Spring River Trip with MWA
Get ready for a great weekend on the Spring River in Hardy, Arkansas! This beautiful, spring‑fed river runs a consistent 58°F and offers excellent Class I–II whitewater, perfect for both advanced beginners and intermediate paddlers.
This is a joint venture with Missouri Whitewater Association.
We’ll be paddling the Dam 3 to Spring River Oaks Campground stretch (about 8 miles), which features:
• Fun, moderate current
• Small waterfalls and 1–2 ft. drops
• Eddies, small surfing waves
• A busy Saturday crowd — with things calming down on Sunday
Weekend Schedule
- Paddling both Saturday and Sunday
- We will meet at Spring River Oaks at 10 AM on Saturday and Sunday
- Mexican Feast on Saturday evening (burritos, beans, and all the fixings)
- Camping at Spring River Oaks Campground Friday and Saturday nights
Water classification:
Class I: Fast-moving water with riffles and small waves; few obstructions, all obvious and easily missed with little training; risk to swimmers is slight; self-rescue is easy.
Class II: Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting; occasional maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium-sized waves are easily missed by trained paddlers; swimmers are seldom injured and group assistance, while helpful, is seldom needed.
Skill level required: Confident Beginner (paddler who has a strong forward stroke, knows other basic strokes, has stamina and skill to finish a 10-12 mile river trip, and can maneuver their boat through and around obstacles in moving water)
How to dress: Dress for immersion. A dry suit or wetsuit is needed or change of clothing in a drybag. No cotton. If wearing sandals, they should have back straps.
Participants must bring: (Take this off the Request form for STL Canoe & Kayak Club trip/event.)
- If the air or water temperature is chilly, a complete change of clothes in a dry bag. (if not wearing a dry suit.)
- water
- lunch for Saturday
- U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD (life jacket)
- “pealess” whistle
- camping gear and food
For a list of items to bring that might be helpful for new paddlers, here is a link: Kayaking Gear for Every Trip
Minors are welcome on this trip if a parent or guardian attends and if they have the above skills.
Please check out the Club Sanctioned Trips forum for additional information as it is posted, or to ask questions or post comments. Club Sanctioned Trip Info & Comments – St. Louis Canoe & Kayak Club
Risks involved: Paddlesports and related ACTIVITIES INVOLVE RISKS AND DANGERS OF DAMAGE TO PERSONAL PROPERTY AND SERIOUS BODILY INJURY, INCLUDING PERMANENT DISABILITY, PARALYSIS, AND DEATH. These Risks and dangers may be caused by my own actions or inactions, the actions or inactions of others participating, leading, or helping in the Activity, and the condition in which the Activity takes place, There may be OTHER RISKS AND SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LOSSES either not known to me or not readily foreseeable at this time.
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Tip leader: Gary Palmer and Dennis Pierce (202-725-8167). Russ Aargaard is trip coordinator for MWA.
To attend this trip/event: You must reserve a ticket for each person attending (see tickets below).
This provides the trip leader with important information they need for safety and communication, and information the club needs for ACA reporting.
If you get a ticket and then cannot go for any reason, let the Trip Leader know.
- If you are an ACA member, please make sure you have an annual waiver signed on their website and have linked your account with St. Louis Canoe and Kayak Club. You must have re-signed this waiver since January 1, 2026 because they have updated their website. Here are instructions: Linking your ACA account to St. Louis Canoe and Kayak..docx
- If you are not an ACA member (American Canoe Association), you will be asked to sign a paper waiver from ACA at the meet-up location. Here is the waiver to read before attending the trip: aca_waiver__release_of_liab