Long Branch,

Hike in from CR 28 near Wayton to Murray (2+3.5 miles)

Freeride

Freeride
Photo of Greg Churan by Lance Jones taken 3/19/2002

Gauge Information

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 2 miles long, plus the last 3.5 miles of the EFLB. Each mile of Long Branch drops 267 feet, but each mile also contains a shorter steeper gorge where the main action awaits. The put-in only drains 0.5 square miles of watershed, which doubles just before the upper gorge drops start. The lower gorge drains only 2.3 square miles. Gradient #s are for Long Branch only. Tight slots, fast slides, waterfalls, undercuts, deadfall. Highlights are the first and last sets of drops. Must run the last 3.5 miles on the East Fork Little Buffalo which will be at high water.

Put-in: Go North on CR 28 from Hwy 16 at Deer and head toward Wayton. This road takes you past the Alum Cove NFS recreation area. Continue for 2 miles North past the rec. area and park on the side of the road. Drag West down the through the woods aiming for the confluence of the top two forks. (Elevation 1800).

Take-out: Reach the take-out by continuing North to the community of Wayton from the put-in. Turn left (West) on CR 96 at the Wayton Baptist Church. Go 2.3 miles and turn left (South) on CR 95. Snow cemetery is on the right. Continue ~2.5 miles down the mountain to the community of Murray. Be sure to check out the scenery on the way down. Especially the small but tall waterfall above the first creek crossing. At the bottom of the hill, there are a couple of houses on the right then a triangle intersection. To the left, Willis Park is beside the creek at the low-water bridge and the will probably have standing water in the field. Park at the community building next to the park at the intersection. Be sure to thank any locals and leave a donation for this facility. (Elevation 1065)
Alternate is to park on the river left on the road by accessing from Hwy 16 at Swain. See the East Fork Little Buffalo for description. Parking area will be underwater and very few wide spots are on the road, so parking is sparce.

Description

The creek starts out very small and narrow with a 0.25+ mile long shoal. Shortly after crossing an ATV trail a third fork enters from the left. Immediately below this fork is the first set of drops.

After these first bedrock drops, the creek enters boulder drops. The next horizon line is an interesting double drop named 'Duck and Cover'.

Lots more nice class III/IV for the next mile with some nice drops like "Baby Zwick's" and 'Switchback'. Haunt Hollow enters from river right to add a little more water before the meat of the lower gorge begins.

The bottom gorge offers very steep banks and 450+ ft/mile for a third mile. Big complex boulder drops with holes, pin potential and undercuts. The portages are worse! The lower gorge consists of back to back drops with small eddys scattered about.

Just around the corner from the pool below 'Freeride' is the East Fork Little Buffalo. Long Branch enters ~0.5 miles below 'Johnson's Falls' so get ready for 3.5 miles of big water through the meat of the EFLB at flood! This is class IV+ big water with juicy holes, swirlies and crosscurrents.

If you have the time and energy at the bottom, catch a quick run on Stepp Creek, which enters the EFLB at the takeout.

Check out some video from this creek in the Ozark Update section of LVM issue #13.

More info and photos at:

Long Branch at Lance's Whitewater Page

Ozark Whitewater Page

Guidebooks

ARKAYAKANSAS DVD
$20.00

DVD is fundraiser for the Arkansas Canoe Club.