See all 2 routes on Ouachita River
Arkansas | Ouachita Mountains
Ouachita RiverDragover Day Use west access to east access
Short upper Ouachita whitewater lap inside Dragover Day Use, from the upstream/west landing to the downstream/east landing. USFS confirms the public canoe-launching site, American Whitewater identifies the exact 2.9-mile Class I-II reach and landing coordinates, and the direct Mount Ida USGS gauge is live.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at the upstream/west Dragover landing and take out at the downstream/east landing for a short Upper Ouachita whitewater lap. Use the Mount Ida stage gauge, keep the low-water floor conservative at 3.0 ft, and read the access and hazard features before committing to repeat runs.
Access map
Put-in
Dragover Day Use upstream / west accessUSFS publishes one Dragover Day Use site coordinate, while the distinct west and east landing coordinates come from American Whitewater feature data. Use current on-site signs and parking layout rather than a saved pin alone.
Take-out
Dragover Day Use downstream / east accessAmerican Whitewater describes steep stairs, rollers, and rocky access at the upstream landing. Scout the carry and make sure every paddler can manage the launch and exit safely.
Road shuttle
Both landings sit inside Dragover Day Use. Many groups handle this as a short same-site shuttle or walkback, but inspect the current site road, parking, and access paths before launching and stage the downstream/east vehicle first if you want the cleanest finish.
Additional access notes
- Both landings are in the same day-use area, but the route still needs an exit plan. Confirm the downstream/east landing before putting on so the group does not drift past the intended take-out.
- USFS says Dragover Day Use has no potable water. Bring water and do not rely on services at the site.
More route and safety guidance
- Treat 3.0 ft as the conservative floor and be more careful as the gauge climbs toward or above 5.0 ft, when the run gets pushier than this recommendation is built for.
- The route stays inside Dragover Day Use, but the downstream/east landing still needs an exit plan. Confirm the take-out before putting on and do not assume rescue or cell coverage will be easy.
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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Weather
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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
Ouachita River near Mount Ida, 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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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 | Ouachita River near Mount Ida, AR |
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| Discharge | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| 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 | 3.00 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 | American Whitewater Dragover gauge range |
| 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 public accessDragover Day Use canoe-launching site
USFS says Dragover Day Use is open all year, no fee, and provides Ouachita River access with canoe launching at the public day-use site.
- Gauge check during route review · June 17, 2026USGS 07356000 at 4.50 ft / 984 cfs
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.
- Threshold floor3.0 ft minimum-only
American Whitewater ties Dragover directly to USGS 07356000 and currently exposes a 3.0-5.0 ft runnable range. Paddle Today uses only the 3.0 ft low-water floor and keeps the higher end as a caveat rather than a scoring band.
- Endpoint coordinates34.6375007629395, -93.6297988891602 to 34.6383018493652, -93.6266021728516
American Whitewater feature data exposes exact upstream/west put-in and downstream/east take-out coordinates for the Dragover reach, while USFS independently confirms the shared Dragover Day Use public-site context.
- Core hazards2.9 mi Class I-II with Hungry Hole and Big Rock
American Whitewater describes Dragover as a 2.9-mile Class I-II reach with a steep stair-and-roller launch, Hungry Hole, Big Rock, and other short-feature hazards that still deserve whitewater judgment.
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 Ouachita River
All 2Nearby routes within 75 miles
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