Bartholomew Bayou

Already a designated Scenic and Natural Waterway, the richly endowed Bayou springs from the Arkansas River floodplain hundreds of miles upstream in the middle of Arkansas near Little Rock and flows southward and parallel to the Mississippi River in a bewildering pathway of angular river bends. It is thought to be the longest bayou in North America (365 miles).

Skill Level

Easy to Moderate to Advanced: Skill level depends on the water level, which can fluctuate as much as 30 feet in between drought conditions and flood events.

River Level

Looking at river gage data from the past 10 years, the Bartholomew normally flows between 1-3 on the "Beckman Gage" with infrequent spikes due to rainfall, snowmelt, and other runoff.

Equipment

Choose a canoe, kayak, or paddleboat. Motorized craft will not be able to traverse numerous blockages from fallen trees.

More Information

For more information about this trail, click on the link below to see our brochure.
Bayou Bartholomew Brochure