See all 9 routes on Bayou DeView
Arkansas | Delta
Bayou DeView
Rock Island Road Access to Bank of Brinkley Access
Check current paddling conditions for this Bayou DeView route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
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Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
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.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
Prepare this trip
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Put-in
Rock Island Road AccessRock 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.
Take-out
Bank of Brinkley AccessAGFC 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.
Plan this segment
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.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Bayou Deview near Brinkley, AR |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 14.00 ft to 16.90 ft |
| Low threshold | 14.00 ft |
| High threshold | 17.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Arkansas Game and Fish Bayou DeView gauge guidance |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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More routes to check next
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Quick answers
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.
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