I am looking to plan a trip for early April. I live in Michigan and am willing to drive 15-20 hours to get to a great destination. We will have 3-4 experienced paddlers. We are looking for reasonably fast water, but nothing overly technical. Scenery and relatively few people would be our priorities. Any advice or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Right now looking at possibly the Buffalo River in Arkansas.
data
http://www.nps.gov/bibe/learn/nature/waterflow.htm
http://www.ibwc.state.gov/water_data/histflo1.htm
http://www.ibwc.state.gov/wad/DDQJOHNS.htm
Camping
For those of you that have made this trip can you camp along the bank anywhere or do you have to find establish campgrounds?
overall
– Last Updated: Dec-24-15 4:35 PM EST –
my suggestion is using available internet tools for planning. The total depth is extensive. Federal, state, local, special interest groups, Chambers of Commmerce, tourism agencies, clubs, commercial tour organizers...drown in this ....copy into a folder.
Underground weather's almanac is priceless.
Rio water levels are usually low at your requested time while temperatures are excellent. The Buffalo's weather is both positive and negative in April.
Somewhere there is a positive positive trip for April.
Use Google Earth. Try GE on the Rio.
Camping is ....most Rio campsites were used before from Villa to Gernonimo and before. The US side is uninhabited, most of the MX side is also remote. Inside the National Park boundaries. No picnic tables.
Aulbach's guide shows the flat spots, where high banking or dense foliage prevents access using topo contour lines. A few miles of reed growth at awesome heights n densities: biowire
Is possible to camp at The Narrows inside Mariscal. Post trip and following the Padnet report, I was advised of thunderstorm floods inside the canyon during Monsoon season. I haven't heard of serious problems.
rapid named
as The Narrows is called THE TIGHT SQUEEZE
Camp anywhere
but on gravel bars be sure you plan an escape route uphill.
And stick a stick at the edge of the water so you can see if the water is rising. It can flood without raining in your area.
I always ask local outfitters, in person, how the river is doing. They know the best spots and can give safety hints. The internet is the source of last resort for me aside from general information. You won’t find any reference to attack porkies( there are some rope loving ones) on the internet
Green River- Canyonlands NP
Paddle from green river to confluence of utah.
current advice
is camping is more difficult in spring with higher river levels…
http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KCNY/2014/4/3/DailyHistory.html?req_city=Green+River&req_state=UT&req_statename=Utah&reqdb.zip=84515&reqdb.magic=1&reqdb.wmo=99999
rivers
Mich igan is full of great rivers, but April might be a little early. I would wait until May and try the Asuable, Cedar, or many others.
Excellent time of the year
for floating in the Ozarks. Normally great water levels and the redbud trees bloom last of March - early April. I also suggest the Current River as an alternative in the event of high water on the Buffalo R. The Current R. would be a couple of hours closer.
I live near the Current R. and could provide other planning help, if needed.
Dan