July River Kayaking & Creeking with Deb

What is one to do during the hot summer days? The answer is simple, enjoy the many water ways around the area. Be it fishing, swimming, creek wading or kayaking, one can beat the heat!

Get your spunk back on a hot summer day… our spring-fed, crystal clear creeks are the answer!

Keep an eye out for bald eagles and their lofty nests!

Kayaking is one of the most enjoyable and fun ways to navigate the White River offering many nature encounters and viewing lush vegetation, the most thrilling being the sighting of Bald Eagles. There are several areas to choose from in planning a float trip on the White River. Arranging the shuttle to the put in and take out spot is a main concern as well as knowing the water level. Expect a very fast float when the river is high due to the release of water from Norfork Dam. The water is generated at different times. The lower the level, the clearer the water becomes, giving pristine views of the bottom of the river where you can see the trout and some areas become so low to enable you to sit in the river to cool off from the heat.

Nicknamed Glass Island - down stream from Calico Rock - a shallow section of river where one can find old glass shards and interesting rocks. A wonderful place to stop and cool off in this shallow area of the White River. I am literally sitting in the river off Glass Island…that shallow!!

One fun area is Cresswell Island aka Glass Island just down river from Calico Rock. The nice gravel bar offers a great picnic site as well as a place to look for old glass and interesting rocks.

Some good choices to begin your float are the:

• Norfork ramp

• Red’s Landing where PJ’s restaurant is nearby

• Chessmond Ferry access next to Lindsey’s boat dock which makes for a very easy shuttle, being only 3 miles from the Calico Rock boat ramp for a take out spot.

Leaving from any of these spots takes you by the famous Calico City Rock Bluff.

A most enjoyable time is to leave from Chessmond Ferry at the end of the day to get off the water near dusk (about one and a half hour float), when the water level is up and paddle over Racetrack Shoals to head behind Herd Island. This narrow stretch of water is approximately one mile and heavily wooded along the banks where wildlife and birds abound. On any given day expect to hear or see mink, otters, turtles, deer, beavers, Great Blue Herons and Kingfishers. You might even hear a cacophony of owls.

There are several apps available for maps, water levels and GPS coordinates: River App, River Cast, American White Water and Streams app. It is always good to check the water level and obtain information on when water is being released from Norfork Dam.

When conditions are right and you’re lucky, the white mist magically appears out of nowhere offering a surreal, ethereal, peaceful feeling to your senses. The Van Morrison song, “Into the Mystic”, comes to mind. You also paddle by some magnificent large boulders emerging from the water. The beautiful bluffs of Calico Rock come into view as you are coming from behind Herd Island back into the White River that takes you on to the take-out at the Calico Rock boat ramp.

Photos & Feature by Deb Jolly

Other trip options are from the Optimus access to Allison and Allison to Round Bottom. Sometimes you can get shuttle service at Angler’s White River Resort.