Paddle boarding a river is the perfect compromise between drifting in an inter tube and paddling in a canoe. Paddle boards offer the best view of the river bottom, you can stand or sit, float or paddle and you can easily jump in for a swim! In todays article we take look at The Kings River located between Eureka Springs and Berryville, Arkansas. The Kings is a perfect for learning to navigate a river on a paddle board because you will find a variety of conditions from a quiet water float to a faster water paddle experience. Taking a River journey is a wonderful way to get out in nature, be in the moment and experience getting in the flow. Wilderness rivers, like the Kings can seem intimidating to some, and choosing to paddle this river with an experienced guide is a perfect way to heighten your experience, gaining more confidence in your river paddling skills along the way.
The Kings River travels 90 miles through Arkansas, originating high in the Boston mountains of Madison County, in the Ozark National Forest flowing North into Carroll County to its confluence with the White River and Table Rock Lake at the border of Missouri. On a paddle adventure where the Kings winds its way East of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Over the centuries the water has cut through the layers of Mississippian and Pennsylvanian age sandstone, shale and limestone exposing beautiful layers in the rock. Your canoe, kayak or paddle board eases past the base of these high cliffs. In some places you can paddle tucked under the overhanging shoreline of rock and feel as if you have been cave exploring
The Kings River is one of the few remaining, free-flowing rivers in the United States and is designated by the State of Arkansas as an Extraordinary Resource Waterbody. This designation protect the Kings from stream bed alterations and gravel mining. For paddlers and wildness explorers this means Nature is holding space for you with paddling, hiking, fishing and more adventures along the way. There are many opportunities for adventure along the wilds of this river.
This river is not always navigable as its flow is dependent on rain to increase its water levels in the spring and summer and not snow fed. Many of us are most familiar with sand bars and on the lower section of the Kings River we experience fine gravel bars expansive enough to pitch a tent on and camp overnight to fully experience the river, the sound of nature, away from towns and road noise, just the wildlife leading its music to your adventure. In some areas people drive down to the river to walk from gravel bar to gravel bar when the water is low, or wade along certain areas of shoreline to reach the next gravel bar.
In 1971 the General Assembly created legislation to protect the Madison County stretch of the river stating that it “possesses unique scenic, recreational, and other characteristics in a natural, unpolluted, and wild state.” Depending on what section of the river you are enjoying you will find rock bass, channel cats, and big smallmouth bass and the often overlooked walleye and white bass. Part of the middle section of the river is managed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission as a trophy and smallmouth stream.The Nature Conservancy purchased the Kings River Preserve, comprising 5000 acres including 7 miles of river frontage near Berryville. An additional 14,227 acres lying between the river and Eureka Springs makes up the McIlroy Wildlife Management area between Huntsville and Eureka Springs providing opportunities for hunting and exploring the many tributary streams flowing into the Kings River.
Kings River Outfitters and Trigger Gap Outfitters are well known for servicing this stretch of the Kings River known as Trigger Gap just east of Eureka Springs. Canoe float trips can start at the Rockhouse access with a get out at one of these Trigger Gap Outfitters or continue on another 3 to 4 hours (check) to the Farm or even farther to the Kings Bridge on 62. Multiple day trips are available as well. Any combination of these trips can be arranged depending on how long one wants to be on the water. Both Outfitters rent, kayaks and canoes, offering shuttle service as well for those who wish to bring their own paddle craft. Paddle boarding has become more popular on this river over the last few years with some outfitters offering paddle board rentals as well.
In 2023 Sheree Lincoln and her husband, James Reed, artists and paddle boarding instructor guides, visited Eureka Springs and The Kings River looking for a place to spend the summers, where they could combine their love for wilderness paddling and the arts. Eureka Springs is a beautiful town, nestled in the Ozark Mountains that is home to many artists and people who enjoy nature and the journeys it provides. The town is vibrant offering unique shopping, dining and arts experiences.
Sheree is the owner of Sea Dog Eco Tours in Fort Myers Beach, Florida is the Founder of the Paddle Board Near Me Online Directory and author of many of the articles, like this one, in the Paddle Near Me Blog.
Starting in the spring of 2024, Sheree, a paddle coach, avid kayaker and certified paddle board instructor and guide will be offering paddle boarding tours and paddle board lessons on the Kings River and Beaver Lake in Eureka Springs. You can take a paddle adventure with Sheree, and her team of guides, with confidence as she brings a wealth of experience on the water. She grew up sailing, lives on a sailboat for over 8 years Sheree was co-owner of a Kayak, Canoe and Paddle Board Outfitters in Michigan. The experience she gained there, paddling the Sturgeon River, a Class I/II spring fed wilderness river and the 40 mile chain of lakes and rivers from Lake Michigan in Petoskey, Michigan to Cheboygan River on the Straights of Mackinaw, taught her much on how to read the rivers and waterways. All of these experiences helped make her an excellent, experienced and professional adventure guide and paddle craft rental provider. For another 6 years she has taught paddle boarding and guided eco tours on the Gulf of Mexico and the inner waterways surrounding the gulf islands in South West Florida. Managing tides gave her additional experience with fast moving water.
If you have never paddled a river before, or perhaps have not even tried paddle boarding before, booking your river adventure with a guide is a great choice. Sheree specializes in introducing new paddlers to paddle boarding on lakes, rivers, the gulf waters and inland waterways. She has also launched many kayak adventures for her guests and helped many kayakers improve their paddling skills and knowledge of how to maneuver the turns and eddies rivers have to offer. She is excited to offer tours on The Kings River because it is a slower moving river with some more active features created by the curving path of the river and natural features like the gravel bars, trees and rock formations, which makes it a great place to learn to paddle and read a river. Taking a trip on a river like the Kings, is a good way to gain experience before you take your next adventure on a faster moving river. Learn more about our Guided River Trips and SUP Sessions – click here.
No matter who you paddle with, friends and family or as a solo paddler, you will find it to be a very pleasing paddle adventure enhanced by having a guide. Contact Sheree at 231-670-4181 to plan your trip.
If you have a favorite place to paddle board, buy paddle boarding gear, a favorite river guide or outfitter please tell them about our Paddle Board Near Me Directory so that they can grab their free listing and help answer the question, “Where can I paddle board near me?.
