Little, OK

River Description

River description courtesy of Southwest Paddler. Used by permission.

This reach of the Little River is a respectable Class II whitewater stream with a moderate gradient of about 15-20 fpm as it runs between the Kiamichi River to the west and the Upper Mountain Fork River to the east in the very remote wilderness of far southeastern Oklahoma. The Kiamichi Mountains provide a gorgeous backdrop to the Little River in LeFlore and Pushmataha Counties, where many species of trees grow along the rocky banks and the rolling hills adjacent to the stream.

While the river actually forms about 10 miles or more northwest of Honobia, access at the top is limited due to private property ownership, and Honobia is the first practical public access point, leaving about 46 miles of river down to Pine Creek Lake, though the last practical take-out above the lake is the road between Cloudy and Battiest at about 40 miles below Honobia. The Little River is an unspoiled stream of immense natural beauty that is exciting to paddle even if it is not too technically challenging at normal flows. This is a great river for taking along a camera to capture some of the scenic beauty of the Kiamichi Mountains.

The Upper Little River is a gorgeous mountain river that is seldom paddled because it is unknown to most boaters, is difficult to access and is seldom navigable. When rains fall in the Kiamichi Mountains the river becomes an exciting 40 or 46 miles (depending upon where you take out) of moderate whitewater that is safe for anybody with more than introductory whitewater skills as long as they are prepared for the distance and trips in a wilderness area.

Expect to be attacked by killer ticks in the Kiamichi's, so take along insect repellant with DEET, Seven Dust to powder your campsite and check your body for ticks after your trip ends. If you see small black spots on you that weren't there before your trip, then they are probably ticks. Take along your camera, because the area is naturally scenic and unspolied by development. Upon departing Honobia, there is not other civilization to be seen above Pine Creek Lake, so take along everything you need for your trip.