Headwaters to Big Piney CreekClass IV-V(V+)
4.1 Miles
Avg Gradient 185 fpm
Max Gradient 300 fpm
Baby Bear Falls
Baby Bear Falls Photo of Shelby Johnson by Lance Jones Gauge Information
Bear Creek (Big Piney trib)
Headwaters to Big Piney Creek IV-V(V+)
River DescriptionNote: 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. Tight slots, fast slides, waterfalls, undercuts. Highlights are three waterfalls and three long slides. Gradient in the 0.5 mile waterfall section is ~350 ft/mi. Put-in: Go 4 miles West on Hwy 123 from Pelsor (Sand Gap) and take Forest Service Road 1802 (Pope County Road 14) South. This road is located midway between two small cemeteries along Hwy 123. The road runs the ridge on the West Side of Indian Creek. Drive about 1.3 miles and look for a primitive camp on the left at the West Side of Mc Minn Knob. Park at the camp and carry down the trail directly across the road. The trail immediately passes by a small pond. Follow the faint trail North to the end of the knob and then down the mountain. The trail continues North and crosses a small creek. Bushwhack to the left on the North side of the creek to the main creek. This is where the 3 upper forks come together at a long slide. (Elevation 1490) Take-Out: Reach the take-out by continuing West on Hwy 123 toward the Big Piney at Fort Douglas. Upon reaching the Big Piney bridge, turn around and head back East for 1/4 mile. The Hwy crosses over Sugar Creek in a right hand turn then curves left up the hill. Look for the first road to the right (South). Another primitive hunter camp is located here. A 4WD trail leads 1/4 mile to the creek just above the confluence with the Big Piney. (Elevation 720) This is a small creek with lots of action. Watch for wood and take 'Papa Bear Falls' very seriously. Check out some video from this creek in the Ozark Update section of LVM issue #13. More info and photos at: StreamTeam Status: verified
Last Updated: 2008-06-06 10:07:47
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Look for 2" or more rain within the last 6 to 12 hours.
If the Sugar Creek just East of the Hwy 123 bridge over the Big Piney is flowing good, Bear is a definite run!
Richland Cr nr Witts Springs [ AR ] |
Current Conditions
Station Graphs |
| Level Legend: | Running | Below Minimum Recommended Flow | Above Maximum Recommended Flow | Unknown |
| AW Gauge ID: | 3161 |
| USGS Station: | 07055875 |
| HUC: | 0 |
| Latitude: | 35.7969 |
| Longitude: | -92.9286 |
| Class: | -1 |
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. No Comments
Add a Comment| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | Put-in / Funnel | IV |    |
| 0.2 | Rayzr Burn | IV+ |  |
| 0.4 | Boulder Fields | IV+ | |
| 0.6 | Bear Pin | IV | |
| 0.7 | Logjam |  | |
| 1.0 | Bear Claw | 5.0 | |
| 1.1 | Baby Bear Falls | III+ | |
| 1.2 | Mama Bear Falls | IV+ | |
| 1.3 | Papa Bear Falls | 5.0 | |
| 1.7 | Lower Gorge | IV+ | |
| 2.9 | Bear Trap | IV | |
| 4.1 | Take-Out Trail |  |
The creek starts out as a fast and narrow 50-60 yard long stair stepping slide ending in a steep funnel dropping 10-12 feet into a small pool.
After a couple small drops the creek splits around a small island with a tree growing in the middle. This is Rayzr Burn. A narrow slot with a nasty undercut on the right channel and a steep rocky drop on the left land at the top of a several hundred yard long slide. After the slide the creekbed turns to boulder fields.
Some nice boulder drops in this short section between the slides.
The boulder fields end at "Bear Pin". Look for a small but steep cascade entering from river left. The Pin is just below this cascade. A cluttered approach makes the left side boof difficult. Potential vertical pin with a missed boof.
A few hundred yards downstream from Bear Pin, the creek turns 90 degrees to the left as a small tributary crashes in from the right. Get out on the river left and portage the inside of the corner around the multiple logjams. This is the end of the warm-up. The creek drops 200 feet in the next 2/3 mile! Maximum gradient tops out over 550 ft/mile in this section. Another long slide leads to the top of 'Bear Claw'
After a couple of nice drops below the logjam a long slide starts. At the bottom of the slide, the creek sweeps to the right and cuts back to the left around a steep right bank. Eddy out and scout the next boulder jumble, "Bear Claw". There are multiple routes through the jumble and pinning is very possible.
Only a couple smaller drops separate the end of "Bear Claw" and the entrance slide to "Baby Bear Falls". This is a very clean and very beautiful 15+ ft drop. A gentle slide transitions into a 45 degree slope then empties into a fantastic grotto pool over a 8-10 ft waterfall. Enjoy the view and be ready to scout the next big drop less than 100 yards downstream.
"Mama Bear Falls" starts with a 20 yard gentle slide 20 feet wide then drops 15+ feet at a very steep angle as it funnels into a 4 foot wide notch. After leaving the notch the water fans out over bedrock as it pushes toward the left overhanging wall. Eddy out above the next horizon line just around the corner.
Scout and/or portage on the left for this big boy. The creek splits into two narrow slots around a large boulder in the middle of the 15-foot wide creek. The water drops 12+ feet from each slot into a 8-10 ft wide cauldron. The hole is worse than it appears. The only two attempts of this drop resulted in long scary trashings in the hole followed by swims of the rest of the drop!
The exit from the cauldron is through a 3-5 ft wide 15 ft deep sluice that is 50-60 feet long and makes a jog to the left in the middle. The sluice forces the water to barrel roll back an forth a couple times on the way through, a flip or pin in here will be ugly. The water exits the sluice over a 10 foot drop, out into another picture perfect grotto pool. This is truly a unique, beautiful and scary rapid.
The creek calms down a little for half-mile before entering a mini gorge recognized by the return of large boulders to the creek. Pick you way through the slots. The creek returns to calm fast class II, but don't get lulled just yet.
A small tributary will enter on the left as the creek takes a hard right turn. Again boulders reappear in the creek. After a slot on the left cuts back to the right then left along a steep shale bank, look for a very large boulder on the left followed by another very large boulder on the right bank. Cut to the left immediately behind the first boulder and scrape down the boat-wide channel. The main channel stays to the right toward and UNDER the second Boulder. It is very difficult to recognize until you are right on it or know it is there.
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