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Arkansas | Ozark Highlands

Kings River

Rockhouse Access to Trigger Gap

Check current paddling conditions for this Kings River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.

Route location

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DistanceAbout 7.7 mi
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAbout 4 hr to 6 hr
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

Need to know

Why this call
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Conditions

Gauge history and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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Gauge

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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

On-water distanceAbout 7.7 miRockhouse Access to Trigger Gap
DifficultymoderateThis is not advanced whitewater, but it is a seven-plus-mile Ozark stream day with shallow gravel riffles, occasional rapids, a low-water bridge portage near the end, private banks, and a private fee take-out.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the take-out only after confirming Trigger Gap fee-access terms with the outfitter, then drive back to Rockhouse Access. Rockhouse is reached by gravel county-road access, and Trigger Gap sits off Highway 221 / CR 509; verify both landings, parking, and shuttle timing before launching.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific public paddling permit is known, but the take-out is private fee access. Pay posted access or parking fees, make arrangements before leaving a vehicle, follow Arkansas boating and PFD rules, and respect smallmouth bass regulations if fishing.
CampingDay tripTreat this as a day trip. Gravel bars may look inviting, but AGFC and TNC emphasize private-property boundaries along the Kings corridor; do not camp or climb banks away from legal public or arranged access unless there is an emergency.
SeasonMar-JulAGFC describes the lower Kings as a year-round floating corridor, but the route-level guide recommends Rockhouse to Trigger Gap mainly from early spring to June for good water. Summer trips need a same-day gauge and visual low-water check.

Plan ahead

Upcoming outlook

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

Launch at AGFC-owned Rockhouse Access and take out at the private Trigger Gap access for a 7.7-mile Kings River day through the preserve corridor. Use the Berryville USGS gauge as a conservative low-water stage check, then make a same-day visual call at Rockhouse.

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Prepare this trip

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Start

Put-in

Rockhouse Access
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Rockhouse is public AGFC access just upstream from the Kings River Preserve, but the road is mostly gravel and same-day parking or launch conditions can change.

Finish

Take-out

Trigger Gap / Kings River Outfitters private fee access
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The Rockhouse marker is the water edge where the gravel access road and turnaround meet the Kings River. The older published degree-minute coordinate lands about 0.8 mile south in forest and is retained only as historical source context, not as a navigation point.

Plan this segment

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Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • Rockhouse is public AGFC access just upstream from the Kings River Preserve, but the road is mostly gravel and same-day parking or launch conditions can change.
  • The Rockhouse marker is the water edge where the gravel access road and turnaround meet the Kings River. The older published degree-minute coordinate lands about 0.8 mile south in forest and is retained only as historical source context, not as a navigation point.
  • Trigger Gap is a private fee access associated with Kings River Outfitters / Trigger Gap-area outfitters. Do not assume unpaid parking, after-hours access, or public-bank use.
  • Much of the Kings River flows through private property. Stay on the water, gravel bars, and arranged access corridors; avoid posted, fenced, purple-painted, or developed private banks.
  • The 3.2 ft threshold is a local route-guide minimum, not an official AGFC paddling band. The app does not claim an ideal range or high-water cutoff.

Watch for

  • Shallow gravel riffles and dragging when the Berryville gauge is near or below about 3.2 ft.
  • A low-water bridge near the end of the route; local guidance recommends portaging on river left for safety.
  • Fast rises after Ozark storms, rising water, fresh wood, strainers, and pushy bends against bluffs or gravel bars.
  • Private-bank limits, fee-access rules at Trigger Gap, limited cell coverage, rural shuttle roads, and seasonal hunting activity near AGFC lands.
  • Long pools, hot-weather slowdowns, afternoon storms, and late-day darkness if the group spends too long swimming or fishing.

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.

A rocky, wooded Arkansas river corridor with clear moving water.
Arkansas 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
USACE asset: public domain; regional context only

Score & sources

Why this score

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.

Read quality
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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.

Why
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Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing

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

Gauge siteKings River near Berryville, AR
Gauge heightChecking
DischargeChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Ideal rangeNeeds paddler reports
Known low-water floor3.20 ft
High thresholdNot calibrated yet
Evidence strength behind the rangeLocal route guidance
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreKings River Arkansas Rockhouse-to-Trigger-Gap route guidance
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
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 contextRockhouse to Trigger Gap, 7.7 miles

    AGFC identifies Rockhouse to Trigger Gap / Arkansas Highway 221 as a popular year-round 7.7-mile Kings River float and warns that much of the river flows through private property.

    Source

  • Rockhouse accessAGFC-owned public access

    The Nature Conservancy says the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission owns Rockhouse Access, the public access closest to the Kings River Preserve.

    Source

  • Private take-outTrigger Gap / Kings River Outfitters fee access

    Kings River Arkansas describes the Trigger Gap take-out as private access where paddlers need to pay a small fee and make arrangements with Kings River Outfitters.

    Source

  • Direct live gaugeUSGS 07050500

    USGS Kings River near Berryville showed same-day May 31, 2026 data during review, including 1,720 cfs and 6.23 ft at 15:15 CDT.

    Source

  • Low-water floor3.2 ft minimum-only

    Kings River Arkansas lists Rockhouse to Trigger Gap as a 7.5-mile route taking about four hours at a minimum float level of 3.2 ft per the USGS gauge. The app uses only that low-water floor.

    Source

  • Coordinate anchorsRockhouse water entry 36.281934, -93.663997; Trigger Gap 36.314833, -93.6635

    AGFC and The Nature Conservancy establish the identity and public ownership of Rockhouse Access. A specialized launch inventory maps the gravel Rockhouse Boat Launch at the road-to-water terminus, which agrees with current aerial imagery and candidate-specific NHD hydrography. The older route-guide degree-minute Rockhouse coordinate lands in forest about 0.8 mile south and is not used for navigation.

    Source

  • River characterClear pools, gravel riffles, occasional rapids

    Arkansas Tourism describes the Kings as clear, cool water with deep pools, overhanging trees, occasional rapids, large bluffs, and gravel bars in the lower stretch.

    Source

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Keep exploring

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Quick answers

Kings River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Kings River?

Paddle Today watches Kings River near Berryville, AR and uses 3.20 ft as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.

Where does this Kings River route start and end?

This route starts at Rockhouse Access and ends at Trigger Gap / Kings River Outfitters private fee access, about About 7.7 mi on the water.

Is this Kings River route good for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.

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