Far upper Big Piney - Also interested in Little Piney of Texas County, a tributary of the Big Piney

[Conor]

The far upper Big Piney from Simmons Ford to Dog's Bluff offers some spectacular scenery and is well worth the trip in the spring when the water levels are right.  I would put this section up where with ANYTHING the upper Jacks Fork, Current, or Eleven Point has to offer in terms of scenery.  The section is about 10.5-11 miles to easily done in a day and you will want to stop to admire the scenery on this one.

This section is fast and sporty.  It would eat the summertime drunks that pollute slower rivers alive.  It also offers scenic sandstone bluffs and canyons, waterfalls issuing right from the bluffs as cascades and waterfalls, wild rock formations, and more.  It definitely is among the top floats in MO without question.  I understand one can go about 6 miles upstream to Gardner Ford although it is not as spectacular but worth doing.  I might add this on to the top of this float sometime or end it early at the Tone Hogan Ford.  One can also start at Tone Hogan Ford and add abuot 6 miles to the bottom by going down to Mineral Springs.  This section is nice and scenic with ruins from the Lone Star Mill but slow.  It is NOTHING like the fast sporty section just above.

There is another tributary which I call the Little Piney of Texas County that comes in just upstream of Dog's Bluff.  I have looked at a couple of the low water crossings on this one and it looks like it would have the same sandstone scenery I know on the corresponding Big Piney.  Had anyone done this?  I understand you want to blow through the Whites Ford/Flatrock crossing because the property owner is a jerk.  Anyone done this one here?

I am not talking about the Little Piney in Phelps County which is also a great stream.  This one is about 4 miles from where I live and one of the best as well.

I would suggest a gauge level minimum of 200cfs on the Jacks Fork at  Mountain View Gauge as well as 900 cfs on the Big Piney at Big Piney gauge (Ross Access) in order to do this float.  I have done it at 2000 cfs on the Big Piney Gauge and would probably try it up to 3000 cfs but boy would it be a sporting ride!

Conor