WichitaPaddler.com - Mulberry River

Mulberry River - Arkansas

This is a Class II River at normal water levels. Whitewater equipment and helmets are recommended. Warmer weather brings many rental canoes occupied with people who don't wear life jackets or helmets and are filled with beer coolers.

The Arkansas Canoe Club uses this river often for WW training. KCKA uses this trip for novice WW and other Class II trips. Expect WW boats, helmets and good safety practices to be requirements if joining either of these groups. WW canoes and helmets can be rented from Turner Bend.

Basic Safety Requirements

Fort Smith Weather

Mulberry Gage USGS

Turner Bend Private Gage

Turner Bend Campground and Store

Byrd's Adventure Center Check their calendar for big events to avoid such as 4-wheel drive and motorcycle rendezvous. These are good times to camp and paddle below Turner Bend.

Arkansas Canoe Club

One doc says it is best when between 2.0 and 5.0 feet. Another doc says the prime whitewater is between 3.0 - 3.9 feet and that the rapids begin to wash out over 4 feet.

Gage 3.0 feet - High Bank to Redding. First time on Class II. Great time.

Gage 2.6 feet - High Bank to Redding. Nice ride, no dragging, lots of fun. Channel wide enough to navigate Troll Shoal.

Gage 2.4 feet - Redding to Turner's Bend. No dragging. Nice ride. A few play spots but nothing like Whoop & Holler.

Gage 2.22 - High Bank to Redding. No dragging. Channel too narrow for most boats at Troll Shoal. Did have lots of fun at this level. Jump Start and Whoop & Holler were great play spots.

Gage 2.09 - High Bank to Byrd's. Some dragging. Fun at Whoop & Holler. Otherwise to low for me.

General Info - Courtesy of Ozark Whitewater Pages

Area Map - Courtesy of Ozark Whitewater Pages

Directions:
East out of Fort Smith, AR on I-40 to Exit 35 / Highway 23 North.

North on Highway 23 through Turner's Bend and then through Cass and a little farther to Highway 215.

East on Highway 215 to Redding Campground. The Redding campground sign will be on the right side (South) and can be hard to see because of trees/bushes.

From Exit 35 to Turner's Bend is about 11 miles. It is another 5.1 miles to Redding Campground. This 16 mile journey will take about 25 minutes. Expect about 340 miles from Wichita to Redding and about 5.5 - 6 hours plus stops. Redding will cost $10 / night / campsite. Turner's Bend charges $5/person for camping and provides hot showers.

Usually Cheep Gas: Conoco at Braiman Exit just south of KS/OK boarder. Curtis Oil Co I-40 Exit 321 in OK 20-30 miles from AR boarder. Fair prices near Sand Springs on West side of Tulsa.

Eating/Meeting Places:
I-40 AR Exit 5 - Big Jakes - General Restaurant
I-40 AR Exit 13 - Cracker Barrel
Oark, AR, 215 East of Wolf Pen Rec Area, Oark Country Store - Steaks, Frog Legs, Buffet (Walk in-Waddle out)
Turner Bend at 10 AM on Saturday and Sunday mornings when the river is up. Locals and members of ACC meet to run the river.

Mileage from I-40 x Highway 23

I-40 X Highway 23 - 0.0
Turner's Bend Store - 11.0
23 X 215 - 14.0
Redding Campground - 16.1
Byrds Campground - 18.8
Whispering Pine Road - 20.05

GPS On the road:

I-40 x 23 (turn off for Highway 23)
35 31.394 N
93 51.894 W

Turner's Bend Store
35 40.060 N
93 49.666 W

23 x 215 (turn off for Highway 215)
35 41.516 N
93 48.852 W

Redding Campground Entrance
35 40.786 N
93 46.647 W

Byrd's Campground Entrance
35 40.85 N (estimated)
93 44.47 W (estimated)

Whispering Pine Road
35 40.939 N
93 43.547 W

High Bank Entrance
35 40.733 N (estimated)
93 41.342 W (estimated)

Little Mulberry Access on 215
35 40.380 N
93 39.916 W

Wolf Pen Campground Entrance
35 40.64 N (estimated)
93 37.89 W (estimated)