Big Piney Creek - 3) Helton's Farm (Treat) to Long Pool Campground (8.4 miles)


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Big Piney Creek,

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3) Helton's Farm (Treat) to Long Pool Campground (8.4 miles)

Class II+(III)
8.4 Miles
Avg Gradient 15 fpm

Photo#11885


Photo of Jack Zwaan by Bob Allen taken ?? @ 3.7

Gauge Information

Name Range Updated Level
Big Piney Creek at Highway 164 near Dover, AR 1.75 - 5.00 ft 01h16m 1.92 ft (rc= 0.1 )


River Description

This is a popular class II-III stretch. Most rapids are straight forward class II in nature, but several offer wavetrains and holes which can easily swamp open canoes, deserving class II+ to III rating. The 'Mother' (aka 'Cascades of Extinction') is the most difficult and potentially dangerous rapid about a mile above the take-out. This is a classic Ozark stream, emerald pools, scenic bluffs, remote setting and nice rapids. USFS Longpool Campground offers tent and RV spaces, water, heated bathrooms and showers.

Put-in: From Long Pool Campground, travel South for 2 miles to the first road to the left (East). Follow this gravel road up the mountain for 2.4 miles to the first main intersection. Turn left (North) at this Y intersection. After 2 miles there is an overlook on the left which looks down on the river. The 'Mother' and Longpool can be seen from here. Continue another 4 miles on the main road which will drop down the mountain and cross a low water bridge at Indian Creek. This can be used as a put-in if the level looks good to float down the first shoal. This creek adds a couple miles of class II+ to the run including some willow jungles. Otherwise continue across the bridge and follow the road to the left for another 1.5 miles. Take a left (go straight) at this intersection. This road will pass a cemetery on the left and descend a short hill to the river valley. This is a private property access and the landowners (the Helton's) require a $3.00 boat launch fee. Go to the house on the right to pay and access the creek via their field.

Take-out: Ozark National Forest Longpool Campground. Access from Hwy 7 North of I-40. Turn left (West) on Hwy 164 and right on Old Hwy 7. Follow the signs to the campground. A $3.00 parking fee is required if not camping.

See action from this river in:


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StreamTeam Status: Verified
Last Updated: 2009-01-22 16:54:52

Editors

Stream Team Editor
Lance Jones
North Little Rock, AR


Long pool

Detail Trip Report Edit  Long pool  @Big Piney Creek 3) Helton's Farm (Treat) to Long Pool Campground (8.4 miles), AR(309.02KB .jpeg)

the mother

Detail Trip Report Edit  the mother  Big Piney Creek, AR(1.26MB .jpeg)

last rapid

Detail Trip Report Edit  last rapid  Big Piney Creek, AR(1.24MB .jpeg)

Good Surfing

Detail Trip Report Edit  Good Surfing  Big Piney Creek, AR(88.10KB .jpeg)

Surfin

Detail Trip Report Edit  Surfin  Big Piney Creek, AR(45.42KB .jpeg)

Helton's Farm-Put In@~6.5

Detail Trip Report Edit  Helton's Farm-Put In@~6.5  Big Piney Creek, AR(201.78KB .jpeg)

Photo#11885

Detail Trip Report Edit    Big Piney Creek, AR(803.31KB .jpeg)


Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

USGS Gauge is located at Hwy 64 Bridge. There is a stick gauge at the Long Pool Campground which usually reads between 0.5 and 1.0 ft higher than the USGS gauge.

Based on the Long Pool gauge, 2.5 ft is generally considered the low end for this stretch and 5.0 ft is getting big.

Due to fluctuations in the readings on the USGS gauge, also check the water level page at Moore Outdoors for a current reading and correlation.

Gauge Information

Name Range Updated Level
Big Piney Creek at Highway 164 near Dover, AR
usgs-07257006 1.75 - 5.00 ft 01h16m 1.92 ft (rc= 0.1 )

RangeWater LevelComment
1.7500-5.0000 barely runnable-high runnable

Report - Reports of Big Piney Creek 3) Helton's Farm (Treat) to Long Pool Campground (8.4 miles) and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
Big Piney Creek [AR] 3.7 Jack Zwaan
Big Piney Creek [AR] Helton's Farm-Put In@~6.5 ~6.5 Josh Wolverton
Big Piney Creek [AR] Good Surfing 2.8 Robert Hall
Big Piney Creek [AR] the mother 2.8? Robert Hall
12d15h17m @Big Piney Creek 3) Helton's Farm (Treat) to Long Pool Campground (8.4 miles) [AR] Account of 10/29/09 n/a n/a
166d05h46m Big Piney Creek3) Helton's Farm (Treat) to Long Pool Campground (8.4 miles) [AR] Account of 05/29/09 n/a n/a

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Rapid Summary

Mile Rapid Name Class Features (Legend)
0.0Helton's FarmPutin
0.7Indian CreekAccess
1.0Indian Creek LedgeII+Playspot
2.0Jump RockAccess Playspot Photo
2.21,2,3 - SurpriseII+
2.7Whirly RockIIPlayspot
3.2Graves Creek
3.5Little Rock BeachII+Playspot
3.8Roller CoasterIIPlayspot
6.0Surfing RapidIIPlayspot
6.6The MotherIIIAccess Hazard Playspot
8.4Longpool CampgroundTakeout

Rapid Descriptions

Helton's Farm
Put-in is on private property for a $3.00 per boat charge

Indian Creek
Optional put-in option is at the low-water bridge on the shuttle road. Indian Creek offers 2 miles of class II+. Some of which is willow jungles. If the level looks high enough to paddle, it is.

Indian Creek Ledge (Class II+, Mile 1.0)

River wide 2-ft ledge which can be run anywhere. The hydraulic below the ledge is nice for those with the skills to surf and play in it, but easily cause novices to capsize.



Jump Rock

Photo#11885

Photo of Jack Zwaan by Bob Allen taken ?? @ 3.7

After a couple nice beaches on the right there are two large boulders in a long pool. Popular swimming hole for jumping off the 15-20 ft high boulders.

In addition a 4-WD road accesses this area (entire bend in the river) on river right. (Graves Creek Road)



1,2,3 - Surprise (Class II+, Mile 2.2)

At the end of the pool containing Jump Rock. This rapid offers a wave train and small holes. Recovery eddies and beaches are located below the first and second parts of the rapid on the right.



Whirly Rock (Class II, Mile 2.7)

Water flows past two large rocks on the left into a deep pool. Creates small whirlpools below the rocks.

This is a great place for squirt boaters.

The 4-WD Graves Creek road can be used to access this area.



Graves Creek
Graves Creek enters on the right.

Little Rock Beach (Class II+, Mile 3.5)

Below Graves Creek, the river turns to the left. At the beginning of the turn is a wave train which offers both play and carnage opportunities.

The beach on the left is a popular lunch spot.



Roller Coaster (Class II, Mile 3.8)

Nice wave train for surfing. The waves disappeared a few years ago, but came back to life about 50 yards downstream after a couple seasons of gravel shifting from floods.



Surfing Rapid (Class II, Mile 6.0)

Nice riverwide shoal with surfing waves. The river turns to the left and descends the shoal. Avoid the large boulders on the right. A small beach on the left offers an excellent resting/watching spot.



The Mother (Class III, Mile 6.6)

AKA 'Cascades of Extinction'

A short entrance leads to a riverwide 3-ft ledge in front of an undercut boulder on the left. Followed shortly by the 3-Sisters (rocks in the run out ready to pin wary boats that have been abandoned by swimmers)

Hug the right side of the river to follow a clean line through the rapid

A serious 4-WD road can be used to access this area on river right.



Longpool Campground
USFS campground with water and heated bathhouses with showers.



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