Arkansas's wild and scenic river.
The Mulberry River is the only Arkansas river designated National Wild and Scenic. About 56 miles of free-flowing whitewater carving through the Boston Mountains in the Ozark National Forest, with sandstone bluffs, gravel bars, and Class II rapids that step up to Class III at flood stage.
This is the closest reliable whitewater to Northwest Arkansas. Where the Buffalo runs Class I (II at flood) and the Kings runs Class I to II, the Mulberry runs Class II all season and gets pushy fast. It draws a different crowd: kayakers, rafters, and experienced canoeists rather than family tubers. Beginners can float the lower sections with an outfitter shuttle, but the upper Wolf Pen to Byrd's leg is the signature run.
Crucial seasonality note: the Mulberry is not a summer river. Floatable late October through mid-June. By July it usually drops too low for canoes and rafts. Plan your trip in shoulder seasons. Items below are tagged by general river region (Upper / Mid / Lower) where relevant.
Mulberry float trips.
The signature runs cluster around the two main outfitter bases: Byrd's Adventure Center upstream and Turner Bend Outfitters downstream. Mileages from Ozark National Forest river-corridor data.
Wolf Pen to Byrd's Landing Upper
8.5 mi · Class II at normal flows · the most-floated stretch on the river.
High Bank to Byrd's Landing Upper
4.7 mi · action-packed shorter run, all the rapids in less time.
Byrd's to Turner Bend Middle
8 mi · scenic Boston Mountains canyon, slightly mellower current.
Where to rent.
Two long-running outfitters anchor the Mulberry, one upstream and one downstream. Both run shuttle, canoe, kayak, and raft rental. Listings alphabetical.
The biggest Mulberry operation. Canoe, kayak, and raft rental, shuttle service across the upper sections, large campground (tent, RV, cabins), live music venue, and an on-site grill. Annual whitewater festival in spring.
Longstanding lower-Mulberry outfitter at the Hwy 23 bridge in Cass. Rental, shuttle, on-site general store and grill. Convenient base for the Byrd's-to-Turner-Bend run.
Where to camp.
The Ozark National Forest manages a string of riverside campgrounds along the Mulberry. Most are primitive (vault toilets, no hookups) but several have basic amenities. Byrd's offers the only RV-hookup option directly on the river.
Full-service private campground at the outfitter base. RV sites with hookups, tent loops, cabins, hot showers. The most amenity-rich option on the river.
USFS riverside campground at the popular Wolf Pen put-in. Vault toilets, no hookups. Tent or self-contained RV. First-come first-served.
USFS campground near the Hwy 23 corridor. Riverside tent sites, vault toilets, drinking water in season. Pleasant lower-river base.
USFS lake campground off the river but a worthwhile add-on. Lakeshore sites, swimming, fishing, hiking trails. Some electric sites.
Mountaintop USFS campground with iconic stone cabins built by the CCC in the 1930s. Rim trail with sweeping views. Worth a stay for the cabins alone.
Cabins and rentals.
On-site cabins at the outfitter, various sizes. Walk to the river, walk to the grill.
Four restored CCC-era stone cabins on the rim of White Rock Mountain. Reserve well in advance through Recreation.gov. Among the most-loved USFS lodgings in the region.
Ozark (the town, on I-40) has chain motels and a handful of vacation rentals. The closest service town with reliable lodging if Byrd's and Turner Bend are full.
Owner-listed Airbnb and Vrbo cabins scattered across the Boston Mountains around Cass, Oark, and Hwy 23. Quiet, off-grid character.
Trails for a layover day.
The Mulberry corridor sits inside the Ozark National Forest, which means the hiking is excellent. The Ozark Highlands Trail crosses the river and several CCC-era trails are nearby.
- Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) Corridor. 165+ mile long-distance trail that crosses the Mulberry. Day-hike sections out of Wolf Pen or Redding are easy to arrange with a car shuttle.
- White Rock Mountain Rim Trail Nearby. 2.2 mi loop around the bluff rim of White Rock Mountain. Big views in every direction. Trailhead at the USFS recreation area.
- Shores Lake to White Rock Nearby. 7 mi connector trail climbing from Shores Lake up to White Rock summit. Strenuous; best as a one-way with shuttle.
- Spy Rock and Hare Mountain Nearby. Two of the best vista points on the OHT, both within day-hike range of the Mulberry corridor.
- Glory Hole Falls Nearby. About 45 minutes north (closer to the Buffalo's range), but a worthwhile add-on for an Ozark hiking weekend. 2 mi roundtrip to a waterfall through a hole in the rock shelf.
Where to base from, where to eat.
Cass Lower / Middle
Tiny crossroads at the Hwy 23 bridge over the Mulberry. Turner Bend Outfitters' general store and grill is the heart of town and the most convenient post-float meal stop. Beyond Turner Bend, services are limited.
Ozark · Franklin County seat Nearby
The largest service town within driving range. Sits on I-40, about 30 minutes south of Cass. Grocery stores, chain restaurants, gas, hardware. Final-supply-run town for multi-day trips.
Mulberry Nearby
Small Crawford County town near the river's confluence with the Arkansas River. A few diners and convenience stores. The town the river is named for.
Oark Upper
Above Wolf Pen in the upper Mulberry watershed. Oark Cafe (one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in Arkansas, with roots reportedly to the early 1900s) is a destination breakfast and burger stop. Worth the drive on a layover day.
Post-float food
Turner Bend's grill at Cass is the closest food to most take-outs. Byrd's has on-site food during operating season. For a proper sit-down meal, drive thirty minutes south on Hwy 23 to Ozark or fifteen minutes up to Oark for the historic Oark Cafe.
Other things to do
- Pig Trail Scenic Byway Nearby. Hwy 23 north from Ozark up over the Boston Mountains is one of Arkansas's signature mountain drives. Tight twisties, vistas, fall foliage in October.
- White Rock Mountain summit Nearby. Drive-up vista point with the CCC cabins and rim trail. Sunrise and sunset are both worth the drive.
- Ozark National Forest backroads Corridor. The forest service roads along the Mulberry corridor are scenic dirt drives with creek crossings, swimming holes, and forest camps. Good for a layover-day cruise.
Plan a safe trip.
Seasons (critical on the Mulberry)
- Late October to mid-June. The Mulberry's float window. Fall rains through spring runoff keep flow in the runnable range. Spring is peak whitewater season.
- Mid-June to mid-October. Typically too low. Don't expect to float the Mulberry in summer.
- March to May. Peak season. Highest reliability, biggest crowds, fastest current.
Hazards & safety
- Class II rapids that step up. At flows above ~1,500 CFS the rapids stiffen toward Class III. Above 2,000 CFS becomes advanced-paddler only. Check the live gauge before launching.
- Cold water in shoulder season. Fall and spring water is cold. Hypothermia after a swim is a real risk. Wetsuits in March; dry change of clothes always.
- Strainers in narrow channels. Downed trees in fast water are the main injury cause. Scout blind bends, stay in the main current line.
- Cell coverage is poor. Most of the corridor has no signal. Tell someone your itinerary.
- Helmets recommended at higher flows. Standard whitewater PFD plus helmet above 1,500 CFS.
Frequently asked.
Is the Mulberry floatable today?
Check the live status badge at the top of this page. It pulls the current Mulberry-gauge reading from USGS. Floatable usually means at least 200 CFS. Above 2,000 CFS becomes advanced-paddler only.
When is the Mulberry's float season?
Late October through mid-June. Summer is typically too low. Spring (March to May) is peak.
Is the Mulberry good for beginners?
Lower sections like Redding to Turner Bend with an outfitter shuttle, yes. The upper Wolf Pen to Byrd's stretch is Class II and best for paddlers with some experience.
Are there RV hookups along the Mulberry?
Yes, at Byrd's Adventure Center (private). USFS campgrounds on the river are tent or self-contained only. Shores Lake (nearby USFS) has some electric sites.
What's the difference between Byrd's and Turner Bend?
Byrd's is upstream, bigger, with a campground, cabins, and a live music venue. Turner Bend is downstream at the Hwy 23 bridge with a general store and grill. Most paddlers use Byrd's for the classic Wolf Pen-to-Byrd's float and Turner Bend for the Byrd's-to-Turner-Bend leg.
How far is the Mulberry from Bentonville / Fayetteville?
About 1h 35m from Fayetteville. Hwy 23 (the Pig Trail) is the scenic route south through the Boston Mountains. I-49 to I-40 and back up is slightly longer but easier on the stomach.