely native stonework. With so many riffles and S-curves to paddle on the Mulberry, it is easy to lose track of time. Thankfully, Turner Bend has a take-out that you simply cannot miss. One highlight of our Turner Bend visit was seeing the electric boat lift they use to bring canoes & kayaks out of the water. For me, it was love at first sight!

The Mulberry River is an exciting series of whitewater rapids, so keep your wits about you. Watch the river levels closely, dress for immersion and paddle sober for the ride of your life! Dianne and I paddled the river without flipping the kayaks, but we still managed to get quite wet. To contact the Mulberry River outfitters and plan your own float trip, visit our Mulberry River page at: http://www.oklahomaroadtrips.com/Float-Mulberry-River.htm

While you are there, check out the town of Altus, Arkansas, home of several local wineries & vineyards, just 20 minutes away! If you don't have time to visit the wineries in person, just grab a few bottles of Arkansas wine at the Turner Bend store!

Clear Cold Elk River Kayaking Two Hours From Tulsa

This weekend, Oklahoma was blessed with lower than normal temps under clear, sunny skies. That kind of weather is not to be ignored! Dianne and I decided to make a day trip to the Ozarks to kayak some clear, cold moving water.

For day trips, Dianne and I keep it to four hours away or less. Eight hours of total driving in a single day should be plenty for any non-professional driver. Typically, this means the Lower Mt. Fork River in Broken Bow, but the levels on it have really been fluctuating this year. We decided to visit an old friend, the Elk River in Missouri for some late summer kayaking fun. We were NOT disappointed.

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. 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.

Shady Flatwater on a Cool Morning

I slipped out onto Salt Creek of Okmulgee Lake to enjoy an unexpectedly cool and cloudy late Summer morning. It turned out to be time well invested. Launch your kayaks somewhere this weekend, my friends! The weather is too sweet to waste. I saw several of the Oklahoma Flatwater Paddlers were out to enjoy Salt Creek this morning as well. The light was very interesting on the creek today.

Speaking of the OFP, I hear Al is striking deep into Missouri territory to paddle this weekend, we couldn't join him, but I think we may try to make a quick run to Pineville, MO on Sunday. The Elk River in Pineville is too close to Oklahoma to be ignored. A fun bit of moving water with gravel banks, the Elk River should be on your annual schedule for recreational kayaking. Yakker even suggested he might be able to join us!

It is great to be able to link up with friends for kayaking, but if you want to paddle early in the morning...you are likely to be paddling alone quite a bit. When I am kayaking alone, I like to stick to safer-than-usual waters. My wife sleeps better when I am not out risking life and limb. The Salt Creek channel into Okmulgee Lake offers four seasons of shady, sheltered, quiet, Oklahoma flatwater that rarely disappoints me with its beauty. Try not to kill your vehicle on the access road. It is very rough, so take it real slow and leave your lowrider in the garage for this trip!

Salt Creek is low, but the Deep Fork River, the Arkansas River and The North Canadian River are rolling pretty fast in our area. I have to get rolling myself, Dianne wants to head to Tulsa and visit her favorite new restaurant for Philippine cuisine. If I play my cards right, I might be able to get in some bowling!

Lily Pads At Beggs Lake

Lily Pads At Beggs Lake
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

My day job has kept me too busy to make many kayaking trips this summer. When that happens I try to spend my weekends exploring local waters. This weekend, Dianne and I took the kayaks to New Beggs Lake for some flatwater 'lily paddling'.

The New Beggs Lake offers quick access and quiet paddling due to only aloowing fishing from non-motorized watercraft. If you enjoy fishing from your canoe, kayak or float tube, you may want to give New Beggs Lake a try. We saw quite a bit of fish activity on this lake and the water looks quite clear in the deeper portions of the lake.

More pictures and details from our Oklahoma Road trip to New Beggs Lake.

Grave Creek Kayaking at Sunrise

Yakker and I encountered strange mists during our morning of kayaking on Grave Creek in McIntosh County, Oklahoma. As the sun began to peek through the leafy green canopy of treetops, it created tiny, swirling, white tornados. The thin columns of white mists spiraled upward like smoky spirits, rising into the heavens on golden beams of morning sunlight.
Grave Creek is an excellent spot for flatwater paddling at sunrise. It also offers a great little parking area and boat ramp access to Lake Eufaula near the Deep Fork River arm of the lake. Read more and check out my latest pictures on our Grave Creek kayaking page.

Table Rock Lake Kayaking Trip

Kayak Magic On Table Rock Lake
Originally uploaded by Thomas Jones.

Missouri Road Trip Report:
This weekend Dianne and I visited Flat Creek Resort on Table Rock Lake in Cape Fair, Missouri. Located in Southern Missouri / Northern Arkansas - Table Rock Lake is one of the finest Ozark lakes for kayaking. The lake's long, narrow and twisty shape bordered by rocky bluffs and tree covered hills is quite scenic. We saw a huge amount of fish jumping in the fairly clear waters of the lake. I would advise any paddlers and especially any kayak fishermen out there to find time to paddle Table Rock Lake.

We chose Flat Creek Resort after having read their webpage which presented itself as a full-on Ozark paddling resort. I had hoped for something like the world famous NOC or the Otter Bar in California... that was close enough for an Oklahoma road trip. I longed for a place crowded with knowledgeable paddlers and a wealth of kayaking t-shirts to browse.

The aging Flat Creek Resort has recently changed management and appears to be shifting away from focusing on kayakers and canoe trips, but it still offers an excellent access point, dock and boat ramp. Their location on the James River and Flat Creek arm of Table Rock Lake is quite scenic, however I was deeply disappointed to find the Paddleshop had been closed, the float trips outsourced and liquor license currently not in effect. Our AT&T cell phones did not work in Cape Fair, MO and the rooms at Flat Creek Resort had no phones or working TV's. Not being a HAM radio operator, this left me feeling pretty isolated and a little creeped out.

Despite the shortcomings, fishermen flock to spots like this for the great fishing. We spoke to several bass fishermen that drove down from Springfield, MO, by 9:30pm the parking lot was full of boats. We were surprised to see only one motor boat during our sunrise paddling the next day. The fleet had launched long before we drug the kayaks to the shore! We saw fish feeding constantly on Table Rock Lake and we paddled through lots of shallow water coves perfect for top water bass fishing from the kayak.

The entire 3-day weekend we were blessed with shockingly cool summer weather that created great conditions for kayak photography. Paddling the Flat Creek area of Table Rock Lake is deeply calming and its location near The White River, Branson, MO and Eureka Springs, AR means we are certain to bring our kayaks back to Table Rock Lake for more fun in the future!

Gotta go now, my new KF'ing DVD: Kayak Fishing: Game On just arrived from Amazon.

Our Upper Mountain Fork River Trip

Upper Mountain Fork River
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

Dianne booked us a stay in southeastern Oklahoma's mountains for the Father's Day weekend; it was SO secluded and relaxing! I recommend it highly for couples and small families looking for a great deal on an Oklahoma cabin in the country. The owners have only one cabin they treated us like royalty the entire time we were there.

River Ranch Cabin is nestled in the Oklahoma 'mountains'. Southeastern Oklahoma is more mountainous and forested than any other part of the state. The roads that lead to Smithville, Oklahoma reminded me on the switchback-laden three lane highways of Colorado. You have to watch out for logging trucks, but it is well worth it to see the amazing vistas of the Ouachita National Forest and the Kiamichi mountains.

The single one-bedroom cabin at River Ranch Cabin sits on over a hundred acres of solitude fronted by a half mile section of the Upper Mountain Fork River. This river resort offers the most exclusive luxuries on market: solitude and comfort amongst breathtaking natural beauty. I'm sure it was the spacious indoor Jacuzzi that attracted Dianne's attention to this cabin. That gal is drawn to hot tubs, like a moth to the flame! However, we both knew she would end up spending very little time in the Jacuzzi as soon as we saw the 'swimming hole' at River Ranch Cabin.

The Upper Mt. Fork River is quite different from the Lower Mt. Fork River we are accustomed to kayaking in. The water in the Upper Mt. Fork River is much warmer than in the lower river. In my opinion, the Lower Mountain Fork River is almost too cold for swimming. The rocky, pool and drop descents of the two rivers are similar, but we didn't see the Cypress trees and Spanish Moss that we normally see on the lower river.

Swimming at the private gravel bar 'swimming hole' at River Ranch Cabin means you see no one else. We swam about five hours a day all weekend and we never saw a hiker, boater, fisherman...anyone! The crystal clear waters are teaming with fish, deer are plentiful and the grounds are well mowed. The spacious 'swimming hole' is actually quite long, but since it is a narrow bit of river you can always find some shady water to take a break from the sun. A gas grill stands nearby so you don't even have to return to the cabin for lunch. The gravel bar also makes an excellent place to launch kayaks from.

Once it gets dark, Dianne and I were willing to return to what was easily the nicest cabin we have ever stayed in. The first thing I noticed when we entered the cabin was a lovely homemade cake resting under glass. The lady made cake for us! Dianne was impressed by how new everything was in the cabin and rushed in straight to see the tub. It is a beauty and elegantly placed in the large bathroom. My attention was captured by the truly world-class cooling system. Heat pump, digital thermostat and more ceiling fans than I have ever seen a single home, much less a one bedroom cabin! I counted two in the living room, two in the kitchen, one in the bedroom and two on the back porch for goodness sakes!

Everything about the cabin was perfect from the location right down to the smallest details. Although American Whitewater will tell you that the river is only runnable after local rains, we enjoyed paddling for quite a ways around the cabin even late in June. However, I must confess that the heat of the summer had us much more focused on swimming than we were on kayaking during our visit to River Ranch Cabin in Smithville, OK.

Looking for a kayaking shirt to beat the summer heat? This weekend I tried Under Armour Heatgear and it really works! I wore this black shirt in the blazing heat and sun and found it to be wodefully cool. try one yourself sometime: Under Armour Men Heatgear UA Tech Sleeveless T-Shirt.

Quiet Kayaking on Dripping Springs Lake

Saturday afternoon's sunset was a bit of a disappointment, but the clouds made the lake cool off earlier. The wind laid and the lake water became increasingly glassy as Scott and I paddled our kayaks up Salt Creek on Dripping Springs Lake. I took Dianne's new 13 foot kayak out, but still had to work pretty hard to keep up with Scott's 17 foot Pygmy Coho plywood kayak.

The day had been blisteringly hot when we launched our boats from the fishing dock at Clovis Point. Once we reached the point where the lake began to slim-down into Salt Creek (and I began to wonder if one bottle of water was going to be sufficient) blessed shade happened. When Scott offered to bring his fancy new kit kayak to Okmulgee, I got pretty excited. Since I started reading about building kayaks lately, I was familiar with stitch and glue boat building. However, I had never seen one up close. It was just the boat the slide across the lake and sneak up on some wildlife.

Although the Clovis Point campground had been crowded with RV's, we saw only two fishing boats on our trip up to Salt Creek. The seclusion was conducive to wildlife watching, as was Scott's super-sleek Coho kayak, it cuts through flat water like a scalpel, leaving barely a ripple in its wake. We slipped up on this lovely whitetail doe foraging on the lake shore. Before returning, to the fishing dock we saw several more deer and a few beavers.

Because I had allowed the hour to get a bit late, paddling back to Clovis Point provided a bit of a workout (much eased by in the cool of the evening). On the way back Scott and I met up with Ron, another local kayaker. Ron paddles an Old Town Loon. It is a Sit-Inside fishing kayak, much like Dianne's new Vapor 12. Ron is a swell guy (with a used whitewater kayak for sale, ping me if you want) and he lives not too far from my house. Mark has paddled this part of Oklahoma for decades; I hope to learn from him some more trips to share on this kayaking blog.

I hear some of the Oklahoma Flatwater Paddlers visited Lawton for some scenic paddling. Anybody else make the most out of this somewhat wet weekend in Oklahoma? Drop me a comment or fine me on Twitter, Flickr, Facebook, etc.

Happy Paddling!

Illinois River Float Trip May 2009

Dianne and I joined up with Yakker for a Friday trip down the scenic Illinois River (self-shuttled because it is good to have friends). At just a bit over 4 feet, the river level was perfect for our entire trip - no dragging and no paddling in treetops. Just the way I like it. We launched from the public access at No Head Hollow off Highway 10 and paddled down to the public take-out at the Highway 62 Bridge.

Just about 15 minutes into our trip, Dianne spots a Bald Eagle perched on a tree. It even let us get close enough to take some decent pictures (on Flickr) before making an abrupt departure! I wish we could have gotten on the water by 7am instead of 9am. Osprey frequent this river as well. Due to hitting the water around 9am on a weekday, we saw only a few canoes and two kayaks paddling the river with us. The weather, like the water level, was perfect at 70+ degrees and very little wind.

We saw lots of large carp, several large blue herons and dozens of turtles. I saw one canoe turnover, not due to an obstacle, but rather a poor launch. Although there are no real rapids on the Illinois River float trip we took, there are some downed trees to avoid and barely submerged root balls from past flooding. Although you watch out for these, you are bound to get the occasional unexpected bump. In this situation, you are a greater risk to your boat than the obstacle. React calmly and the collision is usually no big deal. However, if you get spooked you could end up swimming (more likely wading) this Class I water.

I paddled my old Perception Swifty, Dianne paddled her 12 foot Old Town Vapor and Yakker had his newly purchased Dagger Edisto. Despite paddling a somewhat tippy 15 foot touring kayak, Yakker admirably managed the few obstacles the river threw at us. Dianne's Vapor performed well and my old Swifty just about has this river memorized. We stopped on a gravel bar for a brief snack and again at Todd Public Access for a bathroom break. Unlikely the other public access points on our trip, Todd Public Access is on the East side of the river.

After we made it to the take-out at the Highway 62 Bridge, we were all eager to find some grub. However, my priority was to rummage through the outfitters stores for some kayaking t-shirts. I grabbed some decent canoeing shirts from the stores at Diamondhead Resort and War Eagle Resort, but alas...no kayaking shirts. Thankfully, right next to War Eagle's outfitter store we found Fatty's BBQ!

I was hungy enough to eat the butt out of a skunk by the time the paddling and shopping was concluded. The smoke rising from Fatty's was a sight for sore eyes and sunburned ears. We enjoyed Pulled Pork sandwiches and Potato Salad Alfresco from Fatty's BBQ. The shady seats and Doors music set the mood for basking in the afterglow of a perfect day of paddling. The pulled pork was delicious.

Those of you who went to work on Friday, truly have my pity.

Illinois River Watershed Appreciation Day June 6, 2009 from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Lake Fayetteville.

Family Fun on Flatwater

We stayed close to home this Memorial Day Weekend, but still managed to squeeze in a little bit of paddling between the Oklahoma monsoons.

Saturday, we linked up with a couple friends and paddled around the marina at Lake Eufaula. We had to wait until fairly late in the afternoon for the rain to stop, but eventually it did stop. Eufaula was bustling with boats and every variety of wake sport enthusiast. I enjoyed the easy launch from the boat ramp and getting to check out Greg's new Dagger Edisto kayak.

After sleeping in on Sunday, we decided to do some family style paddling in Henryetta, Oklahoma. Jim Hall Lake is the reservoir lake just southeast of Henryetta. It was not crowded with campers, like the Lake Eufaula marina area we visited yesterday. We saw only a few groups of tent campers and two other boats on the lake. Once again, we successfully dodged the rain showers. Dianne was paddling her new Vapor 12 kayak, we put Dylan in my old Perception Swifty and I paddled the Heritage Angler kayak.

I always enjoy taking pictures of Dianne and Dylan paddling around in the sunset. Now that we have three kayaks, I hope we can spend more time together on the water this summer. Jim Hall Lake is an easy-to-find spot for picnics, flatwater paddling, fishing and sunset chasing. We will surely be back.

Did You Know Southern Kansas Has an Elk River?

A strong cycle of Spring rains has water levels up all over Oklahoma and the rest of the Ozarks. Just about every river offering whitewater fun is running fast now. Extreme whitewater enthusiasts are hitting spots like the Tulsa Wave, The Mulberry River and The Kiamichi River. Flatwater paddlers are enjoying higher lake levels providing access to narrow backwater creeks leading into the local reserviors.

Kayak Demo Day

Shopping for a new kayak around Tulsa? Visit the Kayak and Canoe Demonstration at Bass Pro Shops in Broken Arrow, OK May 23, 2009 - May 30, 2009. They have a couple of deals on twelve foot fishing kayaks that look attractive to me.

I am planning on making a couple road trip this summer. Floating the Ouachita River and the Caddo River. However, for my next trip, I am thinking about heading North to Kansas. Has anyone ever paddled the Elk River in Kansas? Leave us a comment!

According to my new copy of Paddling Kansas, the Elk River above Elk City Lake is a very scenic 9.2 miles of Class I-II water. At a little over 2 and a half hours from home, that is well within Day trip striking range. I've paddled the Elk River in Missouri a few times, so it will be interesting to compare them.

Preparing for Spring Paddling in the Ozarks

With today's low wind and high temps, it is clearly and excellent day for winter kayaking in Oklahoma. Naturally, you can't get weather like this on the weekend. I would take a sick day to go paddling on a day like this, but wouldn't you know it...I'm already sick. I picked up a head cold somewhere, so I will be spending this wonderful 70 degree February day at home sneezing like crazy. More warm weather is currently on tap for tomorrow, but the wind speeds and rain chances are higher as well. Since I am likely to be sick all week, I will miss this fine weather, hopefully you will be more lucky.

If you do get out for some paddling, do me a favor and wear a PFD, the water is still quite cold.

Do You Facebook?

I've been trying to learn the ropes on FaceBook this week. With Spring kayaking season just aroung the corner and the Tulsa job market tightening, I thought that this would be a great time to expand my social network. I've already managed to form ties with a couple of my friends from the Oklahoma Flatwater Paddlers, a large amount of my wife's family and several friends from High School. I haven't figured out all of the applications on FB yet, but I cannot help but be impressed with its ability to locate old buddies that I have not spoken to in years. If you are a local paddler in the Tulsa area and you find yourself on Facebook, send a friend request for Thomas Jones in Okmulgee, OK. Maybe we can go paddling sometime soon.

I hope to be hale and hearty again in time to make a trip to OKC for the Paddlesports and Outdoor Gear Swap at OKC Kayak March 6th and 7th. I recently aquired some neoprene waders, that would be excellent for Winter kayaking, but they are one size too small for my comfort. I also have some kayaking DVD's I could part with.

The Buffalo River & The Kings River

Float trip outfitters throughout the Ozarks have begun inspecting their rivers in preparation for the Spring paddling season. The early February ice storms have created some serious timber issues this year for both paddlers and outfitters on the Buffalo River and the Kings River in nearby Arkansas.

The last I heard, the popular Ponca-to-Kyle's-Landing Buffalo River float isn't possible because Kyle's Landing Access is closed. The nearest take-out to Ponca is the Erbie access 15 miles downstream. The Steel Creek access, just below Ponca, Arkansas is also closed. To check the status of the Buffalo National River access points, visit the Buffalo River park's Web site, www.nps.gov/buff or call park headquarters at (870) 365-2700.

January Sunsets on the Deep Fork River

I hope many of you got out on the local lakes and rivers for some winter paddling during the recent warm spell. It is snowing at my house today, but I'm willing to bet there are going to be a few more 60+ degree days before Spring arrives. Taking advantage of Oklahoma's occasionally warm winter days are one of the best advantages that come from buying a kayak or living near an outfitter.

I recently got out on the Deep Fork River for paddling with my friend Yakker, from Checotah. He tried his luck at kayak fishing, while I tried to grab some pictures. We launched from the wonderfully handy Deep Fork River boat ramp on at the bridges on Highway 266 between Dewar and Grayson. The water is deeper than most parts of the river, so you can paddle this portion of the river in the dryest of seasons. The high muddy banks provide good protection from the winter winds. There was little to no current running, we could sure use some rain around here. I brought paddling gloves, and an extra set of dry clothes just in case the weather changed unexpectedly.

The scenery may look lame early in the day on Deep Fork, but as you near sundown the sunken trees start to take on a surreal look. Don't leave your digital camera at home, winter provides some stunning sunsets that truly light up the Deep Fork River. Remeber to prepare for the water and the weather...cold kills and camera film gets brittle when the temps fall. That being said, flatwater paddling on Oklahoma lakes and low current rivers can really spice up your winter.

Got a local lake you like to savor the sunset on? Drop us a comment!

Cold Season Kayaking is Common in Oklahoma

My son Dylan and I slipped out last week for a few hours of sunset paddling. It was his first time paddling in the winter, so I hooked him up with some paddling gloves and a spray skirt. Okmulgee Lake was calm and beautiful from our warm and bright 3:30pm launch until our chilly 6pm return. Despite the unseasonably warm 72 degree weather, we saw more Osprey than fishermen!

This Saturday's forecast calls for more 70 degree temps and you know what that means...more winter kayaking! Since there are also likely to be gusty winds, river kayaking is preferable to lake kayaking.

Some of the Oklahoma Flatwater Paddlers are planning on doing some kayaking around OKC.

Dianne and I have been discussing kayaking on the Deep Fork River just off Highway 266 between Dewar and Grayson, Oklahoma. I don't expect any current, but this part of the Deep Fork River is deep enough to maintain a decent level for kayaking even during dry seasons. This spot also offers great parking and easy access to the water via boat ramp!

I hope all of my paddling friends out there got some cool kayaking gear for Christmas. I got a black kayaking t-shirt and some neoprene cold water paddling pants, shirt and even kayaking socks! Having the right gear certainly makes winter paddling more fun.

I'm trying to talk Dianne into a trip to Caddo Lake in February for some Texas paddling. I foolishly choose Valentines Day for our wedding, so now I can rarely get reservations to take her out to celebrate it. I figure Texas is likely to be a bit warmer in February and if not... we can always go bowling!

Dianne thinks we should probably stay closer to home in Tulsa or OKC, just in case the weather gets icy. Planning winter road trips can be risky if you have to make reservations. Got any tips?

Lake Bixhoma by Kayak

Lake Bixhoma by Kayak
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

Bixhoma Lake is just off Highway 64 near the small village of Leonard, Oklahoma. It is a small, fairly clear, no-wake lake with no camping or facilities to speak of. Offering a mere 3 miles of shoreline and 110 surface acres, the lake is strictly for quiet boats.

Quiet little Bixhoma Lake is only a short drive from South Tulsa. If you are a Tulsa kayaker looking to get your new boat wet someplace safe, Bixhoma is a pretty good choice. Lake hours are Monday through Saturday from 6am-10pm. It is also quite near Haskell, Oklahoma which happens to be the home of two Oklahoma wineries: Stone Bluff Cellars & Lavendar Hill Farm & Winery.

Paddling Lake Bixhoma today was lovely. The water was still as glass when we first launched and a breeze developed just as the temps started to get hot. The ridge line that surrounds the lake was vivid green with a mixture of hardwood trees. The park only has a couple picnic tables and an outhouse. We saw a family of three fishing from a tiny Bass Scamp and a lone man float fishing in a tube on our visit other than that we had the lake to ourselves on this cool summer morning.

The late summer water level was too low to paddle very far up the feeder creek for Lake Bixhoma. However, as we drove down Highway 64 toward Leonard, I could not help but notice Snake Creek.

Snake Creek looked fairly wide and deep enough for paddling when we drove across the Highway 64 bridge, but I did not see any place to park and launch the kayaks.

Any folks out there who know where you can launch a boat onto Snake Creek outside of Bixby, Oklahoma?

More details on our OklahomaRoadTrips.com Lake Bixhoma webpage.

Planning a Labor Day Canoe Trip?

Labor Day marks the traditional end of the Summer season. Some canoe outfitters will shut down after the holiday weekend and the kids are returning to school. I'm starting to look forward to cooler temps, more water, less river traffic and the Autumn color changes.

River levels are still pretty low around most of Oklahoma, but the LMF River has enough flow to paddle.

The Caddo River in Arkansas has caught some water recently as well as parts of the Buffalo River. Speaking of Arkansas rivers, the Oklahoma Flatwater Paddlers are making a trip to the White River for the holiday. It sounds like a great trip. The White River is about 5 hours drive for us, but well worth it for the misty paddling on waters that feel positively air-conditioned!

I am planning on trying to get our little kayaks on Lake Bixhoma, a tiny no-wake lake just outside of Bixby, Oklahoma. However, there are some municipal permit issue to resolve first (sigh). I don't mind spending the money, but as usual the city does nothing to make this process easy or painless. Personally, I like the lake permit vending machine that Arbuckle Lake offers at the Guy Sandy Boat Ramp. Bixby demands a visit to City Hall or the local police station. I'm told the lake is quite scenic and it is always nice to find a no-wake zone for canoe and kayak paddling.

Got any tips for paddling at Lake Bixhoma?

Kayaking the White River Mists in Summer

The White River, located in northern Arkansas is an excellent Ozark river that originates in the Boston Mountains of the Ozarks. You can find good canoe launches on White River at Bull Shoals dam, at the Concrete Arch Bridge in Cotter, Arkansas and at boat ramps at Rim Shoals and Buffalo City, Arkansas. There are also a number of put-ins after the North Fork confluence at Norfork, Calico Rock, Sylamore and Guion, Arkansas. Since our riverside lodging was just south of Mountain Home, Arkansas, we had to drive for about five hours on this Oklahoma Road Trip.

The water in the White River is so cold that it creates a white mist as it mixes with the hotter surrounding air. This is why they call it The White River...and here I thought there was going to be real whitewater rapids.

Dianne and I began our first-ever, White River float trip at 7:30am on Saturday. We had my Perception Swifty and the Malibu X-Factor Kayak that Dianne had rented from Riley's Station Outfitters & Hide-away. The put-in at Rim Shoals was about 15 minutes from our cabin by road and just less than two hours by water. I assumed that we would catch some good kayak photography light by launching early, but the mists fooled me! Next time, I think I will sleep in a bit more!

At the Rim Shoals launch, we could only see about 6 feet in front of our boats due to the thick mist that rose over our heads. However, we could hear the steady whine of boat motors on the river. Smarter paddlers might have waited for the mists to clear, but we paddled right out into it with nervous giggle.

The feeling of paddling blindly through these chilly mists in our kayaks, knowing the water below is too deep and too cold to stand, was thrilling. Although the temps were well into the mid-eightees already, at water level it felt like 71 degrees in full sun! The water was deep for the entire trip and the current never slacked up. It was a real 'float trip' with no slow pools to slog through.

Dianne's huge Malibu X-Factor Fishing Kayak came loaded with great features. We have rented SOT kayaks from other outfitters before but we have never gotten such high-end gear. At nearly 14 feet long, this was a much larger craft than either of us have ever paddled. This made it a bit cumbersome to turn quickly, but we never really needed to make any quick turns on the White River.

The Riley's supplied the X-Factor with a top-notch high-back seat and a very nice paddle from Crack of Dawn. You ride very high and dry in this kayak, even in waves and boat wake. A true anglers kayak, the X-Factor is stable enough to climb all over and can carry about 600 lbs! The lodging they supplied was quite good as well. You can't beat their front row seats at the Buffalo River / White River confluence!

Stop by our White River Kayaking page for information on how you can plan a trip to paddle these magical water yourself. Riley's Station makes an excellent base of operations for exploring the White River, the Buffalo River, Crooked Creek and the other amazing outdoor resources in the area, but our page lists a number of other choices as well.

In any case, I would suggest you break out the serious cold water paddling gear ANYTIME you paddle this river. Whether you prefer wet suits, dry suits or quick drying synthetic shirts and shorts... you will certainly want to leave the cotton clothing at home for this float trip.

Mountain Home Arkansas Road Trip Planning

Our next Oklahoma Road Trip will be to the scenic Arkansas Ozarks town of Mountain Home. They call this part of Arkansas the Twin Lakes region. We have a cabin booked near the confluence of the Buffalo River & The White River. Due to a strange weather phenomenon, rain seems to follow us to every river we visit this year. I see it is already entering the Arkansas forecast for this weekend.

Dianne and I love taking float trips on the Buffalo River, but this will be our first trip on the White River. My son is a bit concerned about the surviving for two days without a TV, but it looks like the area is loaded with fun to me. With attractions like the ones listed below, why stay in the cabin?

The North Fork of the White River

The North Fork of the White River begins in the Mark Twain National Forest and flows to the south for around 78 miles before it empties into Norfork Lake. It is loaded with exciting class II rapids. An abundance of springs keeps the water level almost constant year-round and the water quality excellent. Relatively swift current moves paddlers downstream at about 4 MPH over moderate drops. The White River State Park marina/store offers: kayak and canoe rentals, supplies, equipment, boat / motor rentals and gifts for sale.


Bull Shoals Lake

45,400 acre lakes with clear water, rocky shorelines and cliffs, gravel points, numerous tributary creeks and numerous coves.


White River Canoe Race July 23-26, 2008

The 42nd Annual National Invitational White River Canoe Race is an adventure of over a hundred miles from the heart of the Ozark Mountains near Bull Shoals Lake to the foothills of Batesville, Arkansas. Visit the White River Canoe Race website for full details!


Family Fun at The Zone

The Zone in Mountain Home, AR offers: 18 hole Mini Golf course, Go Kart race track with both single and double Karts, batting cages, video arcade...the Works!

The Zone
4818 Hwy 62 West
Mountain Home, AR
870-425-GOLF (4653)


The Dripstone Trail at Blanchard Springs Caverns

Blanchard Springs Caverns, part of the Ozark National Forest, is located 55 miles South of Mountain Home, AR off Arkansas 14.

As you can see, we are unlikely to require much time for watching TV! The few hours I spend awake indoors will most likely be devoted to deciding which BBQ restaurant in Mountain Home to choose: Beuford's, The Black Wolf, The Blue Pig, Couch's, KT's, Fireside or Brent's Barbeque.

Got any local dining tips for me and Dianne?

Barbecue 101 Field Research

Dianne and I have been trying to do more 'field research' on smoked meats and styles of barbecue lately because we bought ourselves and electric smoker! We chose the Masterbuilt Electric Smokehouse because it was on sale and looked easy to use.

It is a pretty cool device that uses electricity for heat, like the oven in our house, but it uses wood chips for the smoke. In our past attempts at BBQ, we had problems maintaining consistent heat around 200 degrees and getting the right level of smoke AT THE SAME TIME. An Electric Smoker offers a thermostat to keep the heat right and an easy way to monitor/control the smoke levels.

I like using the wood chips because it is easy to find a wide variety of inexpensive choices of woods to smoke with. I love keeping the heat and smoke outdoors, especially during the hot summertime. Cooking at such low heat levels takes a really long time, so we also grabbed a Wireless BBQ Thermometer. It literally yells at your when the meat starts to get ready!

Naturally the successful deployment of the new BBQ technology forced us to go out looking for great new dry rub and sauce formulations. If you know which spot in Mt. Home Arkansas creates the best Q, then please leave a comment on our blog... soon!

Happy paddling!

2008 Elk River Float Trip

Typhoon Paddler
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

This Saturday 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 Kayak Paddle. Outfitter paddling gear tends toward ruggedness more than comfort or features.

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 long renting canoes, 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 a cool shirt with an Elk River map on the back (pictures on our Elk River page). You can find contact info for Big Elk Camp & Canoe plus other Elk River outfitters in both Pineville and Noel on our Elk River Float Trips page.

Although we scraped the gravel in a couple places, the water level and flow was enough to ensure an easy trip with no dragging. We even enjoyed temps well below 90, a great gift at the end of June. Sadly, the weather turned to rain about halfway through our voyage. We all arrived absolutely soaked to the bone, but laughing all the way. Dylan paddled quite well. He never flipped the kayak or fell off, but still found enough riffles and obstacles to make it an exciting run.

This part of the Elk River offers clear water, a few scenic bluffs and numerous gravel bars. There are riffles and pools on this float trip, but no dangerous rapids. The water is more cool than cold much like the nearby Illinois River and Spring River.. Another thing that makes Missouri's Elk River similar to Oklahoma's Illinois River is the large amount of weekend paddler traffic. Dodging beer barges presented the main obstacle of the day. We launched around 9am and we shared the waters with hundreds of people. Although we often cringed at the saucy language and consumption patterns of this wild morning crowd... we saw no nudity or violence. Still, we advise trying to visit this river on a weekday during the prime summer months if you want a float trip with more solitude.

In addition to having a large number of canoe liveries the Elk River is a fairly short drive from some other great spots for paddlers in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. In fact, our outfitter offered three other tempting float trips on nearby Big Sugar Creek. I really enjoyed paddling this great little river in Southwestern, Missouri and my family liked it, too! We will definately be back soon.

The Best Of Fishing, Hunting, Camping, And Boating In Missouri: Tips From An Outdoor Enthusiast

A Road Trip to Southern Oklahoma

Turner Falls - An Oklahoma Treasure
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

I hope everyone had a happy Father's Day weekend. Dianne and I took a couple vacation days to make a road trip down to Southern Oklahoma. We had hoped to get out and paddle both the Washita River and Arbuckle Lake in addition to visiting Turner Falls. Due to a number of unforeseen circumstances, we never made it onto Arbuckle Lake or the Washita River.

Moonlight Bay Chalet

We rented a cabin on a small private lake for our two days in Davis, Oklahoma. The Moonlight Bay Chalet sits right by the waters of a tiny lake surrounded by cabins. The cabin offered 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a hot tub on the back deck. Also, a canoe and kayak come with the cabin. You can launch and land at a small wooden dock. It sounded perfect for our family.

The cabin was clean and the beds were comfortable. Sadly, the hot tub never really got hot and the cabin never really got cool. Although I enjoyed paddling my kayak around their tiny lake briefly, there really is not much to see.

Checking out of the cabin took longer than expected. When we arrived we were greeted with several signs stating that we were expected to clean the cabin and launder the towels and linens before departing. Although we often wash the towels and stuff before we leave a cabin, this was the first time we arrived to find a task list. The same postings warned that large sums of money would by charged to our credit card for any rule violations.

Despite the rather non-luxury policies at Moonlight Bay Chalet, there is much to enjoy. The cabin is just about two miles from Guy Sandy Creek Boat Ramp on Lake Arbuckle. It is also a short drive to Turner Falls or the historically stinky springs and travertine stairs of Sulphur, Oklahoma.

Turner Falls - Gem of the Arbuckles

If you have never visited Turner Falls Park near Davis, Oklahoma you should make plans to visit soon. The crystal clear waters of Honey Creek cascade down a 70 foot waterfall and form two sparkling blue swimming holes. The waterfall has a beautiful, zen-garden look to it that draws in visual artists from all over the area to capture it in photographs and paintings.

In addition to the two great swimming holes, Turner Falls Park offers a number of scenic hikes, tent camping, teepee rentals and ice cream shop and some light toobing on Honey Creek. To my knowledge, no boating is allowed.

Turner Falls Park is also popular with fun-loving kids and beer-loving adults, so my advice is to try and make a trip during the week. On the weekend, Turner Falls becomes extremely crowded. Also, don't come to this park if you are broke. It cost Dianne, Dylan and myself over $30 just to enter the park.

The Washita River

We drove over the Washita River in a number of places not too far from our cabin. I was expecting the Washita to be clear like Honey Creek or one of the other spring-fed streams in the area. I was surprised to learn that the Washita is as red and muddy as the Deep Fork River that flows through my part of Oklahoma.

The brochure at our cabin stated that the canoe trips down the Washita would cost $30 per person. Since our cash flow was running low and the weather was looking unpredictable, we didn't make the Washita River trip. Hopefully, we will be able to make another trip to this area to float the Washita River and the local lakes.

Spring River Float Trip from Kansas to Oklahoma

Spring River Bluffs
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

Kayaking on the Spring River from Kansas to Oklahoma was the big event for Dianne and myself on June1st, 2008. We haven't been on this river for a couple years, but it is still a beautiful spot to paddle. The Spring River NE Oklahoma is one of the two rivers that merge to form Grand River and then it dumps into the Grand Lake of the Cherokees.

Camping is available at lots of spots along the river: near the dam in Baxter Springs Kansas, Blue Hole Canoe Floats, Devil's Promenade, the Highway 10 Bridge East of Miami, OK or at the Twin Bridges State Park. There are good kayak put-ins at all of those locations and you can camp at most of them, too! (See more of our Spring River Pictures on Flickr.)

This year we used an outfitter, which may not be there after the end of this summer season. Chet, the founder of Blue Hole Canoe Floats in Quapaw, Oklahoma has decided to sell his canoe livery and lodging business. I hope another outfitter takes over the business as this is a great bit of river for paddling and kayak fishing. BTW, Blue Hole only rents canoes currently, no kayaks for rent. However, they do shuttle private kayaks, so visit Quapaw, Oklahoma soon and paddle this easy paddling river. Blue Hole Canoe is right next to a public river access and tent camping spot called Bicentennial Park - a great spot for fishing.

Sadly, Blue Hole Canoe Floats continues the tradition of Oklahoma paddling outfitters in offering excuses rather than t-shirts for sale. So, we didn't come home with new paddling shirts, we did have a fun trip on the river.

Blue Hole Canoe Floats, the only Spring River paddling outfitter, offers a number of float trips ranging from 4 miles to 29 miles long. We took a short two hour trip from Baxter Springs, Kansas to the Blue Hole Canoe Floats campground, but they also offer trips all the way down to Twin Bridges State Park. The part of the Spring River we paddled on Sunday was wide and fairly deep, it was easy paddling with no real rapids or obstacles. The river level was somewhat high, so we did encounter some small whirlpools and riffles, but nothing that might make us portage or get us wet...except the rain.

It rained almost the entire time we were on the water. Thankfully, we had decided to wear our spray skirts just in case of surprises, so the rain was kept out of our boats and off our butts. Luckily for us, it didn't get stormy, it just rained straight down. When we thought it was just a passing shower, we decided to take shelter under some trees. We watched it rain around us for about twenty minutes before concluding that it was not slacking up anytime soon. When we paddled on through to the take-out, and upon arrival got the news that Tulsa had been hit by a pretty heavy storm. We were blessed to have escaped with nothing more than soggy torsos.

Surprisingly, Dianne and I actually enjoyed the rain quite a bit. We were expecting ninety degree heat and scorching sunshine. I mentioned this to Dianne as I applied a liberal dose of sunscreen at the launch, optimistically ignoring the distant thunder. "The last forecast called for a twenty percent chance of rain". Well, it 'twenty percented' all over the both of us. Although it was a nicely cooling rain, it prevented me from taking any decent pictures. I'm sure glad I had a good bag to put my camera in during the downpour!

The last time we paddled this river, we paddled upstream from the nearby Bicentennial Park. Wearing a spray skirt would have been a huge hassle on that trip, as we had to get out of our kayaks every few miles and portage over low spots. This river depends on recent rains to provide deep water, but has a number of natural springs feeding it all year. I much prefer paddling downstream from Baxter Springs, but I didn't know where the Spring River Park put-in was back in 2006. Also, Baxter Springs is a pretty cool little Kansas town to visit and only a few miles from Blue Hole. Dianne and I had two excellent meals at a place called The Cafe on the Route. This little jewel offers an amazingly diverse menu of extremely well-prepared food.

Despite Sunday morning's unusual conditions, the Spring River makes a nice trip for kayak photography. There are rocky limestone bluffs and clear feeder streams that remind me of the Buffalo River. The little spring-fed creeks offer shallow, clear, and cold water teaming with fish. This river has big gravel bars and is a favorite with the whole spectrum of fishermen from Fly Fishing Disciples to Okie Noodlers. The outfitter said they even have a couple bald eagles nesting on the river!

Overall, this a great river for folks looking for some fairly safe current to kayak in and plenty of camping spots along the way. Being just an hour and a half outside of Tulsa, the Spring River is a trip in striking distance of many Oklahoma paddlers and well worth the tank full.

Trails Books Guide Paddling Kansas (Trails Books Guides)

Paddling Salt Creek on Memorial Day

Salt Creek Paddling Group
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

The only thing better than spending a holiday kayaking, is getting to do that kayaking with a large group of friends. I would like to thank all of you for turning out for the Oklahoma Flatwater Paddlers trip down Salt Creek to the Hickory Point Area on Okmulgee Lake.

We got a late start, but we were blessed with a few hours of unusually cool temperatures. Also, the wind was mild enough and no one took an unexpected swim...except maybe the dog. As usual, the water in the channel was much less wavy than the wider lake water. The trees are brilliantly green, even on an overcast day like today.

It was great fun meeting so many other paddlers and seeing their colorful array of canoes, kayaks and roof-racking techniques.

After about two hours of fairly light paddling and fairly heavy talking, we headed to the Boomerang Diner for burgers and then out to Nuyaka Creek Winery to meet the family and taste the wine.

Thanks for a fun summer trip, I hope to see you all on the water again soon!

Spring River Kayaking Trip in May

It looks like Dianne and I will be heading to Quapaw, Oklahoma to paddle the Spring River on the last weekend in May. We have reservations at Blue Hole Canoe Floats.

We have paddled the Spring River before in 2006, but this will be our first time trying the lodging and working with an outfitter on that river. On our last trip we stayed at Spring River Canoe Trails State Park.

If you are a big thinker that cannot be satisfied with merely paddling the Spring River, considering buying in! Blue Hole Canoe Floats is For Sale! For the paltry sum of $475,000 you can own your own canoe resort in Northeastern, Oklahoma with 40 acres of the most desirable Spring River frontage in the Ozarks.

Directions: I-44 Exit at Miami, 5 miles E on Hwy 10, then 5 miles N on Hwy 137; in Quapaw on Hwy 66, turn E on 1st St, go 3 miles.


Blue Hole Canoe Floats Inc
63800 E 40th Rd
Quapaw, OK 74363
Phone: 918-533-4653

Hope to see you on the water!

Kayaking Through The Summer Holidays

Red Oak Area
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

This Memorial Day holiday Dianne and I plan to do some kayaking around Okmulgee State Park with some members of the Oklahoma Flatwater Paddlers Group. Join their group and join up with us if you plan to be in the area this weekend.

Sadly, I was forced to miss out on the Kayak Demo in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma this weekend, but they are having another demo on May 24th, 2008.

Just before the Father's Day holiday in June, Dianne and I are planning to make a trip to the Turner Falls area. We are 'grabbin a cabin' in Sulphur, Oklahoma and hoping for a chance to paddle the Washita River and the local lakes.

We had hoped to paddle the Elk River last weekend, it is at a real good level for kayaking, but we just could not make it happen. The Elk River offers an excellent downriver trip for novice paddlers. I've never let my son Dylan paddle in real current, so I am hoping to get him in a kayak on the Elk River this summer.

Got any special paddling plans for the Summer holidays, yet?

Paddling by Elephant Rock on the Illinois River

Paddling by Elephant Rock
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

This weekend Oklahoma enjoyed some fantastic Spring weather, I hope everyone was able to get out and make the most of it. After working through Saturday on household honey-do's, Dianne consented to making a Sunday road trip to Tahlequah's scenic Highway 10. We knew a few outfitters must be open, because we had read about the death of a young paddler on the river last week. He wasn't wearing his paddling PFD and the river surprised him.

The Illinois River was running at a level of about 5.5 feet and pretty fast on Saturday. This is a good safe level for paddling, but I was feeling a bit unlucky. I always paddle with a PFD on, but when I feel unlucky I pull on my spray skirt for added safety. Since summer vacation hasn't started yet, we had the river nearly all to ourselves. Some of the outfitters are now open for the season. We called several and found Falcon Floats was willing to shuttle our boats to the public canoe launch at No Head Hollow.

Of course, we had to get the speech about how outfitters don't like to shuttle private boats. If you plan on owning your own kayak and buying shuttling services, expect to hear this speech on most trips. Canoe livery operators would much rather rent you a kayak for $40, than to shuttle your boat for $10. Most claim to lose money on the service due to the high cost of fuel, insurance difficulties and Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission usage fees. Dianne and I feel their pain, but we are unwilling to drive across Oklahoma for two and half hours and HOPE the outfitters have two decent kayaks available. We try to do our part through purchasing food and paddling t-shirts as well as the occasional cabin rental.

Aside from the usual speech, the folks at Falcon Floats were very friendly and provided excellent service for our trip. Since we were nearly alone on the river, the wildlife was out in force. We saw trout, bass and catfish, several Osprey, some deer and tons of turtles and herons. The flow in the river was excellent making the 12-mile trip a very easy bit of paddling.

We did hit a bit of trouble near the take-out. Just upstream from the Falcon Floats take-out, the river splits forcing you to choose the right or left lane. The path to the left looks much wider and easier, but the outfitter warned us that there were trees down that completely blocked that path. The outfitter had placed a sign instructing all floaters to follow the path to the right.

Following the path to the right took us around a corner where the river narrows to a swift, shady channel. Suddenly, we were surprised to see fallen trees across this path as well, but the water was moving too fast to backtrack! Dianne's boat was pushed sideways fast and hit one downed tree. The impact, combined with the swifter current, rocked her kayak onto its side and she quickly began taking on water. This ain't Dianne's first rodeo, so despite not having her spray skirt on her kayak, she did a quick brace and hip-snapped the kayak. This allowed her to paddle her kayak to the shore with a wet butt, but without taking a swim. About five feet in front of where we landed the kayaks, two young men were in a john-boat using a chainsaw to clear away a logjam. After we dumped the water out of Dianne's boat, she decided that deploying her own spray skirt might be prudent. The young men with the chainsaw suggested a path through the logjam, but it looked much simpler to walk about ten steps around it.

Although we paddled past many downed trees and some fun ripples, that logjam was the last exciting obstacle on the trip. I don't have a lot of great pictures from the trip. We paddled from about Noon until 4pm, so the light was just getting good as we reached the take-out. Despite the poor light, I enjoyed taking pictures of Elephant Rock. My Osprey shots are barely better than a blur.

Hopefully, we will return to the Illinois River soon for an overnight stay so i can capture the dawn and/or the sunset on this lovely river. Once summer officially arrives you will need an early morning launch on this river if you want to see more wildlife and less wild-living!

Kayaking on Southern Lake Eufaula

Kayaking at Hickory Point
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

Dianne and I headed south this weekend for some Eufaula Lake kayaking. If you read our blog much you may know that all of our previous paddling on Lake Eufaula has been on the northern portion of the lake. Eufaula is an enormous lake, so traveling from the northern end to the southern end provides quite a bit of terrain changes.

The water in the northern portion of the lake is much redder, due to the Deep Fork River water that enters the lake there. As you drive south along Highway 69, the water becomes less red and more of the sandy brown color of the Canadian River. Also, the numbers of evergreen trees along the shore increases as you drive farther to the south and east. Ever since our trip to Robber's Cave last year, I have wanted to return and explore southern Eufaula Lake. That was our goal for this Saturday.

Using our new Oklahoma Water Atlas, we located a boat ramp and campground called Hickory Point and decided it would be our destination for sunset paddling on Saturday. Since Highway 69 goes by several boat ramps on Eufaula, we decided to visit several of them and have a look.

We first stopped at Oak Ridge campground which sits right off Hwy 69. Naturally, Eufaula is a bit flooded these days. Every campground we stopped at had some picnic tables and BBQ grills under water.

This suited me fine because I like paddling around in flood water. When the lake water rises this high it surrounds trees that are colorful and vibrant. More importantly it creates shady paddling, one of the three key features that make rivers better for kayaking than lakes. The flood water often creates excellent new boat launch areas for kayakers.

I found Oak Ridge to be a nice, well-equipped Lake Eufaula campground that was easy to find. BTW, Highway 69 is a great road to explore if you want to see a lot of Lake Eufaula. It runs roughly along the same route as the Indian Nations Turnpike, but Highway 69 is FREE and leads to a whole lot more boat ramps and campgrounds on Lake Eufaula. Frankly, the Indian Nations Turnpike in this area is no bargain! Countless miles of barriers and Men-at-Work signs with no working men to be seen abound on this busy turnpike.

We paddled around at Oak Ridge for a few hours and then headed to McAlester for lunch. The Meeting Place is the name of the downtown McAlester restaurant we ate lunch at. It's a huge 'place' that we had all to ourselves. I hear that they have dinner theater at night, but gravy was the featured attraction we showed up for!

After lunch we drove to Elm Point, off Hwy 31. Dianne and I and paddled there for a few hours. The light was too harsh due to the hour of the day, but I was also surprised to that the trees seemed oddly leafless. This was no place to shoot the sunset...so we moved on after a couple hours of kayaking.

Our final paddling spot on southern Lake Eufaula was Hickory Point campground and boat ramp. This was the best Lake Eufaula kayaking area we found on this trip. This part of Lake Eufaula is skinny, curvy and loaded with sweet smelling cedar, pine and juniper trees. The campground is more primitive than the others we visited on this trip and it was also MUCH less crowded there. We really enjoyed kayaking around Hickory Point and I hope to be able to return and camp there sometime.

Dinner in Krebs, Oklahoma is a given for Dianne and I when we travel to this part of the state. On this trip, we ate at Pete's Place (established in the '20s). Dianne enjoyed their microbrew and I enjoyed their insanely large portions. The meal was served family style in a private dining room. Pete's Place has about 30 of these private dining rooms. It makes for a cozy meal. Overall, it was not quite up to the food standards of our last Italian food meal at Carrabba's in Tulsa but it was a great end to an excellent day of paddling on southern Lake Eufaula!

So much food and paddling made it a sleepy drive back to Pierce, Oklahoma but we made it safely. We decided to spend the night in the RV at our river lot, so that I could do some dawn kayaking on the river Sunday morning.



Technorati Tags: Kayaking Oklahoma Eufaula

Free Oklahoma Water Atlas - Get One Today!

Paddling
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

Dianne and I just got our new Oklahoma Water Atlas in the mail and we are LOVING it. Every Oklahoma paddler should take advantage of this great new offering from the OWRB & the ODWC.

The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB), with support from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC), has produced the most useful water-related publication to come off the presses in years. The new Oklahoma Water Atlas includes 146 detailed lake maps containing comprehensive recreational information, such as boat ramps, water depths, road maps, feeder creeks and rivers and other important features.

The Atlas is 190 pages, Spiral Bound and 11” x 14” in size. It is packed full of color maps and images that will help you find great flatwater paddling spots all over Oklahoma.

You can get a free Oklahoma Water Atlas by mail if you pay $6 for the shipping or FREE if you pick it up.

To have a book mailed to your home, send a $6 check or money order (for postage and handling) made payable to “OWRB” to Oklahoma Water Resources Board Main Office 3800 N. Classen Oklahoma City, OK 73118.

You can pick up the Oklahoma Water Atlas at the following locations:

Oklahoma Wildlife Department Headquarters
1801 N. Lincoln
Oklahoma City

OWRB’s
3800 N. Classen Blvd,
Oklahoma City

OWRB Lawton branch office
601 "C" Avenue, Suite 101,
(580)248-7762

OWRB Tulsa branch office
State Agencies Building,
440 S. Houston, Room 2,
(918)581-2924

OWRB McAlester branch office
321 S. 3rd St. Suite 5,
(918)426-5435;

OWRB Woodward branch office
2411 Williams Avenue, Suite 116,
(580)256-1014

For more information about the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, log on to owrb.ok.gov. For more information about the fishing in Oklahoma, log on to the Wildlife Department’s Web site at wildlifedepartment.com.

See more regional kayaking guides for planning float trips

Short Kayak Trip on Okmulgee Creek

Okmulgee Creek as Spring Approaches
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

Yesterday afternoon I ventured out to a spot, not far from home, that is only rarely suitable for paddling. Okmulgee Creek is a narrow creek that runs South through the town of Okmulgee Oklahoma and eventually dumps into the Deep Fork River on its way to Lake Eufaula.

Normally, the water level is too low to cover much distance, but the flooded state of the Deep Fork River has backed up many small creeks in the area. Conditions were OK for paddling, but real lame for taking pictures...wrong time of day. Still, I found it very interesting to view the dark underbelly of our town so intimately.

I had expected to put-in at the YMCA and paddle upstream to the 6th Street Bridge. Unfortunately, the current got quite a bit swifter and the water shallower as I headed upstream. If I could find a decent put-in upstream it would be a pretty fun ride down at this level.

My non-scientific observation is that Okmulgee Creek is pretty nasty. Paddling South from the YMCA required making a portage around some large metal things that cross the creek and strain large amounts of the floating litter. Wal-Mart bags coil around the tree branches while old milk jugs, water bottles and soda cans float on an oily bed of sludge in many spots.

Although Okmulgee Creek feeds the Deep Fork River, the water is local so it hasn't picked up the red tone and sticky clay banks of the river. You can paddle under the 20th Street Bridge and then South for only half a mile or so before you come to another big metal trash catcher that crosses the entire creek.

I spoke to a local Okmulgee newsman last summer that had a vision for cleaning up and developing Okmulgee Creek as a tourism attraction and local recreation asset. Considering the way the creek snakes through the heart of Okmulgee and crosses under many major streets with lovely old arch style bridges, I think he has a pretty good idea.

Sadly, the idea is probably decades too late to get funded. The business community has already mostly abandoned downtown Okmulgee for two narrow strips of land along each side of Highway 75. Our most memorable landmark has become the road that leads out of town. The path of least investment leads to a bedroom community today and to a ghost town tomorrow.

The park and pedestrian trails that are on both sides of Okmulgee Creek represent smart investments in this resource. Since the area is prone to flood, the uses for this land are limited. However, assets like the jogging trails, BBQ grills, benches and Disc Golf setup are affordable and tend to snap back pretty quickly from short term flooding. Although there is no real canoe launch, there is plenty of free parking!

You can see some of the pictures I have taken of Okmulgee Creek in this Flickr Set.

Spring Paddling Season Approaches

Robbers Cave Trailhead
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

What a long strange winter it's been! I will be glad to see an end to it.

I stopped by K-River Campground's website today and Tom says that the Kiamichi River level has been up at a nice paddling level for quite awhile now. Last week they had 3000 CFS water flow and 70+ degree temps! That is my definition of good times around Antlers, OK. Just drive carefully... they got deer.

The Illinois River looks to be running strong these days also. I would like to paddle down that river before the traffic gets too heavy this summer.

Little ol' Noel, MO... right on the Oklahoma border has been calling me lately.

The lodging options are a bit limited in Noel but nicely flowing, whitewater-free, paddling opportunities abound. I'm thinking a jacuzzi room in nearby Springfield, MO and an early morning arrival at one of several canoe outfitters in the area.

We should be able to book shuttling to the Deep Ford area and take our kayaks down the peaceful and lovely Elk River to a takeout at the Shady Beach campground and canoe livery.

Come on Spring!