Arkansas | Delta

Bayou DeViewHickson Lake Access to Apple Lake Access

Middle Bayou DeView continuation from Hickson Lake Access to Apple Lake Access. AGFC still documents the public access chain, the direct gauge thresholds, and the Apple Lake seasonal closure caveat that shapes this otherwise short floodplain route.

Route location

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DistanceAbout 4.4 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 2.5 hr to 4 hr
ShuttleCar shuttle
Bayou DeView winds through a flooded bottomland forest in the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas.
River contextBayou DeView in Cache River National Wildlife Refuge river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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Trip details

Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.

Permits, camping and season
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Use the named public AGFC accesses, follow Arkansas boating and PFD rules, and respect any WMA, refuge, gate, or road postings.
CampingOptions nearbyFree first-come campsites marked by blue paint are available on Dagmar WMA near the corridor, but this route is still most defensible as a day float rather than an overnight plan. Camping is not allowed on Cache River National Wildlife Refuge.
SeasonMar-NovThis middle continuation still depends on enough stage to keep the marked route connected, and launch-day checks should include both the USGS gauge and whether Apple Lake access is seasonally open.

Access and shuttle

Launch at Hickson Lake Access and take out at Apple Lake Access for a mid-length Bayou DeView continuation. This is still flatwater, but it is not a casual paddle: use the Brinkley gauge, verify the Apple Lake seasonal rule, and carry the AGFC map.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Hickson Lake Access
DirectionsOpen map

Hickson Lake and Apple Lake are named public AGFC Bayou DeView Water Trail accesses reached by rural WMA roads rather than by developed park marinas.

Finish

Take-out

Apple Lake Access
DirectionsOpen map

AGFC says the trail needs about 14 ft or higher to paddle and that the Dagmar Road gate closes at 17 ft, so verify both gauge freshness and road access before launching.

Road shuttle

Stage the take-out at Apple Lake Access, then drive back to Hickson Lake Access. Carry the AGFC georeferenced map before launching because even this middle continuation still crosses multiple indistinct floodplain turns and side-channel decisions.

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On-water distance4.4 miCreek-focused
On-water timeAbout 2.5 hr to 4 hrFull route option
ShuttleCar shuttleChoose a shorter in/out pair for a shorter day.

Hickson Lake Access to Apple Lake Access is about 4.4 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.

Additional access notes
  • Apple Lake Waterfowl Rest Area is closed to access from Nov. 1 through Feb. 15, so this route is not year-round even when the gauge looks fine.
  • The main channel is not always distinct. Carry the georeferenced map or equivalent offline navigation before leaving cell coverage.
More route and safety guidance
  • Use the Apple Lake seasonal access rule and the lower Dagmar road conditions as real go/no-go checks, not just the gauge.
  • Stay off private banks and expect floating wood, blind turns through cypress, and stronger push as the gauge rises toward the 17-foot road-closure mark.
Terms and safety
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Station details and river cameras

Sources and methodology

Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.

Data reliability: checking
Data status
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This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.

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Water levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteBayou Deview near Brinkley, AR
Gauge heightChecking
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Preferred rangeNeeds paddler reports
Known low-water floor14.00 ft
High thresholdWater-level guidance unavailable
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreArkansas Game and Fish Bayou DeView gauge guidance
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Published evidence and verification notes

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Official route shapeHickson Lake Access to Apple Lake Access, about 4.4 miles

    AGFC lists Hickson Lake to Rock Island Road as 2.9 miles and Rock Island Road to Apple Lake as 1.5 miles, which supports this middle continuation through the same public access chain.

    Source

  • Direct gauge thresholdAround 14 ft to paddle; Dagmar Road gate closes at 17 ft

    AGFC describes about 14 ft as the level needed to paddle and separately states that the Dagmar Road gate closes at 17 ft. It warns that high water is dangerous; the gate closure is not a route-wide upper safety threshold.

    Source

  • Put-in accessHickson Lake Access, 34.89039, -91.29826

    AGFC still publishes Hickson Lake Access as a named public Bayou DeView Water Trail launch with a map-linked coordinate point.

    Source

  • Take-out accessApple Lake Access, 34.84159, -91.28200

    AGFC still publishes Apple Lake Access as a named public Bayou DeView Water Trail launch with a map-linked coordinate point.

    Source

  • Camping and seasonal accessFree Dagmar WMA campsites; Apple Lake closed Nov. 1-Feb. 15; no Cache River NWR camping

    AGFC still says free first-come campsites marked by blue paint are available on Dagmar WMA, Apple Lake WRA closes to access from Nov. 1 through Feb. 15, and camping is not allowed on Cache River National Wildlife Refuge.

    Source

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