Canoe &
Kayak Float Trips Near Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Eureka
Springs, Arkansas has long been a favorite vacation destination
for Oklahoma folks. The little Ozark town is close enough to
Oklahoma for a quick weekend car trip, yet distant enough to
provide an interesting change of scenery. We enjoy paddling the
two great rivers that border Eureka Springs, AR...the Kings
River &
the White River.
Float trips make a great add-on attraction for any family
vacation in the Ozarks. From Eureka Springs, it is an easy drive
to the Elk River, Indian Creek, Big Sugar, or Little Sugar all
near Pineville, Arkansas. You can also drive just over an hour
to Galena, Missouri to paddle the James River.
Lots of Oklahoma kids
first visit Eureka Springs to see
The
Great Passion Play, others visit to see the live music
and variety shows or as a quick stop on the way to Branson,
Missouri. Just outside of town is the fantastic
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge where you can get up
close and personal with tigers, bears, ligers, bobcats and other
wild and wooly creatures. Just up the road near Branson,
Missouri you can also find float trips on Table Rock Lake.
Dianne and I started going to Eureka Springs in
the off-season for bargain deals at B&B's, now we go for the
canoeing & kayaking on the White River or on the Kings River!
Dylan, Dianne and myself had a blast on the Kings River and
we
took a float trip down the White River in the Summer of 2008.
Kayaking on the White River was like no other paddling trip I
have ever taken. We paddled the
White River near Mountain Home, Arkansas, but the White
River offers outfitters at various locations including Eureka
Springs.
Kings River Float Trips at Eureka Springs, AR
-
Kings River Map
Dylan and Dad Canoe Kings River,
originally uploaded by
FreeWine.
This river begins high in the Boston Mountains
of Madison County. From here the stream twists its way northward
to
the White River and finally flows into southern Missouri's
Table Rock Lake. It is rocky and clear with loads of fish and
birds, a great float for canoe paddlers.
The water quality in the Kings River is usually
very good to excellent, flowing clean, clear and very cold. A
stage of about 3.0 feet is considered minimum for good boating.
The Kings River offers over 90 miles of navigable wilderness
and is one of only five north-flowing rivers within the
continental United States.
The Kings River near Eureka Springs, Arkansas is
an excellent Oklahoma road trip for those who love to canoe.
Clear water and lovely scenery abound on this well outfitted and
easy to paddle river. Many Okies already travel to Eureka
Springs annually to see The Great Passion Play or just to
ride their motorcycles up and down the Ozark hills. Paddling
the Kings River makes a great additional activity to any Ozark
area visit.
More Kings River Pictures on our Flickr pages.
The 'Life is Good
' painting pictured above is a
well-known landmark on King's River Float Trips.
Eureka Springs Canoe & Kayak Livery Operators
There are a number of great canoe and kayak
livery operators around Eureka Springs, Arkansas. I have a short
list of them below. Don't get put-off by some outfitters listing
Berryville as their address. .Berryville is right by Eureka Springs.
Also, be careful not to confuse Riverside Resort
with
Riverview Resort.
Riverview Resort & Country Store (The White River)
17939 Highway 62 West
Eureka Springs, AR
Phone: (479) 253-8367
Website:
http://www.eureka-net.com/riverview/
River Lake Outdoor Center & Canoe
14735 Highway 62 West
Eureka Springs, AR
Phone: (479) 253-5628
Riverside Resort & Canoe Rental (The Kings
River)
(Tested &
Approved)
3031 Hwy 62 West
Berryville, AR 72616
Phone: 870-423-3116
Website:
http://www.riversideresortandcanoes.com
(Jacuzzi suites, canoes & kayaks right on the riverside! We
loved it.)
Kings River Retreat
8190 Highway 221 South
Eureka Springs, AR
Phone: (479) 253-2346
Website:
http://www.kingsriverretreat.com
Kings River Outfitters
Provides canoes, kayaks, shuttles and guide services.
Kings River Float trips either from Rockhouse to Trigger Gap
(7.7 miles)
or from Trigger Gap to McMullen Farm (4.7 miles).
Call at 479-253-8954 to make a reservation.
http://www.kingsriveroutfitters.com
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Mostly, I have to enjoy canoe trips with my son
Dylan, as my wife Dianne prefers to paddle solo. She rented a kayak for
our Kings River Float Trip. Considering the fact that I flipped
the canoe over about three seconds from the launch on our first
canoe trip, it is little wonder that she is reluctant to share
my boat? Don't even ASK about our experience in a tandem kayak.
A canoe is primarily driven by the paddler
sitting in the back of the boat. The paddler sitting in the bow
(front) of the boat is then free to take pictures, make
sandwiches, fish or whatever. Also, canoes tend to be longer
than kayaks and they ride a little higher in the water. Finally,
I think that canoes are a bit easier to get into and out of
without an 'incident'. They are great for fishing and great for
carrying cargo.
I love owning both a canoe and a kayak, just
like I prefer having both a car and a pickup. They each serve
different needs.
The White River at Eureka Springs, Arkansas -
White River Map or
White River Kayaking Trip Report
The White River's upper reaches are strictly seasonal, with the late
October through April/May period traditionally the best time for
float trips.
Below Bull Shoals Dam,
the White River is a
year-round float stream, with some of the best fishing reported
during the winter months. The 10-mile stretch of White River tail-water below Beaver Dam is famed for its trout fishing.
Canoeing and floating are also popular here, and there’s a
handicap-accessible fishing area. Most fishermen prefer
motorized johnboats for fishing the White River, but you can
paddle it as well.
We recently took a float trip on the White River
near Buffalo City, Arkansas. Paddling the ice cold waters
of this part of the White River during a Summer heat wave was a
blast. Read our White River kayaking trip report, check
the White River levels or see a list of some local kayak rental
outfitters, shuttle providers and lodging choices on
our White River Kayaking Page.
68th Annual White River Water Carnival
August 5-6, 2011.
This two-day event in Batesville, Arkansas
features a Kids Zone with inflatables, arts and crafts, live
music and fun festival food along the banks of the White River.
Make sure to visit the Batesville Chamber of Commerce to get a
free water gun that can be used to "soak" the floats in the "wet
zone" during the festival parade. Live music is on tap all day
on Saturday! Visit www.MyBatesville.org or phone 870-793-2378 to
learn more.
For even more fun visit the 17th annual 'Yards and Yards of Yard
Sales' event in nearby Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
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Click Photo To Enlarge
The White River near Buffalo City, Arkansas. |
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Table Rock Lake Paddling
 Not too far from Eureka Springs is Branson,
MO and the sparkling clear Table Rock Lake.
Table Rock
Lake offers 13 Corps of Engineers campgrounds with tons of
swimming areas, picnic spots and boat ramps. Full service
marinas and over 100 privately owned resorts dot the over
800 miles of shoreline on Table Rock Lake, so there are a
million ways to have fun in the sun! Resort properties
in a wide range of prices and quality levels surround Table Rock
Lake, so you should always be able to find lodging on some part
of Table Rock Lake. However, this is in the Ozark
mountains... just because two towns appear to be close together
on the map, does NOT mean they are a short drive apart!
Looking for kayak rentals in
Missouri or private kayak shuttle services? Check out:
Kayak Branson for canoe
& kayak rentals or shuttle services on Table Rock Lake and
misty old Lake Taneycomo.
Kayak Branson
5403 State Highway 165
Branson, Missouri 65616
Phone: 866-681-2628
Kayak Fishing Tip: A kayak
trailer makes it easy to load multiple large kayaks. |
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