Arkansas | Ozark Highlands
Kings RiverRockhouse Access to Trigger Gap
Clear Ozark day float from AGFC-owned Rockhouse Access through the Kings River Preserve corridor to the private fee access at Trigger Gap. Use this as a conservative stage check, not a full ideal-range recommendation.
Checking current river conditions…
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
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.
Access map
Put-in
Rockhouse AccessRockhouse 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.
Take-out
Trigger Gap / Kings River Outfitters private fee accessThe 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.
Road shuttle
Stage 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.
Additional access notes
- 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.
More route and safety guidance
- Confirm Trigger Gap fee-access terms before staging a vehicle, and stay within arranged access corridors because much of the Kings River corridor borders private land.
- Expect shallow riffles near the floor, a low-water bridge portage near the end, fresh wood after storms, and faster Ozark rises that can change this otherwise approachable day float.
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.
Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.
Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.
Conditions
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampDetailed weather
Weather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
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
Kings River near Berryville, 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.
Share a recent access update, hazard observation or photo.
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.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Kings River near Berryville, 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 |
| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 3.20 ft |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Kings River Arkansas Rockhouse-to-Trigger-Gap route guidance |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Gauge check during route review · May 31, 2026USGS 07050500
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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
Nearby routes within 75 miles
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.