Clarksville sits between the Mulberry and Big Piney - two of Arkansas's best whitewater creeks - with Cove Lake nearby for calm water. Below are the closest, best options for every kind of boat - each river links to its live USGS level so you know before you go, and the lakes are good to paddle any day of the year.
Float rivers near Clarksville.
Rain-fed Ozark rivers, nearest first. Check the live level before you load the car - our rivers rise and fall with the rain.
A National Wild & Scenic whitewater creek - lively spring rapids that draw kayakers and rafters when it's up.
Live level & trips →A scenic Ozark stream above Lake Dardanelle with easygoing floats up top and whitewater on its forks after rain.
Live level & trips →Arkansas's premier whitewater and the area's best rafting when it runs after spring rain; Turner Bend anchors the shuttles.
Live level & trips →Steep, remote Class II-IV whitewater deep in the Ozark National Forest - experts only, and only after heavy rain.
Live level & trips →A short, scrappy Buffalo tributary at Jasper that runs after rain - a quick, scenic paddle; levels are estimated from the upper Buffalo.
Live level & trips →America's first national river: towering bluffs, raftable spring water on the upper Ponca run, and multi-day overnight trips.
Live level & trips →The infant White River from Pettigrew down to Elkins - a rain-fed Class I-II headwaters float along the Hwy 16 valley, best in day-length sections at spring flows.
Live level & trips →The closest floatable stream to Fayetteville - a rain-fed Class I-II fork through the town of West Fork to Greenland; DIY, and only after rain.
Live level & trips →Lakes to paddle near Clarksville.
No rain? No problem. These calm lakes are the same friendly flatwater every day - ideal for paddleboard (SUP), kayak, and canoe, especially when the rivers read Too Low.
A quiet Forest Service lake at the foot of Mount Magazine - electric-only calm water with a campground and trail.
Calm, paddle-anytime flatwater near Clarksville.
A scenic Ozark National Forest lake below White Rock Mountain - no-wake calm water with a campground and loop trail.
A small no-motor CCC-era lake in a state-park canyon, with on-site kayak and pedal-boat rental and zero powerboats.
A laid-back no-wake lake on the White River headwaters with a small marina and a wildlife-rich, quiet feel.
An electric-motor-only Game & Fish lake - calm, fishy, and uncrowded, with good bank fishing.
Floating near Clarksville: FAQ.
Where can I float or kayak closest to Clarksville?
The closest float to Clarksville is Big Piney Creek near Dover, AR, about 25 min away, with Illinois Bayou the next-closest river. For paddle-anytime flatwater, Cove Lake is a good calm-water option.
Where can I go rafting near Clarksville?
Big Piney Creek (about 25 min away) is the best whitewater and rafting near Clarksville when it runs up after rain. It's seasonal and rain-dependent, so check the live level before you drive.
Where can I paddleboard (SUP) near Clarksville?
Calm lakes are best for SUP. Near Clarksville, try Cove Lake, Lake Dardanelle, Shores Lake - flatwater that's paddleable any day of the year, no rain required.
Is there a river floatable near Clarksville today?
It depends on recent rain - Ozark rivers are mostly rain-fed. Float NWA reads live USGS gauges every 15 minutes and color-codes each river Too Low, Good to Float, High, or Flood. Check the live levels before you load the car; if every river reads low, head to a lake instead.