See all 4 routes on Illinois River
Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas
Illinois RiverSiloam Springs Kayak Park to WOKA Whitewater Park
Lower Upper-Illinois Water Trail segment from Siloam Springs Kayak Park to WOKA Whitewater Park. AGFC documents the exact 7.4-mile route and direct Siloam gauge, but both ends include Class II+ park features that make this a guarded whitewater-style add rather than a casual flatwater 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 from Siloam Springs Kayak Park and take out at WOKA Whitewater Park for the lower Upper Illinois Water Trail segment. This is a guarded route because both endpoints include whitewater-park features even though most of the in-between mileage is gentler current.
Access map
Put-in
Siloam Springs Kayak ParkBoth endpoints are public parks, but both also include Class II+ features that paddlers may need to carry around.
Take-out
WOKA Whitewater ParkStay within AGFC's broad 200–1,000 cfs window; above 1,000 cfs, AGFC recommends the river only for experienced floaters. Confirm the live gauge before launch.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at WOKA Whitewater Park in Oklahoma, then drive back to Siloam Springs Kayak Park. Scout both whitewater parks before launching so the group has a clear carry-around plan at the start and finish if anyone does not want to run the features.
Additional access notes
- Much of the river corridor remains private land. Do not assume casual bank stops, parking pull-offs, or emergency exits are legal outside the named accesses.
- This route crosses into Oklahoma at the take-out. Verify same-day rules, event closures, and park operations before launching.
More route and safety guidance
- The corridor still runs through mostly private banks, so use only the named public access points.
- High or rising water materially increases consequence at the park features and along faster bends.
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
Illinois River at Hwy. 16 near Siloam Springs, 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 | Illinois River at Hwy. 16 near Siloam Springs, AR |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | 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 | 200 cfs to 1,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 200 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Arkansas Game and Fish Upper Illinois River Water Trail flow 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 segmentSiloam Springs Kayak Park to WOKA Whitewater Park, 7.4 miles
AGFC lists Siloam Springs Kayak Park to WOKA Whitewater Park as the downstream segment of the Upper Illinois River Water Trail.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-06-22USGS 07195400
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.
- Flow model200 / 200-1,000 / 1,000 cfs
AGFC says the best level for floating the river is between 200 and 1,000 cfs, that levels below 200 cfs may be too low to float, and that water above 1,000 cfs is for experienced floaters only.
- Access coordinatesSiloam Springs Kayak Park 36.12361, -94.51751; WOKA Whitewater Park 36.13388, -94.5661
AGFC publishes coordinate-linked public access pins for both whitewater parks on the Arkansas-Oklahoma corridor.
- Whitewater-park cautionsClass II+ rapids at both parks
AGFC says Siloam Springs Kayak Park (Fisher Ford) and WOKA Whitewater Park both have Class II+ rapids and paddlers should feel free to carry boats around both to avoid capsizing.
- Camping and basecamp contextNearby campgrounds and outfitters
AGFC lists Gypsy Camp and Canoe, Illinois River RV and Campground, WOKA Whitewater Park, and Siloam Springs Whitewater Park as nearby support resources for paddlers on the trail.
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 Illinois River
All 4Nearby 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.