Ouachita National Forest

Canoeing the Ouachita River at any time of the year offers visitors a glimpse of the forest some never see. The pleasant temperatures and brilliant seasonal color displays of fall and spring and the cooling and refreshing effect of moving water and shade trees during the heat of summer make April to October the most popular time to enjoy this trip. The family-friendly river flows casually past massive rock bluffs shaded by tree-lined banks and slopes. Paddle or just float as the river alternates between trickling rapids and clear, slow-moving pools. In this picturesque setting, visitors can enjoy fishing, camping, picnicking, bird-watching, and swimming.

Floating speed on the river averages about one mile per hour, varying according to river depth and flow. During periods of heavy rain, especially in the spring, the river can become fast and dangerous. In late summer and early fall, the water level is normally low.

Your float can begin at the old bridge at Pine Ridge. The river travels from here 45 miles to Lake Ouachita. The river will become wider with deeper, slower-moving pools as you travel.

Two popular day trips are: Rocky Shoals to Fulton Branch, and Fulton Branch to River Bluff. You will need to leave a vehicle at your stopping point or have someone meet you.

Mileage

• 0.0 Pine Ridge — Put-in at bridge on gravel road off Arkansas 88 near Pine Ridge. This upper section of the river is not recommended in low-water season.
• 6.0 Shirley Creek — Forest Service access and float camp.
• 9.0 Oden — Access point.
• 13.0 Pencil Bluff — Access point.
• 19.0 Rocky Shoals — Forest Service access and float camp.
• 26.0 Fulton Branch — Forest Service access and float camp.
• 28.0 Dragover — Forest Service access and float camp.
• 30.8 Dragover Pullout — Access point with a trail connecting back to Dragover Float Camp (approximately a 10-minute hike).
• 31.0 River Bluff — Forest Service access and float camp.
• 42.0 Highway 27 — Army Corps of Engineers Recreation Camp.

Facilities
You'll find nine landings. Five are Forest Service float camps with picnic areas, restrooms, and overnight campsites. Shirley Creek and Dragover float camps have drinking water. Access roads and landing sites are clearly marked.