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Big Devil's Fork, AR

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Hill Cemetery to Richland Creek

Class III-IV(V)
2.75 Miles
Avg Gradient 180 fpm
Max Gradient 220 fpm

Twin Devil's Falls


Twin Devil's Falls
Photo of Nate Kline by Cowper Chadbourn

Gauge Information

Big Devil's Fork
low
2.17
8/21 23:30

Min Sug. Level:  5 ft Max Sug. Level:  7 ft

River Description

Note: The combination of Steep banks and lots of dead red oak trees (thanks to the borer beetle infestation) tend to clog the creek with wood from time to time, so keep look out.

 

 

This is a very small creek. Putin is barely enough to float a boat, but several tributaries quickly converge. Tight slots, fast slides, waterfalls, undercuts. Highlight is Twin Devil's Falls. Must run the last 2 miles of Richland Creek at high water.

Big Devil's Creek is 2.75 miles to Richland and then 2 miles to the Campground access. Average and maximum gradients are for put-in to the Richland confluence.

 

Put-in: Head North on NFS Road 1205 from Richland Creek Campground and head up the mountain to Icelado Gap. This will be at the bottom of the first steep downhill encountered. There is an intersection and a house to the South. Follow the road south past the House to Campbell Cemetery. Drag 0.25 miles to the creek.

Take-out: Continuing East on Hwy 16 from Ben Hur for 1.5 miles and turn onto Pope County Road 68 (NFS 1205) and follow to NFS Richland Creek Campground. This road will parallel Falling Water Creek most of the way. This can also be reached by taking Pope County Road 18 (Falling Water Road) farther East off Hwy 16.

 

This run begins as a creek so tiny that you will think you have made a mistake, but quickly builds in intensity. Lots of ledge drops and slides and several undercuts. The "Sphinkter" is visually impressive. Remember that a deep undercut lurks under the river right wall! Be sure to run the right side of the first 12-ft waterfall (This one is named Don Hamilton Falls in Tim Ernst Arkansas Waterfalls book.) After this, some tight boulder jumbles lead to the entrance to the Twin Falls, the highlight of the trip. Depending on water level, you may either run the Big Devil's side, or access and run the Long Devil's side via a short trail. Be prepared for a "big water" creek run through some of Richland's most difficult rapids after the junction (IV+/V at these levels). All rapids have been run, although the boulder jumble just below the first waterfall is marginal for most water levels.

 

More info and photos at:

Devil's Fork Creek at Lance's Whitewater Page

Ozark Whitewater Page

Guidebooks


ARKAYAKANSAS DVD

$20.00

DVD is fundraiser for the Arkansas Canoe Club.

 


StreamTeam Status: verified
Last Updated: 2008-06-06 10:11:02

Search Results

Photos/Videos 1- of 3

Twin Devil's Falls


Twin Devil's Falls  Big Devil's Creek AR
(17.33KB .jpeg)

Hamilton Falls


Hamilton Falls  Big Devils Fork AR
(28.33KB .jpeg)

Entering The Sphinkter


Entering The Sphinkter  Big Devil's Fork AR
(21.99KB .jpeg)

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Gauge

Gauge Description:

Look for 2" or more rain within the last 6 to 12 hours. The Richland gauge should be 5 ft or heading that way.

Richland Cr nr Witts Springs [ AR ]

Current Conditions

Stage Flow Updated
2.17 51 8/21 23:30

Station Graphs


Linked Reaches

Search Results

Level Legend: Running Below Minimum Recommended Flow Above Maximum Recommended Flow Unknown
Descriptions of reaches with River Name in bold have been verified by a regional StreamTeam member.

State River Name/Section Class Level Rel. Level Updated
AR Barberry Creek— Headwaters to ELFB III-V 2.17 ft   low 8/21 23:30
AR Bear Creek (Big Piney trib)— Headwaters to Big Piney Creek IV-V(V+) 2.17 ft   low 8/21 23:30
AR Big Devil's Fork— Hill Cemetery to Richland Creek III-IV(V) 2.17 ft   low 8/21 23:30
AR Bobtail Creek— (hike in) FS 1219A to Richland Creek III-IV+ 2.17 ft   low 8/21 23:30
AR Boss Hollow— Headwaters to Hurricane Creek III-IV+ 2.17 ft   low 8/21 23:30
AR Dry Creek— Dickey Junction to Eula IV-V+ 2.17 ft   low 8/21 23:30
AR Falling Water Creek— Falling Water Falls to Richland Campground II-III+(IV) 2.17 ft   low 8/21 23:30
AR Falls Branch— Tarlton Flats to NFS Road 1200 near Bass III-V 2.17 ft   low 8/21 23:30
AR Hurricane Creek (Newton & Pope Co.)— Cub Creek to Big Piney II-III+ 2.17 ft   low 8/21 23:30
AR Left Hand Prong— Headwaters to Victor Road II-IV 2.17 ft   low 8/21 23:30
AR Little Buffalo, East Fork— Deer to Murray III-IV(V+) 2.17 ft   low 8/21 23:30
AR Long Branch— Hike in from CR 28 near Wayton to Murray III-V 2.17 ft   low 8/21 23:30
AR Long Devil's Fork— Hike in from CR 32 to Richland Creek III-IV(V) 2.17 ft   low 8/21 23:30
AR Richland Creek— 1) Moore to Richland Creek Campground III-IV+ 2.17 ft   low 8/21 23:30
AR Richland Creek— 2) Richland Creek Campground to NFR 1201 II-III(IV) 2.17 ft   low 8/21 23:30
AR Sandy Springs Hollow— Headwaters to EFLB III-IV+ 2.17 ft   low 8/21 23:30
AR Shop Creek, West Fork— Alum Cove Creek to Parthenon III-IV(V) 2.17 ft   low 8/21 23:30
AR Stepp Creek— Gum Branch to ELFB III-IV+ 2.17 ft   low 8/21 23:30
AR Sulphur Creek— Southern Fork to Richland Creek III-V(V+) 2.17 ft   low 8/21 23:30

Station Description

AW Gauge ID:3161
USGS Station:07055875
HUC:0
Latitude:35.7969
Longitude:-92.9286
Class:-1

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