Whitewater Rafting at Turner Bend in Arkansas
Turner Bend handles canoe and kayak rentals, shuttle service, a hiking trail and camp grounds. Be sure to try one of their homemade sandwiches on your stop at the convenient store/gift shop.
The Mulberry River winds through the Ozark National Forest and boasts of class II rapids or better after a good rain. The Mulberry River can be very seasonal for whitewater rapids depending on the amount of rain fall for each season. The Mulberry and Turner Ben are a gorgeous place to visit even if you don’t get your feet wet.
The Mulberry River is unimpeded by dams except for Hurricane Creek, so therefore it is considered to be free flowing. It can be very temperamental. One day can be a nice lazy float taking in the scenery and the next day the river may be too full to even run. Due to this fact the river is constantly changing. Obstacles are constantly being washed away and new ones created. This contributes to bringing back whitewater seekers year after year. Some days only covering two miles an hour is common and on others three miles an hour is average.
The Mulberry offers 40 miles of canoeing and several access points. Wolf Pen is 15 miles above Turner Bend and begins as an easy float with the action getting started about two miles into the trip. This stretch of the river carries names such as Big Al’s Twist, Chainsaw Jungle and Whoop and Holler, with many other rapids and points along the way.
Below Turner Bend offers a distinctive “pool and drop” style of rafting where the pools are nice and peaceful and the rapids are big fun. Experienced canoeist and kayakers will definitely want to try Hell Roaring Falls as the river breaks out of the mountains.
Be sure to visit this little haven the next time your travels lead you through the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. From I-40 at Ozark take Hwy. 23 North, also known as The Pig Trail.
