See all 6 routes on Crooked Creek
Arkansas | Ozark Arkansas
Crooked CreekSnow Access to Kelley's Slab Access
Lower Crooked Creek continuation from Snow to Kelley's Slab. AGFC still documents the exact public access chain and the direct Kelly Crossing gauge, but the only official numeric guidance remains the 12-12.5 ft moderate band, so this route stays conservative and minimum-only.
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Route location
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Safety
Route safety
CautionThis route has hazards or access considerations that require extra verification.
Crooked Creek can rise quickly after heavy spring or summer rain and turn from a clear smallmouth float into a faster, pushier current day.
Safety details
- Almost all property along the creek is private; use only the named public access points and camp only where AGFC explicitly allows it.
- Shoals, riffles, fresh wood, and muddy or gravelly exits become more consequential when the creek is below the moderate band or rising fast, and Kelley's Slab deserves a cautious scout when the water is up or dirty.
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Snow Access and take out at Kelley's Slab Access for a longer lower-middle Crooked Creek continuation. This is a rain-sensitive Ozark creek float keyed to the Kelly Crossing gauge rather than to a broad flatwater assumption.
Access map
Put-in
Snow AccessSnow, Mark Oliver, and Kelley's Slab are named public AGFC Crooked Creek Water Trail accesses with simple rural launches rather than full-service park ramps.
Take-out
Kelley's Slab AccessBelow about 12 ft at Kelly Crossing, expect more dragging and slower riffles. Crooked Creek can rise quickly after storms; check the live stage and trend before launch.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Kelley's Slab Access, then drive back to Snow Access. Mark Oliver is the clean public split point if the full lower-middle corridor feels too long for the day's level or pace.
Additional access notes
- Stay with the named public access points and avoid private banks, fences, signs, and purple-painted property along the creek.
- Scout Kelley's Slab before committing to the final take-out when the creek is up, dirty, or unfamiliar.
More route and safety guidance
- Almost all property along the creek is private; use only the named public access points and camp only where AGFC explicitly allows it.
- Shoals, riffles, fresh wood, and muddy or gravelly exits become more consequential when the creek is below the moderate band or rising fast, and Kelley's Slab deserves a cautious scout when the water is up or dirty.
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Conditions
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Minimum 12.00 ft · Crooked Creek at Kelly Crossing at Yellville, AR
Does this gauge apply to my trip?
Use the Crooked Creek at Kelly Crossing gauge. AGFC calls 12 to 12.5 ft a moderate floating level; below about 12 ft expect more dragging and slower riffles, and higher water deserves extra caution because the creek can rise fast and AGFC does not publish a full high-water ladder.
New to reading stage or flow? Read the paddler's gauge guide.
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Weather
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Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Crooked Creek at Kelly Crossing at Yellville, AR. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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More level reports needed
Only a low-water floor is known.
We can tell when this route is likely too low, but we do not yet have enough reports to define a best range. If you paddled it recently, send a condition report with how the level felt.
Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
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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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Crooked Creek at Kelly Crossing at Yellville, AR |
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| Discharge | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
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| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
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| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 12.00 ft |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Arkansas Game and Fish Crooked Creek moderate-level guidance |
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| Weather source | Checking |
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NotesPublished 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 segmentSnow Access to Kelley's Slab Access, about 11.8 miles
AGFC lists Snow-to-Mark Oliver as 5.2 miles and Mark Oliver-to-Kelley's Slab as 6.6 miles, supporting this combined public Crooked Creek continuation.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-14USGS 07055607 at 186 cfs / 10.63 ft
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Level guidance12-12.5 ft moderate floating band
AGFC says a moderate level for floating Crooked Creek is 12-12.5 ft at the Kelly Crossing gauge. Paddle Today treats 12 ft as the conservative minimum-only floor because AGFC does not publish a complete high-water ladder for this route family.
- Put-in accessSnow Access, 36.24352, -92.79995
AGFC publishes Snow Access as a named public Crooked Creek Water Trail access with a Google Maps coordinate link and primitive campsites.
- Take-out accessKelley's Slab Access, 36.22921, -92.71045
AGFC publishes Kelley's Slab Access as a named public Crooked Creek Water Trail access with a Google Maps coordinate link and a hazard caveat under some conditions.
- Camping supportSnow Access and Brooksher camping support
AGFC says primitive campsites are available at Snow Access and at Brooksher Crooked Creek Preserve, which has no road access.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
More on Crooked Creek
All 6Nearby routes within 75 miles
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