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.

Route location

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Open access map
DistanceAbout 11.8 mi
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAbout 5 hr to 7.5 hr depending on level
ShuttleCar shuttle
A rocky, wooded Arkansas river corridor with clear moving water.
River contextArkansas river corridor context; not this route or current conditions; route imagery unavailable — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Jamie Camp / U.S. Army Corps of Engineers via Wikimedia Commons
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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 access points, follow Arkansas boating and PFD rules, and respect posted parking signs at each access.
CampingOptions nearbySnow Access campsites and Brooksher Crooked Creek Preserve give this reach real designated-campsite support, but private banks remain off-limits and Kelley's Slab should not be treated as a campsite.
SeasonMar-OctAGFC frames Crooked Creek as rainfall dependent moving water. Spring through early fall is the main floating season, but quick rain-driven rises can change the route much faster than on larger regulated rivers.

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

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Start

Put-in

Snow Access
DirectionsOpen map

Snow, 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.

Finish

Take-out

Kelley's Slab Access
DirectionsOpen map

Below 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.
Terms and safety
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Conditions

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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.

  • Checking data sources and update times.
Water levels, published guidance and update times

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

Gauge siteCrooked Creek at Kelly Crossing at Yellville, AR
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Preferred rangeNeeds paddler reports
Known low-water floor12.00 ft
High thresholdWater-level guidance unavailable
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
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Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreArkansas Game and Fish Crooked Creek moderate-level 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 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

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