Map to the put in.

Map to the take out from the put in.

River Levels (Richland Creek Gauge) - Minimum - 3 Optimum - 4 Maximum - 6

I have one word that describes this run AWESOME! I have got to run this 4 times this year at different levels each time. It starts off as a pretty easy class 2+/3 river with a few good warm up rapids in the first mile or so and then when you come to the bluffs pictured to the right you know the fun is about to start. After these bluffs is where the real fun starts. There are quite a few good rapids including Crack in the Rock, Knucklebuster, Upper & Lower Screw Up, Cindys or Susans Hole, and Maytag. Not to mention all the other class III rapids in between. There is a river wide 6'-8' waterfall called Richland Falls that is beautiful. Just after Richland Falls where the river makes a hard right and there is a tributary coming in on river left, there is a trail on river left that you can get out of your boats and hike to Twin Devils Falls. Here there are 2 20'+ waterfalls that drop into the same pool. A must see if you have never been.

The first time I ran it the river was right at 3' which made the run very boney and a little more technical because you had to avoid all the rocks. I got to run it around 3'6 and it was a better run with a lot more rocks under water. The last time I ran it, it was over 5'6 and man it was huge! Being able to paddle it at different levels all within a few months, I was able to see the difference in the river at different levels. When the river is over 5' the holes and waves are twice as big and will throw you twice as bad. I would not recommend the river above 5's unless you have paddle plenty of class IV's.

If you would like to read more about this river please visit the link below to the Ozark Creek Summary about this river. The guys there have put a lot of time into gathering info about all the premier paddling spots in Arkansas.

USGS RIVER GAUGE

Ozark Creek Summary