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Information about the Kings River

Ideal for family recreation, the Kings River runs for 90 miles from where its headwaters originate east of Boston in Newton County, Arkansas. It flows generally Northward merging with Osage Creek before it flows into Table Rock Lake at the Arkansas Missouri border. With an average gradient of 16 feet per mile, it cuts through the rock strata of the high Ozark Plateau. Its waters create a beautiful clear mountain stream with canyons, scenic bluffs and waterfalls. The upper reaches of the river provide excellent whitewater while the lower reaches have sufficient water for year round floating. It has achieved fame as a smallmouth bass stream and as a habitat for wintering bald eagles. The wooded slopes and valleys furnish exceptional range for large and small game and support many species of unique plants and animals. Pink azaleas, wild roses and dogwood blooms appear in spring. It remains as the only major free flowing stream running into the White River in this area.

Trigger Gap Landing

Trigger Gap takes its name from a mountain located just to the Northeast named Trigger Mountain.  The "Gap" relates to the mountain crossing. Imagine the difficulty of driving a mule team up and down these mountain roads long ago and crossing the Kings River at Trigger Gap. Some historians think that the Boston Mountains where the Kings River origninates may derive their name from the difficulty of crossing them. According to one version, some pioneers of the Ozarks referred to any difficult task as "a Boston." Crossing these mountains by wagon, horse or foot was indeed "a Boston." For a peek into the hardships of a traveler crossing the river here long ago, have a look at Mark Twain's description of Travel on the Overland Stage, July-August, 1861, from chapter 2 in his book, Roughing It.

Not so long ago Arkansas State highway 221 was a dirt road and a low water bridge used to cross the river here at Trigger Gap. Most current road maps still do not show the paved highway. Instead of showing the paved highway running straight across the river as a high river bridge, they show a meandering road that descends to the low water crossing. Engineers blasted away the middle of that old bridge many years ago to prevent traffic from crossing there. The blast left a hole in the middle of the concrete. Now, during normal water levels, the river flows through that opening creating a mild current. The water on the downriver side forms a swimming hole with a rocky shore beach. The water in the swimming hole stays cool even during the hottest days of Summer. Fish like to hide out in the deeper waters on the far side making it a good fishing hole too.

The old dirt highway has become the dirt road to Trigger Gap Landing. The landing has a parking area on our property where our shuttle customers park their vehicles during their float trips. During our busy season, we charge $4 per vehicle for those who want access to the landing without using our shuttle services. Many local residents know and love Trigger Gap and come here on getaways to swim, fish and picnic. If you have your own boat and you will do your own shuttle, you can simply pay the parking fee and leave your vehicle during your float. You park here at your own risk, but at least you know we usually have somebody nearby 24 hours a day to keep an eye out.

The hole in the bridge creates a backwater wave during the high water season. Kayakers surf the Trigger Gap wave as the river rushes through the center between the remaining parts of the old bridge. Kayakers play on the wave by pointing their kayaks upstream into its raging current.
 

River Descriptions


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