Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

I wish Shelby would see this thread and comment as I think he has ridden those roads on the north side on his four-wheeler from the put-in area. The old homestead you saw might be the one that is part of the field at the Big Eddy that you can see from your boat.

Don't have anything to add to the trail info but would like to comment on the message I'm taking away from the incident. That is that I need to take my break apart spare paddle more often. Especially when fortunate enough to have someone with a creek boat or an open boat that is big enough to carry the two pieces. My boat is too small to carry this paddle.

I looked at the paddle while grabbing gear and had the thought that I might wish I had taken the break apart along, but did not take it. Lesson learned from this for me is to try to find a way to take the spare paddle anytime it is practical. If not for myself, for someone else in need.

On a whole other note, I had only paddled Richland one other time and had forgotten what a thrill it is. Big water, beautiful place, plenty of challenge. Can't wait to go back.

Dave Robertson

Hand paddles are an inexpensive portable backup that will fit in any boat...and well for some of us, they are a primary means of propulsion at times.

Here is a map I uploaded to the AWA page a while back. I've added the easiest route to hike out of the upper gorge.

The small dotted lines are bushwack areas. For a hiker, start on river left (Crack to Knucklebuster area) and go up the slope to get over the backside of the first big bluff on river left that you encountered on the trip down the creek. IE head Due WEST. You will likely encounter an old road which will take you back South down to the creek noted by the large dotted line. (If you don't notice the old road, then follow the small drainage back down to Richland, it reaches Richland just downstream of the hunter's camp road) Then bushwack upstream along the small bluff to get to the clearings and hunter's camp road noted as a red line. The first clearing will be next to the Big Eddy that Tomcat mentioned. No need to cross Richland Creek.

Note: River right is super steep and is much longer to get out.

A spare paddle is a good idea. 3 of us were on the hailstone a week ago sunday and Lucas broke his paddle. No extras so we taped a piece of wood to the top and made a t-handle out of the long chunk of paddle. He had to learn how to c-1 about 1/4 of the way in but did wonderfully for his first time. Anyway, we should have brought the hand paddles. Would have been easier.

jermdog wrote:A spare paddle is a good idea. 3 of us were on the hailstone a week ago sunday and Lucas broke his paddle. No extras so we taped a piece of wood to the top and made a t-handle out of the long chunk of paddle. He had to learn how to c-1 about 1/4 of the way in but did wonderfully for his first time.

jermdog - I was an eyewitness to Lucas' improvised T grip at the Hailstone take out - not bad considering the circumstances (if I heard you right you said all 3 of you guys were making your 1st descent? the last group down that day? A Hailstone hike coulda (woulda?) been much worse than a Richland hike).

Lance, since you posted the map (thanks) I'll direct this question primarily to you, but I'm sure others will feel free to chime in as well. Where's the point of no return if you have a problem on UR and have to walk out? Lance's map suggests you can backtrack to the put in from Knucklebuster, and there's that trail on river right from somewhere around Cindy's Hole/Apple Pie to the campground. What if you have a problem in between? (I guess, Tim Man, if we identify that point we can call it Richland Hiker's Divide).

(Good post kittylitter - I knew you were good for something)

davidbob wrote:... Where's the point of no return if you have a problem on UR and have to walk out? Lance's map suggests you can backtrack to the put in from Knucklebuster, and there's that trail on river right from somewhere around Cindy's Hole/Apple Pie to the campground. What if you have a problem in between? (I guess, Tim Man, if we identify that point we can call it Richland Hiker's Divide)...

I'd say if you are at Richland Falls or farther downstream, then work you way toward the takeout along the creek until you find the trail as Cowper suggested.

Lazer wrote:Here is a map I uploaded to the AWA page a while back. I've added the easiest route to hike out of the upper gorge.

The small dotted lines are bushwack areas. For a hiker, start on river left (Crack to Knucklebuster area) and go up the slope to get over the backside of the first big bluff on river left that you encountered on the trip down the creek. IE head Due WEST. You will likely encounter an old road which will take you back South down to the creek noted by the large dotted line. (If you don't notice the old road, then follow the small drainage back down to Richland, it reaches Richland just downstream of the hunter's camp road) Then bushwack upstream along the small bluff to get to the clearings and hunter's camp road noted as a red line. The first clearing will be next to the Big Eddy that Tomcat mentioned. No need to cross Richland Creek.

Note: River right is super steep and is much longer to get out.

Good to know you can skip the part on river right. Even with a boat it is probably 50/50 whether it is easier to drag along the road on the right side. It is in much worse shape than the rest of the road. Pretty soft and sandy with several steep piles of sand washed up that you have to drag your boat over.

the main hiker trail goes from the campground (cross over Falling Water Creek) along Richland on river-right all the way up to the confluence to Twin Devils...and I think that trail keeps going upstream (still on river-right) but I don't know how far up.....maybe this trail is the one that then goes up onto the mountain where this boater had to spend the night. Isn't this trail the Ozark Highland Trail?.....which crosses the put-in road up a mile or so from Dale's cabin?

Been a long time since I have been blessed to run Upper Richland.

But, some years ago there was a pretty good trail from the take out bridge maybe half the way up to Richland Falls, last half going upstream was kind of sketchy but it was there.

This trail was on river left

Not sure if it is still there or not

Dave, that trail peters out at Upper Screw Up. It's good to know it's there in case of an injured paddler situation but not much better than the trail on river-right that goes to the campground. The only difference is that the RR trail has to cross Falling Water Creek whereas the RL trail does not require a creek crossing and hits the north shuttle road about 1/2 mile up from the campground bridge at the trailhead marker in the first big switchback in the road.

tomcat wrote:the main hiker trail goes from the campground (cross over Falling Water Creek) along Richland on river-right all the way up to the confluence to Twin Devils...and I think that trail keeps going upstream (still on river-right) but I don't know how far up.....maybe this trail is the one that then goes up onto the mountain where this boater had to spend the night. Isn't this trail the Ozark Highland Trail?.....which crosses the put-in road up a mile or so from Dale's cabin?

Lots of maps out there (web and paper) for the OHT, which show that it does not follow the Richland Gorge. It crosses Richland upstream of the Moore Bridge and heads South then East to go around the Wilderness Area, then crosses Falling Water at the bridge and then heads North on river and road right to cross Richland again at the Campground.

There is a good trail heading upstream from the campground on river right and a good trail on river left from the trail head in the first road curve that both lose definition a little ways upstream of Cindy's Hole as the walls get steeper and closer to the creek, usually forcing hikers to cross the creek a few times before reaching the Devil's Fork confluence.

I've done a hike ups to boat Richland on days without a shuttle. I start at the road trail head on river left and hike up to Lower Screw-up. Paddle through the doors and then hike up river right trail to get above Cindy's. Then paddle down to the bridge and hike back up to the truck. Also the river right trail makes it convenient for multiple laps on the boofs at Upper and Lower Screw-up.

So....from what Lazer just posted....that is the OHT that crosses the road into the put-in about a mile above Dale's cabin? But then that trail does not go near Richland until much later at the campground? Then where was this boater/hiker trying to get to on RR as he hiked back toward the put-in? Was he bushwacking or following a trail?

It seems that there's enough interest and knowledge to put together a nice online guide to richland creek. With Lance's maps and pictures from others, each hazard and feature could be put in sequence to give a good 'virtual" guide. I'm not sure if it'd be too much information, giving a false sense of security for those who are new to the creek. But, It'd be nice to have to brush up on where things are when we can't get to the creek. Nice thread.

ty

A Paddler's Hiking Guide to Richland Creek. This is not the first time this idea has been floated, is it Marcel?