Crooked Creek Water Trail - Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Crooked Creek Water Trail - Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Crooked Creek Water Trail - Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
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PMS 299 PMS 476 PMS 578<br />
<strong>Crooked</strong> <strong>Creek</strong><br />
<strong>Water</strong> <strong>Trail</strong><br />
<strong>Crooked</strong> <strong>Creek</strong><br />
<strong>Water</strong> <strong>Trail</strong><br />
<strong>Crooked</strong> <strong>Creek</strong> is known for smallmouth bass<br />
fishing but it offers much more for visitors seeking<br />
solitude, exploration <strong>and</strong> a float trip down a river.<br />
To help anglers, paddlers <strong>and</strong> wildlife watchers<br />
enjoy this Ozark stream, the <strong>Arkansas</strong> <strong>Game</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>Fish</strong> <strong>Commission</strong> designated the <strong>Crooked</strong> <strong>Creek</strong><br />
<strong>Water</strong> <strong>Trail</strong> in 2012.<br />
The trail covers 22 miles of the stream – from Lower<br />
Pyatt Access to Yellville – although other stretches<br />
of the stream may be floated. The water level in the<br />
creek depends entirely on rainfall. This peaceful<br />
stream can turn into a raging torrent very quickly,<br />
especially during heavy spring rains. Paddlers<br />
should seek weather <strong>and</strong> water-level information<br />
before beginning a trip.<br />
For those planning longer routes, primitive<br />
campsites are available at Snow Access <strong>and</strong><br />
Brooksher <strong>Crooked</strong> <strong>Creek</strong> Preserve, which has no<br />
access by road. Paddlers also may camp at Fred<br />
Berry Conservation Education Center on <strong>Crooked</strong><br />
<strong>Creek</strong> with permission from the center’s manager.<br />
Camping is limited to one night per campsite.<br />
Almost all property along <strong>Crooked</strong> <strong>Creek</strong> is privately<br />
owned <strong>and</strong> marked by fences, signs or purple paint.<br />
Please respect private property <strong>and</strong> camp only at<br />
designated areas.<br />
PMS 480 PMS 349 PMS 2975<br />
River Conditions<br />
Under normal circumstances, paddlers can expect<br />
to cover about 2 river miles per hour on this stream<br />
with deep pools, fast chutes, riffles <strong>and</strong> small<br />
waves. The stream may flow underground during<br />
summer from Yellville to Cotter Spring on the White<br />
River (the underground stream does not follow the<br />
creek’s channel). A USGS gauge reads conditions<br />
near Kelley’s Slab at Fred Berry Conservation<br />
Education Center on <strong>Crooked</strong> <strong>Creek</strong>: http://<br />
waterdata.usgs.gov/.<br />
A bridge (between mile markers 35 <strong>and</strong> 36) <strong>and</strong><br />
Kelley’s Slab (between mile markers 26 <strong>and</strong> 27) can<br />
be dangerous. Scout both areas before floating.<br />
Don’t Get a Ticket!<br />
According to <strong>Arkansas</strong> law, children 12 <strong>and</strong> under<br />
must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket<br />
<strong>and</strong> everyone aboard must have one ready to use.<br />
Vessels 16 feet <strong>and</strong> longer must have a throwable<br />
life preserver aboard. Glass containers are illegal<br />
in boats such as canoes <strong>and</strong> kayaks, which can<br />
be easily swamped. Paddlers must securely fasten<br />
cooler lids, <strong>and</strong> use attached mesh litter bags <strong>and</strong><br />
floating holders for beverages.<br />
Wildlife <strong>and</strong> Habitat<br />
The creek flows through rolling pasturel<strong>and</strong>, cedar<br />
glades, bluffs <strong>and</strong> tree-lined banks. Oak-hickory<br />
forests, willow, hackberry, pawpaw, catalpa <strong>and</strong><br />
black walnut provide habitat for mink, beaver,<br />
deer <strong>and</strong> river otters. Watch for belted kingfishers,<br />
ospreys, wood ducks <strong>and</strong> herons. Bald eagles<br />
migrate from fall to early spring; some are yearround<br />
residents.<br />
<strong>Fish</strong>ing<br />
<strong>Crooked</strong><br />
<strong>Creek</strong> – a<br />
Blue Ribbon<br />
Smallmouth<br />
Bass Stream –<br />
is well known<br />
for its feisty<br />
Smallmouth bass<br />
Jeff Williams<br />
smallmouth bass. Check current AGFC fishing<br />
regulations. Crank <strong>and</strong> spinner baits retrieved<br />
across riffles or live bait <strong>and</strong> soft plastic lures<br />
worked in deep holes with large rocks <strong>and</strong> other<br />
structure are recommended. The creek is home to<br />
largemouth bass, Ozark bass, green sunfish, bluegill<br />
<strong>and</strong> catfish.<br />
Education <strong>and</strong> Conservation<br />
The Fred Berry Conservation Education Center on<br />
<strong>Crooked</strong> <strong>Creek</strong> covers 421 acres along a 2.75-mile<br />
bend of the creek. The center includes interpretive<br />
trails, outdoor <strong>and</strong> indoor learning areas, <strong>and</strong><br />
access to the creek.<br />
Photos by<br />
Jeff Williams<br />
Important Numbers<br />
Marion County EMS ..........911<br />
Marion County Sheriff .........870-449-4236<br />
Wildlife Hotline ...............800-440-1477<br />
Fred Berry Conservation Education Center<br />
on <strong>Crooked</strong> <strong>Creek</strong> ..........870-449-3484<br />
Our Partners<br />
Partners in this project are the <strong>Arkansas</strong> Canoe<br />
Club <strong>and</strong> The Nature Conservancy.<br />
<strong>Arkansas</strong> <strong>Game</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Fish</strong> <strong>Commission</strong><br />
2 Natural Resources Drive<br />
Little Rock, AR 72205<br />
800-364-4263 • www.agfc.com<br />
www.agfc.com<br />
PMS 299 PMS 476 PMS 578
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<strong>Crooked</strong> <strong>Creek</strong> <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Trail</strong><br />
Pyatt<br />
PMS 299 PMS 476 PMS 578<br />
PMS 480 PMS 349 PMS 2975<br />
Upper Pyatt<br />
Access<br />
N 36.24818, W 092.84354<br />
15 S 0 514057, 4011487<br />
Lower Pyatt<br />
Access<br />
N 36.24664, W 092.83496<br />
15 S 0 514828, 4011318<br />
Snow Access<br />
N 36.24359, W 092.79991<br />
15 S 0 517978, 4010985<br />
Brooksher<br />
Johnnie <strong>Creek</strong><br />
125<br />
Georges <strong>Creek</strong><br />
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<strong>Water</strong> <strong>Trail</strong> Distances<br />
Summit<br />
Pyatt Access—Snow Access: 6.7 miles<br />
Snow Access—Kelley’s Slab Access:<br />
202<br />
11.9 miles<br />
Kelley’s Slab Access—Yellville Access: 3.5 miles<br />
Pyatt Access—Yellville Access: 22.1 miles<br />
202<br />
<strong>Crooked</strong> <strong>Creek</strong> flows west to east.<br />
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0 0.5 1<br />
Miles<br />
Railway<br />
Highways<br />
Hiking <strong>Trail</strong><br />
River Mile Markers<br />
Conservation<br />
Education Center<br />
AGFC Property<br />
Boating Access<br />
Canoe Access<br />
Hazard<br />
Tent Camping<br />
1-night limit<br />
<strong>Crooked</strong> <strong>Creek</strong><br />
Hampton <strong>Creek</strong><br />
<strong>Crooked</strong> <strong>Creek</strong><br />
Greasy <strong>Creek</strong><br />
<strong>Crooked</strong> <strong>Creek</strong><br />
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Kelley’s Slab<br />
Access<br />
N 36.22919, W 092.71038<br />
15 S 0 526027, 4009408<br />
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<strong>Crooked</strong> <strong>Creek</strong><br />
14<br />
Yellville<br />
Yellville<br />
Access<br />
N 36.22259, W 092.67944<br />
15 S 0 528810, 4008685<br />
235<br />
14<br />
East Prong Town Branch<br />
mpground<br />
Ca<br />
<strong>Creek</strong><br />
Town Branch<br />
Town<br />
Branch<br />
Mill <strong>Creek</strong><br />
Lower Pyatt Access<br />
The access is on<br />
the north side of<br />
the U.S. Highway<br />
62 bridge over<br />
<strong>Crooked</strong> <strong>Creek</strong> in<br />
western Marion<br />
County. Upper<br />
Pyatt Access, a<br />
primitive launch<br />
site, is about a<br />
mile upstream<br />
of Lower Pyatt<br />
Access. It’s on<br />
the east side of<br />
the U.S. Highway<br />
62 Spur bridge<br />
south of Pyatt.<br />
Snow Access<br />
Kelley’s Slab Access<br />
Yellville Access<br />
From Snow on<br />
To reach<br />
The access is<br />
U.S. Highway<br />
Kelley’s Slab,<br />
in Yellville City<br />
62 in western<br />
turn on Marion<br />
Park, which<br />
Marion County,<br />
County Road<br />
is reached<br />
take Marion<br />
4002 from U.S.<br />
via <strong>Arkansas</strong><br />
County Road<br />
Highway 62<br />
Highway 14<br />
4006 south.<br />
at the western<br />
immediately<br />
Continue on<br />
edge of Yellville.<br />
south of Yellville<br />
4006 (bear left<br />
Continue 1 mile<br />
<strong>and</strong> U.S.<br />
at 4007 split)<br />
to <strong>Crooked</strong><br />
Highway 62.<br />
about 1.3 miles<br />
<strong>Creek</strong>. The<br />
<strong>and</strong> turn left at<br />
access is on<br />
railroad tracks.<br />
the east side<br />
Continue about<br />
of the creek at<br />
0.7 miles to<br />
the slab, slightly<br />
access.<br />
downstream of<br />
the 4002 bridge.<br />
LEARN MORE AT<br />
www.agfc.com<br />
Jeff Williams Jeff Williams Kirsten Bartlow Jeff Williams