Whitewater Run AR Class III-IV+

Gum Branch to ELFB (1.8 miles)

Stepp Creek

Linked via: Proximity 98% confidence Synced 3mo ago

Monitor
Gauge Conditions
Buffalo River near Boxley, AR Downstream Primary
Runnable: ? – ? CFS
Approximate reading: This gauge is 5.8 miles away on Stepp Creek. Use as a general reference only.
Data from American Whitewater & USGS
Run Map
Run Time Estimate
Select put-in and take-out to estimate time.
Unlock Advanced Trip Planning

See wind-adjusted speed maps, forecast planning, and detailed time estimates.

Sign Up Free
Sign in to generate an AI timing estimate for this run.
Whitewater timing varies with scouting, portages, and group pace. Use as a planning baseline.
Description
Note: The combination of Steep banks and lots of dead red oak trees (thanks to the borer beetle infestation) tend to clog the creek with wood from time to time, so keep a look out. Nearly continuous class III-IV+ boulder gardens. The lower portion of the creek runs through private land, please respect it. Put-in: Located at confluence Gum Branch. From Hwy 16 at Swain, turn North on Newton County Road 8920, go 3.1 miles and take the right fork on Newton County Road 8642. This road will descend the mountain to the low-water bridge at Murray. Along the way it parallels the small Gum Branch. Park at one of the couple of small turnouts and carry down the hill to the confluence with Gum Branch. Take-out: Follow the road down the hill to Murray and park in the wide spot of the road along the East Fork Little Buffalo. See some video from the low-water descent HERE. More info at the Ozark Whitewater Page.
Difficulty
Class III-IV+
Length
1.8 mi
Gradient
100 ft/mi
max 210
Rapids
0
Access Points
Put-in
35.8938, -93.3168
Take-out
35.9166, -93.3182
Shuttle Info
**Put-in:** Located at confluence Gum Branch. From Hwy 16 at Swain, turn North on County Road NE 8 (next to a pottery sign), go 3.1 miles and take the right fork on County Road NE 171. This road will descend the mountain to the low-water bridge at Murray. Along the way it parallels the small Gum Branch. Park at one of the couple of small turnouts and carry down the hill. **Take-out:** Follow the road down the hill to Murray and park in the wide spot of the road along the [East Fork Little Buffalo](http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River_detail_id_3364_).
Difficulty Classes
I Easy II Novice III Intermediate IV Advanced V Expert/Extreme VI Unrunnable
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater