A Canoeing and Kayaking Guide to the Ozarks (Canoe and Kayak Series) [Paperback]

Tom Kennon (Author)

Book Description

Series: Canoe and Kayak Series | Publication Date: April 10, 2004

In the heartland of America rise the Ozark Mountains, teeming with cascading, free-flowing streams. Situated astride the Missouri/Arkansas border, the Ozarks represent a canoeing and kayaking wonderland. Still a comprehensive, accurate and readable guide, but now with a new design and format, A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to the Ozarks (formerly Ozark Whitewater) catalogs the varied rivers of the region. Inside are updated descriptions of all the classic rivers, including the Buffalo National and Little Missouri, as well as exciting new reports of today’s steep creek runs: Bryant, Turkey, and many others. This guide is the definitive sourcebook for Ozark river sport.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The ultimate guide to paddling whitewater in the Ozarks, A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to the Ozarks (formerly Ozark Whitewater) has guided boaters to the best water in the area for years. Inside, boaters will find expanded and updated information for the classic rivers as well as for the extreme creeks.
Also included is information vital to all paddlers, beginner and expert alike: information on clubs and organizations, state water trails, and national and scenic rivers. Ratings and descriptions include topographic maps, country locations, gauges, difficulty ratings, drop/distances, run times, water quality, and much more.

About the Author

Tom Kennon began paddling in 1974 and wrote his first book in 1978, Arkansas Whitewater Rivers, after gathering information about rivers in Arkansas due to the lack of information about paddling in the area. In 1988 Ozark Whitewater expanded the original book to a more comprehensive description of rivers in the Ozarks. He lives in Fort Smith, Arkansas and is still an active paddler and ACA canoe instructor closely associated with the Arkansas Canoe Club.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press; 3rd edition (April 10, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897325214
• ISBN-13: 978-0897325219
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #270,330 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Kayaking > Whitewater Kayaking
  • #40 in Books > Travel > United States > Regions > Central

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beginning Paddler in Texarkana, March 19, 2007

By 

James Urbina (Texarkana, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Canoeing and Kayaking Guide to the Ozarks (Canoe and Kayak Series) (Paperback)

I was looking for a guide to the many rivers and creeks to take multi-day excursions with my family in Arkansas and the close by rivers to Texarkana where I now live. I am a beginner paddler and need to have details but as any person who is overwhelmed by information, a concise and clear presentation is very helpful. On both counts, this book delivers. Having GPS coordinates is particularly helpful and the maps are very clear. The book is divided by regions, and this is also helpful. I can recommend this book without question.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A brand new classic!, July 26, 2006

By 

Bill Herring "Bill Fish Herring" (Fayetteville, AR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Canoeing and Kayaking Guide to the Ozarks (Canoe and Kayak Series) (Paperback)

Kennon's Ozark Whitewater was by far the best whitewater guidebook for the Ozarks (and the only one to find information on many streams), and it neve left my shuttle vehicle. It is in tatters now, so the timing of his updated guidebook is perfect timing for me. Though I will always refer to this and any of his books as "Ozark Whitewater" the new name reflects the fact that this is a big upgrade from version two. Much more up to date info, extremely good maps (much improved from the last version), and many new streams (some I've never heard of!). If you're a paddler in Arkansas, Oklahoma, or Missouri, Kennon has again produced the must have book for your paddling library. My copy is already on its way to being destroyed in the back of my shuttle rig! Highly recomended!

4.0 out of 5 stars Canoeing and Kayaking Guide to the Ozarks, February 15, 2011

By 

Wired "tech guy" (Wichita, KS USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Canoeing and Kayaking Guide to the Ozarks (Canoe and Kayak Series) (Paperback)

Thus far I'm quite happy with this book. The number of places where kayaking is available AND legal is great. I come from a state where landowner rights trumps everything and places to do any river kayaking is skimpy to say the least. I haven't run any of these rivers yet but I think this guide that tells me where to put in, where to take out and what to expect in between will be invaluable. I wish it had some info on how to arrange for vehicle shuttle or kayak shuttle, however there is a lot of contact information for canoe and kayak organizations that might be able to point me in the right direction. The thing I liked are the sections about obstacles to avoid or be aware of. If you're looking for a state to go kayaking in, this might be the book for you.