Yellville sits on Crooked Creek - a blue-ribbon smallmouth float - with the lower Buffalo National River just down the road. 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 Yellville.
Rain-fed Ozark rivers, nearest first. Check the live level before you load the car - our rivers rise and fall with the rain.
A blue-ribbon smallmouth stream - low-key floats, gravel bars, and some of the best creek fishing in the Ozarks.
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 →America's first national river: towering bluffs, raftable spring water on the upper Ponca run, and multi-day overnight trips.
Live level & trips →A classic clear-water Ozark float with gravel bars and bluff lines; the Rockhouse-to-Trigger Gap run is the regional favorite.
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 →A National Wild & Scenic whitewater creek - lively spring rapids that draw kayakers and rafters when it's up.
Live level & trips →A small, clear Missouri Ozarks creek near Cassville - a pretty, low-traffic paddle when spring rains bring it up.
Live level & trips →A quiet, scenic spring-season creek past the historic War Eagle Mill - clear water, light traffic, best caught after rain.
Live level & trips →Lakes to paddle near Yellville.
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 massive clear reservoir on the Missouri line; its coves and arms make for excellent kayak and SUP exploring.
A no-motor city lake outside Eureka Springs ringed by trails and bluffs - peaceful paddling in a forested setting.
A huge, clear reservoir; its quiet backwater coves are excellent for kayak and SUP touring away from the powerboats.
Floating near Yellville: FAQ.
Where can I float or kayak closest to Yellville?
The closest float to Yellville is Crooked Creek near Yellville, AR, about 2 min away, with Richland Creek the next-closest river. For paddle-anytime flatwater, Table Rock Lake is a good calm-water option.
Where can I go rafting near Yellville?
Richland Creek (about 51 min away) is the best whitewater and rafting near Yellville 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 Yellville?
Calm lakes are best for SUP. Near Yellville, try Table Rock Lake, Lake Leatherwood, Beaver Lake - flatwater that's paddleable any day of the year, no rain required.
Is there a river floatable near Yellville 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.