Cossatot River
The National Park Service describes it as "probably
the most challenging" Arkansas whitewater rafting float in the state. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
is a little more emphatic, saying it "is the most difficult whitewater stream in the
state of Arkansas." Early Indians simply called it Cossatot--their word for
"skull crusher." Today the Cossatot River is still crushing things, but
mostly the canoes, ice chests and egos of over-confident paddlers.
The stream heads up in rugged Ouachita mountain country
just southeast of Mena. It flows in a southerly direction for about 26 miles before its
current ceases at Gillham Lake. Along the way the Cossatot travels through the Ouachita
National Forest, alongside a wilderness area, and over and around upended layers of jagged
bedrock. This last characteristic is what gives the stream its class IV/class V rating.
Much of the river's whitewater is not recommended for
casual canoeists. Experienced river-runners should always check water levels in advance.
Helmets, life-jackets, and proper clothing to guard against hypothermia are essential
during the prime floating season.
The Cossatot, however, is not just for floaters. The
stream offers something for nearly everyone interested in Arkansas's outdoors.
SECTION DESCRIBED: From headwaters area to
Gillham Lake, a distance of approximately 26 river miles.
Characteristics
The Cossatot's first section is the headwaters run
from its source to the Arkansas Highway 246 bridge northwest of Athens. Not much floating
activity takes place on this stretch (the water's usually too low), although the
three mile trip from the lower Forest Road 31 crossing to the 246 bridge can be an
exciting class II/class III journey. What this area offers is an interesting
landscape--whether it be seen from a car, by foot, or in a canoe. Forest Road 31
parallels the stream for several miles, providing the pleasure driver with views of a
small mountain stream and attractive rural countryside. In these upper reaches, the
Cossatot also flows next to and through the Caney Creek Wilderness, a 14,400-acre area
perfect for hikers, photographers, bird-watchers, and backpackers.
Immediately upstream from the 246 bridge is Brushy Creek
River access, located within the Cossatot River State Park Natural Area. This access
includes a canoe launch, pedestrian river walkway, solar restrooms, a day-use area, nature trail and a
huge gravel bar perfect for sunning and picnicking.
Just above the Highway 246 crossing, the Cossatot leaves
the Ouachita National Forest. For most of the rest of its journey to Gillham Lake, the
stream flows through the state park natural area, and access to the Cossatot is via
Weyerhaeuser roads and bridges.
The Cossatot's second stretch begins at the 246
bridge and ends about three miles downstream at a low-water crossing known as Ed Banks
Bridge. Good scenery, rock gardens, and class II/class III rapids are typical of this
fast-moving section.
The third stretch of river is the float from Ed Banks
Bridge to the low-water bridge just above Cossatot Falls. It's short--about two
miles--but steep, dropping around 60 feet in the process. The trip gets down to
business very quickly with a solid class III rapid--Zig Zag--during the first few
hundred yards. Coming up next, and soon, is a hazard to navigation known as the
"Esses." It's a 200-yard-long rapid that resembles a rock-filled
flume--narrow, noisy, and nonstop. Several more class III drops take the floater to
another low-water bridge (at Weyerhaeuser Road 52600) upstream from the falls.
The Cossatot's final stretch--from the Sandbar
low-water bridge to Arkansas 278--is its most difficult. In this five-mile section, the
river has ripped through several ridges creating some mighty interesting rapids. The first
of these--located a quarter of a mile or so below the low-water bridge put-in--is
Cossatot Falls itself. The falls is a series of six rocky cascades over which the river
descends 33 feet within one-third mile. This stretch is a very exciting place with strong
currents, big waves, six- to eight-foot drops, and tricky channels. All of this adds up to
a class IV/class V rating during high water levels.
For those having second thoughts (and this is to be
recommended for all but the most experienced paddlers), Cossatot Falls can be portaged to
the left (east bank), although the portage has been described "as easy as carrying
your boat six flights down a fire escape." Survivors of the float (or portage) can
look forward to several more class III rapids in the next two miles, followed by another
two miles of quiet water before reaching the Highway 4 bridge. The bridge is 87 feet above
the water, and offers a panoramic view of the narrow river valley.
Seasons
Floating is a wet weather phenomenon on the Cossatot,
requiring a minimum stream depth of three feet (Note: for daily readings, call the river
stream gauge modem at 870-387-3141). The best months for the preferred floating levels are
December through April. Due to the intermittent flow levels, shuttle and rental services
are not available. Paddlers floating the upper sections of the river should bring their
own equipment.
The Cossatot should not be viewed as solely a float
stream. Sightseers, campers, fishermen, hikers, rock hounds, and photographers are among
the many other groups that will find a season for this stream.
Access Points
The river may be reached via two state highways (278 and
246), Weyerhaeuser roads (particularly #52000 which leads to Ed Banks Bridge and #52600
which goes to the Sandbar low-water bridge above Cossatot Falls), and Forest Service Road
31.
Scenery
The Cossatot River is one of the state's most scenic
streams, although this fact is not always appreciated by paddlers who spend most of their
time trying to stay afloat. For those who can slow down to enjoy the sights, it's
quickly apparent that the Legislature was correct in naming the Cossatot as one of four
components in Arkansas's Natural and Scenic Rivers System. The upper section also
carries a National Wild and Scenic River designation.
Fishing
Smallmouth and spotted bass are the noteworthy inhabitants
of the Cossatot River. Getting to them is the biggest problem facing most fishermen; the
stream just doesn't lend itself to a casual fishing/floating trip. The quiet
streamside hiker, however, may find good bass fishing around boulders that break the
current in deep pools and chutes, especially when using live crayfish or jig-and-pig
artificials. Green and longear sunfish are also abundant in the Cossatot, and anglers may
occasionally hook channel catfish, largemouth bass, rock bass, bluegill. Grass pickerel or
white bass populate the lower regions of the stream.
Services Available
Basic supplies can be obtained in the nearby communities
of Athens, Langley, and Wickes, as well as Daisy and Queen Wilhelmina state parks.
Campsites are available in the Ouachita National Forest (Shady Lake and Bard Springs) and
at Gillham Lake.
Other Information
Publications about floating the upper sections of the
Cossatot are available from: Cossatot River State Park Natural Area, 1980 Highway 278 West,
Wickes, Arkansas 71973.
Also, canoeists should be advised that another 15.5 miles
of the Cossatot can be floated between Gillham Dam and U.S. Highway 70/71 east of DeQueen.
Excellent scenery--complete with bluffs, islands, and rapids (class I/class
II)--characterizes the first five miles; the last ten feature slower water and a
pastoral landscape. Several bridges and fords provide access along this stretch. A
brochure describing this float may be obtained by writing: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Millwood/Tri-Lakes Resident Office, Route 1, Box 37A, Ashdown, Arkansas 71822 (Note: a
similar brochure for the upper river is also available).