Wolf Bayou, Arkansas, US

Galens Road to Hwy 14 (6.4 miles)

Wolf Whistle

Wolf Whistle
Photo of Druse Ellis by Scott Hanshaw taken 02/22/03

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.

Put-in: Located on Galens Road. Go 2.3 miles North on Hwy 25 from the junction of Hwy 5 at the community of Wolf Bayou. Turn North onto Galens Road (dirt) and go about a mile to a fork. Go through the right gate which should be open. Continue down this road (4-WD) for another mile to the creek. Park on the left just before reaching the creek. (Elevation 615) This is a private road so please be respectful, especially during hunting season. Optional access is to park at the gate and carry/drag the rest of the way to the creek.

Take-out: Hwy 14 bridge. From the Put-in, continue North on Hwy 25 through Concord. Turn left (West) on Hwy 14 at Locust Grove at the bottom of the mountain. Go 6.3 miles to the creek. Park on the East side of the creek upstream of the bridge on the old roadway. Leave room for other vehicles to access the adjacent field. (Elevation 270)

Main rapids are in first mile which drops 110 feet. 0.3 miles at 165 ft/mile.

The first 0.3 miles consists of a shallow bedrock shoals and ledges offering some play potential.

A tall bluff on river left will appear and the creek will make a sharp bend back to the right. The first slot move is located at the start of the bend. Go either side of the boulder. A short pool leads to a broken 4-ft ledge. Cleanest line is a boof about 1/3 of the way out from the right bank.

The main drops come in quick succession after this ledge. 'Wolf Bite', 'Road To Grandmother's House', 'Grandmother's House' and main attraction 'Wolf Whistle'.

After 'Wolf Whistle', the remaining 5.5 miles of creek offer some nice class II to III+ rapids among the pools. The gorge offers wonderful scenery with the towering bluffs and cascading waterfalls. The creek exits the gorge about a mile above the take-out as the gradient eases and offers more willow jungles to negotiate.

Check out some video of the creek here.

More info and photos at:

Wolf Bayou, Lance's Whitewater Page

See action from this creek in

ARKAYAKANSAS DVD

$20.00
DVD is fundraiser for the Arkansas Canoe Club.