Lower Elk gravel bar camping

[wishingiwasfishing]

My son and I are getting ready to do a float from Noel to Cowskin. We would like to make it a two day float and camp on a gravel bar along the way. We do NOT want to run into trouble with any landowners. Anybody have any landowner trouble gravel bar camping on this stretch of the river? Any recommended spots to stop and set up camp?

[tjm]

you probably have seen this, but: https://www.missouricanoe.org/river-maps/elksugar.html

I haven't floated that but have spoken to folks taking out at Cowskin that said it took them 5-7.5 hours, most that I spoke to had put in at the ball park, though I don't know if you can still do that.  There are camps at both ends ...

 

[ollie]

I have floated that stretch many times and have seen people camping on gravel bars without any problems.  I've been thinking the same thing as you as far as doing an over nighter on that stretch.  Right now the water is super low so you will have a lot of dragging to do with the boat.  You can put in on the road that runs next to the river right below the Tyson plant. There is a big boulder that sits in the water, can't miss it.  Last time I floated it we fished it pretty hard and we made the float last until like 3-4 in the afternoon.  There are also many place to camp that hold fish as well. You can also have them shuttle you the river so you can park your vehicle at the campground. 

[wishingiwasfishing]

Thanks for the responses. I’ve floated this section before and it can be done in a day (usually takes me dawn to dusk if I fish it hard) but we want to make two days out of it so we can camp remotely and play more. Not looking for a outfitter campsite on this trip, just primitive along the river somewhere in between. Just didn’t want to set up camp on a gravel bar and then have a landowner try to run us off in the middle of the night.

[bfishn]

On 6/12/2018 at 9:51 AM, ollie said:

... You can put in on the road that runs next to the river right below the Tyson plant. There is a big boulder that sits in the water, can't miss it...

I know that spot. 

 

[ollie]

Now that is cool picture! I meant you could park your car at the campground and he could shuttle you up. That way you could take your time and your car would be safe.  Although your car probably would be safe at the boat ramp as well. 

[bfishn]

1 hour ago, ollie said:

Now that is cool picture! ...

Figured you might like that. It's from a KC & Southern railroad publication from about 100 years ago describing in detail all the little towns along the line from  Neosho to Ft Smith. Really interesting stuff. Evidently the "boulder hole" has been a popular fishin' spot for a really long time.