See all 5 routes on Saline River
Arkansas | Central Arkansas
Saline RiverTony Kelly Ford Access to Lyle Park Access
Rain-sensitive Benton-area Saline River day from Tony Kelly Ford to Lyle Park. AGFC documents the exact 8.2-mile segment, both public accesses, and the direct Benton gauge bands, making this a clean trust-first route when flows stay below the experienced-only window.
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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 Tony Kelly Ford Access and take out at Lyle Park for the upper Benton Saline River water-trail segment. The direct Benton gauge works well here because the route finishes before the downstream spillway and low-water-bridge hazard that complicate lower segments.
Access map
Put-in
Tony Kelly Ford AccessTony Kelly Ford is a simple public river access with no developed campground support in the reviewed source set.
Take-out
Lyle Park AccessLyle Park is the clean public take-out before the lower-river spillway and low-water-bridge hazards downstream of Benton.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Lyle Park in Benton, then drive back to Tony Kelly Ford Access. Inspect both launches before leaving vehicles because gravel, mud, and recent rain can change the approach and footing.
Additional access notes
- Below about 3.5 ft at Benton, expect more dragging; near the lower end of AGFC's 3.6–5.0 ft paddle window, plan for slower shoals. Check the live gauge and trend before launch.
- Stay with the named public access points and avoid private banks, fences, signs, and purple-painted property lines along the corridor.
More route and safety guidance
- Stay with the named public access points and avoid private banks along the corridor.
- Wood, strainers, and muddy exits become more consequential as the river climbs above the normal range.
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Weather
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Next 8 hours
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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
Saline River at Benton, AR. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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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 | Saline River at Benton, AR |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 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 | 3.60 ft to 5.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 3.50 ft |
| High threshold | 5.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Arkansas Game and Fish Saline River Water Trail gauge bands |
| 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 segmentTony Kelly Ford to Lyle Park, 8.2 miles
AGFC lists Tony Kelly Ford to Lyle Park as an exact Saline River Water Trail segment with a 4 to 6 hour float time under normal conditions.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-06-22USGS 07363000
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.
- Stage model3.5 / 3.6-5.0 / 5.0 ft
AGFC labels 3.5 ft and below as low, 3.6-4.0 ft as typical, 4.1-5.0 ft as optimum, and 5.1-5.5 ft as high experienced-only water. Paddle Today uses 3.6-5.0 ft as the broad audience band and treats water above 5.0 ft as outside the general recommendation.
- Put-in accessTony Kelly Ford Access, 34.5844, -92.6938
AGFC publishes Tony Kelly Ford Access as a named public Saline River Water Trail access with a Google Maps coordinate link.
- Take-out accessLyle Park Access, 34.5873, -92.6051
AGFC publishes Lyle Park Access as a named public Saline River Water Trail access with a Google Maps coordinate link.
- Route characterDeep pools, fast chutes, riffles, small waves
AGFC says paddlers can expect deep pools, fast chutes, riffles, and small waves on this Benton reach, with about two miles per hour travel under normal conditions.
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
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