TSRA 3rd Saturday Paddle Trip (March 2023)
On every 3rd Saturday of the month from March through October TSRA will be leading a Flatwater to Class I paddle trip. Location will be determined a week or two out and updated on the calendar. Basic paddling skills, training and appropriate gear are a prerequisite for all registrants. Life Jackets (PFD) will be worn at all times on the water. No alcohol during trip.
2023 Arkansas Buffalo River in the Ozark Mountains Valley
March 16th – March 19th. _ (Travel on Thursday 16thand paddle Friday 17th through Sunday 19th).
This is a Class I-II trip with a few easy but exciting class II sections depending on water levels. We will paddle from Ponca to Carver (34.8 mi). See map on link.
In conjunction with this trip, if anyone is new to canoe camping, I am also offering this trip as an ACA River Canoe Camping Course. Please contact me to discuss course details before registering.
You may convoy with us, or we can arrange to meet you at the hotel or the put in. We can set up arrangements when you pre-register.
The plan is to travel on Thursday March 16th. Take I-40 west to Russellville Arkansas to Exit 81 and hotel it for the night. There are several hotels at this exit. You must make your own hotel arrangements. If possible, please join us for a group dinner near the hotels that evening (place and time to be determined). Friday morning, we will eat an early breakfast near the hotels. Then convoy due North (70 mi.) to the Ponca put in, drop gear, and run shuttle to the Carver take out, and back. We will be on the river Friday, Saturday and Sunday taking off the river Sunday about noon. Camping is riverside Friday and Saturday nights. Prepare meals and gear accordingly. If you want to fish licenses can be bought at several locations prior to trip. The fishing is very good but check local regulations. There is usually time to fish very early before breakfast or late before dinner at campsite but not much time during the daytime paddle.
If you are kayaking, you are required to have a spray skirt to come on this trip. This river will swamp your boat at several rapids without one.
This is a wonderful trip in a deep and beautiful valley of Buffalo River National Park in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. It is completely set up for paddling trips of various lengths. I promise you will want to return again and again. Here is a Shortcut to Nation Park Service: http://www.nps.gov/buff
I have some alternate trips planned in case of bad weather or inadequate or high water levels.
See the link below for river information including River Levels (upper right button):
Shortcut to: http://www.buffaloriver.com/
Pre-registration is required. If I do not know you please give me a brief introductory call before registering to discuss paddling skill level and gear.
Go to our TSRA web site at www.paddletsra.org .
Go to calendar, then month of March and 3rd Saturday Paddle (March 18). This trip is March 16-19 however.
You can contact me by calling, texting, or emailing Steve Morris at 615-308-4059 cell and stevecanoes@gmail.com.
Registration fees:
TSRA members no TSRA fee.
ACA members no ACA fee.
TSRA non-members $10 TSRA fee.
ACA non-members $10 ACA fee.
If you like us and think you will join us on future trips we can apply the $10 TSRA fee towards a TSRA membership and paddle next time with no TSRA registration fee.
Please pre-register by calling or emailing Steve Morris at
615-308-4059 mbl or Stevecanoes@gmail.com
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