Information on Upper Upper Shoal Cr.
Rating: III+ *
TDCR: 6676
Location: Put in via old logging road (now a horse trail) on east side
near top of Mt. Magazine. Turn right off of the state highway onto
a logging road in the middle of the first big "U" turn coming down
the north side from top of mountain. Turn right at the next
intersection and head for the creek. On a map, the put-in
is about 1/4 mile directly (as the crow flies) east of the
new state park visitor center. Take out is at regular Shoal
Creek put in.
Topo Quad(s): N/A
Gradient: ? fpm
Length: N/A
Season: FLOOD
Gauge: Run only when its almost too high at the normal Shoal Cr.
put-in. A whole lot of rain is needed!
Hazards: Absolutely no eddies till near the bottom of the
run... extremely fast, extremely narrow, hi-banked V shaped
sides of river (nearly a slot in some areas) and very
technical. You'll find yourself purposefully sliding over
rocks to slow yourself down enough to have good control.
Description: Date of first descent was 1979, in open boats, 16 ft blue
hole OCA's, by Fred Baker (Fort Smith), John Williams
(Booneville), Jim Gardner (Van Buren). The whole stretch was
nicknamed "The Shoal Sluice" by the first descent group.
Only runnable once or twice a year at maximum, when other
rivers and creeks are in flood. Thanks go to Fred Baker
for information on Upper Upper Shoal Cr.
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