Poke Bayou.
Poke Bayou slips through Batesville and meets the White River right at the edge of downtown. It is a genuinely shallow water trail: even at good levels you may hop out and walk a couple of gravel shoals. What it offers is a real creek float inside city limits, with a local outfitter running trips and a swimming hole at the halfway mark.
No agency gauges Poke Bayou. Poke Bayou Outfitters hand-checks levels and posts a section-by-section board, and our Creek Watch adds radar rainfall over the bayou's watershed as an early signal. Between the two you can tell whether it is worth loading the boats before you leave the house.
Poke Bayou float trips.
Tap any two access points on the map to build a float and see the distance between them. The trip list below is the no-map fallback.
Where to camp.
Camping inside town is limited; most folks day-float. Riverside Park on the White River below the mouth is the closest green space, and developed campgrounds sit within a short drive. Confirm current options locally.
While you are here.
Kayak rentals with shuttle (about $45), or a day pass to float your own boat. Also the only full outdoor shop for 40 miles: bikes, fly fishing, classes.
Batesville's hometown swimming hole, right on the float.
Main Street food and coffee a few blocks from the lower take-out. Arkansas's oldest surviving city, if you like your floats with a side of history.
Timing a rain-fed creek.
Poke Bayou only floats after real rain, and drops out within a day or two. Our Creek Watch tracks NOAA radar rainfall over this creek's watershed and flags when a float window is likely opening. Never launch on rising water, and confirm access locally before you drive.
Frequently asked.
Is Poke Bayou deep enough to float?
Only after rain. It is a shallow water trail even at good levels, with a spot or two where you may walk your kayak. Check Poke Bayou Outfitters' hand-updated level board and our radar-based Creek Watch before driving.
Do I need my own kayak?
No. Poke Bayou Outfitters rents kayaks with shuttle service in season (Thursday through Sunday), or sells a day pass if you bring your own boat.
Is there a water gauge for Poke Bayou?
No agency gauges it, not even USGS. That is exactly why our Creek Watch estimates its state from NOAA radar rainfall over the bayou's watershed. Treat every reading as an estimate and confirm locally.
Sections and trip details: Poke Bayou Outfitters. Park details: City of Batesville. Radar estimates: NOAA MRMS over the USGS-delineated watershed. Creek Watch statuses are radar-based estimates, not gauge readings.