Memorial Day Camping Trip Recap

Over Memorial Day my girlfriend Julie and I took advantage of the long weekend to take a camping trip to the Richland Creek Wilderness Area with a little side trip to do some Canoeing on the Big Piney.

Part 1: The Mighty Big Piney!

Julie posing along side "The Mother"

We meet up with Julie's parents to float the Big Piney on Saturday.  This was our first time on the Big Piney so we weren't sure what to expect, although, we knew it had several class II and a couple class III rapids.  

The Big Piney flows south approximately 67 miles from it's source near Fallsville to Lake Dardanelle (Arkansas River) just west of Russellville.  We had decided to float the 10 mile section of the river from Treat to Long Pool. This section of the Big Piney is where it gets it's reputation for great white water!  There are many class II rapids in this section and and a couple of Class II+ building up to the grand finale, a Class III rapid known as "The Mother".

Long Pool Recreation Area

After leaving my Jeep at Long Pool Recreation Area we loaded into Julie's Dad's truck with the Canoe and Kayaks and headed up the back roads to Treat.  A couple miles above Long Pool you get a great view of the Big Piney as it curves around a horseshoe bend.  Long Pool can be seen on one end of the horseshoe and "The Mother" can be seen on the other.

Long Pool on the Left and "The Mother" on the Right

We parked the truck at Helton's Farm in Treat, unloaded the boats and headed down the river.  

Julie on the Big Piney

Like the Buffalo and Mulberry, the Big Piney is a "pool and drop" river with long calm stretches punctuated with rapids.  The first "drop" along the creek came as a surprise 2' tall ledge that stretched from one side of the river to the other.  The ledge kind of sneaks up on you as it looks like a normal rapid from above and you don't realize it is actually a drop until you are practically on top of it.

Julie's mom discovers the first "Drop"

Julie's dad on one of the Big Piney ledges

Between the rapids the river has many long cool ponds with great scenery along the banks.  It flows through a pretty remote area and we didn't see many other people along the way.  Quite a bit different then the Memorial Day weekend crowds on the more well known Buffalo and Mulberry.  We did however see a lot of turtles and snakes.

A baby turtle I was able to catch off a log

 After warming up on several more Class II and II+ rapid we finally arrived at infamous "The Mother".  This rapid starts with a ledge which leads into several cascades dotted with large boulders, waiting to trap flipped canoes, before the current tries to push you straight into a large rock on river left.  After scouting the rapid from shore we decided to take a line that kept us to the right of most of the rocks.  Julie's dad went first in his Kayak followed by Julie in her mom's Kayak.  Her mom had decided not to risk it and walked around on shore. 

Julie's dad taking on the white water

Julie in the kayak 

The look on Julie's face is pretty good in this one!

After taking the kayaks through it was time for Julie and I too try it in the canoe.

Heading down the cascades

That rock is a little tricky to avoid 

Another great expression on Julie's face

We made it

After taking on "The Mother" it was a pretty easy couple miles around the bend to Long Pool.  The Big Piney was a pretty nice float with good white water, nice scenery and not to many people.  We will be heading back next spring.

Julie's parents just below "The Mother"

Check back soon for the second half of our Memorial Day trip, Richland Creek...

Welcome to the all new Matthew Parks Photography Travel Journal!  I have begun adding images to my portfolio with more to follow in the weeks ahead.  Prints can be ordered directly from my portfolio page or by visiting my Fine Art America (FFA) page. 

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Matt Parks