Arkansas | Delta

Bayou DeView

Rock Island Road Access to Bank of Brinkley Access

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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.

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DifficultyeasyAGFC treats the trail as flatwater without rapids, but this 5.8-mile lower continuation still needs navigation through timbered floodplain turns and should not be treated like a straight canal paddle.
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 upstream, but this lower continuation is still usually handled as a day float. Camping is not allowed on Cache River National Wildlife Refuge.
SeasonMar-NovThis lower continuation still depends on enough stage to keep the trail connected, and launch-day checks should include both the USGS gauge and whether Apple Lake or lower access roads are open under current WMA conditions.

Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.

Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.

Access, shuttle, and map

Launch at Rock Island Road Access and take out at Bank of Brinkley Access for a lower Bayou DeView continuation. Use the Brinkley gauge, verify Apple Lake seasonal access, and carry the AGFC map because the lower channel remains indistinct and wood-prone even on an in-range day.

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This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.

On-water distanceAbout 5.8 miLake to creek
On-water timeAbout 5 to 7 hrFull route option
ShuttleSelf-shuttleChoose a shorter in/out pair for a shorter day.

Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.

Start

Put-in

Rock Island Road AccessOpen map

Rock Island Road and Bank of Brinkley are named public AGFC Bayou DeView Water Trail accesses reached by WMA or refuge roads rather than by full-service launch parks.

Finish

Take-out

Bank of Brinkley AccessOpen 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.

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Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • Rock Island Road and Bank of Brinkley are named public AGFC Bayou DeView Water Trail accesses reached by WMA or refuge roads rather than by full-service launch parks.
  • 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.
  • Apple Lake Waterfowl Rest Area is closed to access from Nov. 1 through Feb. 15, so a mid-route bailout or staged vehicle there is not always available.
  • Stay with the named public accesses and avoid private banks, fences, signs, and purple-painted property.

Watch for

  • Water below about 14 ft, when shallow obstructions and disconnected lower channels become more likely.
  • Water approaching or above 17 ft, when AGFC says the access roads can close and high-water timber travel becomes more dangerous.
  • Floating logs, strainers, wind exposure in open reaches, and missing the marked route through the lower cypress-tupelo corridor.
  • Lower-day fatigue, limited bailout options after Apple Lake, and the transition toward Cache River NWR where camping remains prohibited.

Check the data behind today's call.

Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.

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Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.

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Tomorrow and weekend

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Gauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteBayou Deview near Brinkley, AR
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Target band14.00 ft to 16.90 ft
Low threshold14.00 ft
High threshold17.00 ft
Data confidence behind the rangeOfficial data source
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Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreArkansas Game and Fish Bayou DeView gauge guidance
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What to know before you go

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

  • Official route shapeRock Island Road Access to Bank of Brinkley Access, about 5.8 miles

    AGFC lists Rock Island Road to Apple Lake as 1.5 miles and Apple Lake to Bank of Brinkley as 4.3 miles, which supports this lower continuation through the same public access chain.

    Source

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

    AGFC still says the gauge height needs to be around 14 feet or higher to paddle the trail and that the gate on Dagmar Road is closed at 17 feet.

    Source

  • Recent official gauge readingUSGS 07077730 at 14.10 ft

    USGS Water Services returned a latest gage-height reading of 14.10 ft at 2026-07-15 12:00 CDT for Bayou Deview near Brinkley, just above AGFC's floatable threshold floor.

    Source

  • Put-in accessRock Island Road Access, 34.85911, -91.29025

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

    Source

  • Take-out accessBank of Brinkley Access, 34.80024, -91.30049

    AGFC still publishes Bank of Brinkley 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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Bayou DeView paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Bayou DeView?

Paddle Today watches Bayou Deview near Brinkley, AR and treats 14.00 ft to 16.90 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does this Bayou DeView route start and end?

This route starts at Rock Island Road Access and ends at Bank of Brinkley Access, about About 5.8 mi on the water.

Is this Bayou DeView route good for beginners?

This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.