Frog Bayou

Frog Bayou forms in Crawford County of northwest Arkansas in the Ozark National Forest just west of the Mulberry River, and south of the White River and Fayetteville. It flows southwest from Lake Fort Smith through Mountainburg to Rudy and its confluence with the Arkansas River just a few miles northeast of Fort Smith and the Oklahoma State Line. Frog Bayou is a Class I to II stream, narrow in width, with a gradient of about 20 fpm. Though close to Fort Smith and running almost parallel to US Highway 71, this waterway has all the characteristics of a very remote stream. It is situated in a gorgeous part of a beautiful state amid dense stands of pines, oaks, elms, pecans and walnuts lining narrow mountain roads between Devil's Den and Lake Fort Smith State Parks. Its flow derives from dam-released water at the lake, augmented by local rainfall in its drainage basin. Frog usually has a navigable flow from late-fall through mid-spring, when nights are very cold and days are cool to cold, though occasionally mild enough for enjoyable boating. It is a canoe and kayak stream with very similar characteristics to those of the Mulberry River and Big Piney Creek, though not quite as technical or challenging. What it lacks in difficulty is more than offset by its natural scenic beauty. This Arkansas River tributary is one more reason to visit the area that also gives birth to the Buffalo National River. Getting to Frog Bayou is half the fun, and often more dangerous than running it. Roads leading to the stream are usually forested mountains on one side and forested valleys on the other side. These roads can be dangerous anytime, and treacherous in winter, when their steep grades, rolling hills tracks, narrow widths and sharp bends on often icy conditions make driving "exciting", almost like running the Cossatot River in a car. Driving time is long and driving speed is necessarily slow, so be sure to allow adequate time to arrive at your destination. Getting there a day early is always a good idea. Look for a reading of 3-7 feet on the USGS gauge at Rudy for navigable flows in Frog Bayou, where this 21.5 mile run ends.