Robe Bayou Water Trail

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Water Trail Length
4.5 miles (Robe Bayou flows south)  

Float Time
Expect to travel 1-2 miles per hour.   

River Conditions
Robe Bayou usually is a flat-water float, although heavy rain and high water create dangerous conditions. Watch for snags and logjams. Paddle upstream or downstream from this access. The trail ends at a weir that holds water in the bayou near Interstate 40. Respect private property marked by fences, signs or purple paint.

Warning
A footbridge blocks the channel about 1 mile north of the boat launch. Portage around this bridge to paddle farther north on the bayou.

Don't Get a Ticket!
According to Arkansas law, children 12 and under must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket and anyone in a boat must have one ready to use. Vessels 16 feet and longer must have a throwable life preserver aboard. Glass containers are illegal in boats such as canoes and kayaks that can be easily swamped. Paddlers must securely fasten cooler lids, use attached litter containers and use floating holders for beverages. 

Wildlife and Habitat
Watch for barred owls, prothonotary warblers, red-headed and pileated woodpeckers, great blue herons, wintering bald eagles and a variety of waterfowl. Beavers, muskrats, deer and raccoons travel and feed in and around the bayou. Cypress-tupelo brakes are scattered throughout low-lying areas; some cypress trees are more than 850 years old. The forest is sweetgum, and overcup, water and Nuttall oaks. Bottomland hardwood forests have become fragmented. The Cache-Lower White Rivers Wetland of International Importance includes Sheffield Nelson Dagmar Wildlife Management Area and Cache River National Wildlife Refuge.

Fishing
The bayou offers fishing for crappie and bream. Minnows, jigs, spinners and light line are recommended. Fish for catfish on the bottom with worms, minnows and stink baits. Check AGFC regulations.

Hunting and Trapping
Hunters pursue deer, waterfowl and small game on the area. Boating hours are limited during waterfowl seasons. Furbearer trapping is permissible on the WMA. Check the current Arkansas Hunting Guidebook for details and wear hunter orange when appropriate. Leash pets for their safety. 

Camping
Free, primitive campsites (marked by blue paint) are available along the water trail (see map). The sites, occupied on a first-come, first-served basis, offer no amenities.

Safety
Check weather forecasts and file a float plan; tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return. Plan your trip so your paddling skills are equal to the water conditions.

Points of Interest
Lake Hickson, Bayou DeView and Apple Lake Waterfowl Rest Area offer other local paddling opportunities (check AGFC regulations for seasonal access). Check out nearby Bayou DeView Water Trail.