Mountain Fork,
|
|
1. Hwy 246/59 near Hatfield, AR to the Narrows above Broken Bow Lake (3, 9, or 28 miles) (Upper Mountain Fork or UMF)
| Usual Difficulty |
I-II+(III) (may vary with level) |
| Length |
28 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient |
10 fpm |
| Max Gradient |
10 fpm |
Photo#13947
Photo of Jordan Egan by David McDonald taken March 2006 @ 500
Gauge Information
River Description
Wide river with occasional ledges and long pools.
Three sections. Most popular is Smithville to the Narrows, beginning with the Toilet Bowl and
ending with several ledges before the takeout.
The Upper Mountain Fork River forms near Hatfield, Arkansas southwest of Mena along US Highway 59
and Arkansas SH 246, then flows about 28.6 miles southwest to Broken Bow Lake in McCurtain
County, Oklahoma, below which point it becomes the Lower Mountain Fork as it flows out of the dam
below the lake at the power plant. The river slows considerably for about 5 miles between the
power plant and the rereg dam, where the whitewater section of the Lower Mountain Fork
begins.
This is a classic pool-and-drop river. It flows on a shallow gradient of 8-10 fpm along a
riverbed consisting of rock ledges that create small drops and occasional long pools of
flatwater. The stream is very popular with kayakers and canoeists because of its remote location,
excellent scenery and sometimes exciting whitewater. The most popular section is a short run of
about 9 miles between US Highway 259 at Smithville, Oklahoma through "The Narrows" at the top of
Broken Bow Lake, where the larger drops are situated.
The Upper Mountain Fork is a seasonal stream that holds levels best during the late fall, winter
and spring.
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2008-08-26 07:04:48
Editors
No guide books for this stream. If you know of a book that describes this stream please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
User Comments
bridge that goes over Eagle Fork Creek. Just drop in there and it will give you a short run
straight to the whitewater. Pull out at the low water bridge and you have shuttle back up to run
the sets again with tons of time on your hands. I think it cuts it down to 2 - 3 miles.