See all 4 routes on Illinois River
Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas
Illinois River
Siloam Springs Kayak Park to WOKA Whitewater Park
Check current paddling conditions for this Illinois River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
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
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
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.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
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 ParkThe current Siloam gauge reading during this run was far above the broad audience flow band, so the route should be treated as source-backed inventory work rather than a same-day casual recommendation.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Both endpoints are public parks, but both also include Class II+ features that paddlers may need to carry around.
- The current Siloam gauge reading during this run was far above the broad audience flow band, so the route should be treated as source-backed inventory work rather than a same-day casual recommendation.
- 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.
Watch for
- Low water below about 200 cfs, when AGFC says the river may be too low to float well.
- Water above 1,000 cfs, which AGFC reserves for experienced floaters only and which raises consequence at both whitewater parks.
- Class II+ features at Siloam Springs Kayak Park and WOKA Whitewater Park; scout and carry around anything outside the group skill set.
- Fast rain rises, wood, strainers, slippery concrete or rock around the parks, private-bank issues, and interstate shuttle delays.
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.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
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.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind 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 |
| Target band | 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 |
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 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.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 07195400
USGS Water Services returned same-day Illinois River near Siloam Springs values of 4,920 cfs and 11.74 ft at 2026-06-22 19:00 CDT during this run, well above the broad public recommendation.
- 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.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Illinois River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Illinois River?
Paddle Today watches Illinois River at Hwy. 16 near Siloam Springs, AR and treats 200 cfs to 1,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Illinois River route start and end?
This route starts at Siloam Springs Kayak Park and ends at WOKA Whitewater Park, about About 7.4 mi on the water.
Is this Illinois River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
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