River too low? Here’s what to do instead
Low water doesn’t mean a wasted trip. First, check the Middle and Lower District floats — they often hold water weeks longer than the upper river. If nothing is floatable, try these.
When is it usually floatable?
- Upper District: March–June, and briefly after heavy rain
- Middle District: March–July, and after rain later in the year
- Lower District: most of the year; most reliable March–October
Our summary of the general NPS seasonal pattern: the season starts upstream in spring and moves downstream as the river drops. Rain can change it any month. Month by month →
🔔 Alert me when it’s floatableHikes
Lost Valley Trail
Near Ponca/Boxley (Hwy 43) · about 2–2.5 mi round trip (approximate — check NPS)
An easy, family-friendly walk up Clark Creek past a natural bridge, Cob Cave and Eden Falls. Best after rain — which is exactly when the river isn’t low, so go early in a dry spell for the cave and bluff scenery. Pets not allowed.
Hemmed-In Hollow
Centerpoint trailhead on Hwy 43, or from the river below Kyle's · roughly 5 mi round trip, strenuous (approximate — check NPS)
A steep descent to a free-falling waterfall in a box canyon — one of the tallest waterfalls in the region. The climb back out is the hard part; carry plenty of water. Flow is thin in dry weather.
Whitaker Point (Hawksbill Crag)
Off Cave Mountain Rd near Boxley — Ozark National Forest, not NPS land · about 3 mi round trip (approximate — check NPS)
A short forest walk to the famous overhanging crag. There are no railings; stay well back from the edge.
Big Bluff & the Goat Trail
Centerpoint trailhead (Hwy 43) · roughly 6 mi round trip (approximate — check NPS)
A narrow ledge trail across one of the tallest bluffs on the river, with a big drop and long views over the Ponca Wilderness. Not for anyone uneasy with heights, and not for kids or dogs.
Indian Rockhouse
Buffalo Point · distance not listed — check with NPS
A loop to a huge bluff shelter, sinkholes and an old zinc-mining site. Good choice when you’re based in the Lower District.
Trail info: NPS hiking. Whitaker Point is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Swimming holes
Low water is swimming weather. Deep pools tend to sit below bluffs at bends: the Hwy 7 area at Pruitt, Steel Creek under Roark Bluff, the Tyler Bend gravel bar and the beach at North Maumee are popular, easy-to-reach spots. There are no lifeguards; NPS recommends life jackets for kids, and never dive — depths change after every flood.
Boxley Valley elk
Arkansas’s elk herd is often seen grazing the fields along Hwy 43 in Boxley Valley, especially around dawn and dusk. Pull fully off the road, stay in or near your car and give them room — September–October rut bulls can be aggressive. See NPS: Elk.
Historic sites like the Collier Homestead (Tyler Bend), Boxley Grist Mill and the Rush ghost town are also great low-water outings.