- Little Missouri River (Arkansas)
The Little Missouri River, or "Little Mo", is a river which runs from the
Ouachita Mountains of southwestArkansas into the rolling hills area in the surrounding countryside.Overview
This river is a rocky, mountain river that flows through narrow, forested canyons. It has numerous small waterfalls, crystal clear water, and outstanding scenery including towering rocky bluffs crowned with pine.
The river was so named because its lower reaches were said to remind early French explorers of the Missouri River.
Course
The Little Missouri flows in a generally north-to-south direction through Pike, Clark and Montgomery counties on the western side of the
Ouachita River . It is just south of, and runs parallel to, theCaddo River , before flowing into theOuachita River aboveCamden, Arkansas . Its largesttributary is theAntoine River . The river is intermittently navigable to small boats below its confluence with theAntoine River , although it is rarely used.The river is dammed by
Narrows Dam and formsLake Greeson . The upper stretches of the river above Lake Greeson descend 1035 feet in 29 miles for an average drop of 35 feet per mile. This makes the upper waters of the river excellent for experienced canoers. There is a 4.4-mile long segment that has been designated as a wild river. This segment contains the "Winding Stair Rapid" which is classified as a Class IV rapid on theInternational Scale of River Difficulty . Another attraction on the upper river isLittle Missouri Falls , a stair-step fall that attracts photographers and visitors. The upper reaches of the Little Missouri were considered so scenic that the area was once approved by Congress to becomeOuachita National Park , until this action was vetoed by PresidentHerbert Hoover . The watershed of the Little Missouri is quite small, which means that its upper reaches ordinarily contain little water during the dry summer months.The Little Missouri is a superior
fishing stream forrainbow trout ,green sunfish ,longear sunfish ,smallmouth bass ,spotted bass , and other species. The area below the dam at Lake Greeson is most popular for trout fishermen.Portions of the Little Missouri flow through the
Ouachita National Forest , and the lower segment flows past theCrater of Diamonds State Park . The Albert Pike Campground provides camping facilities for visitors to the area.The Little Missouri is listed as a "Wild and Scenic River" by the
United States Forest Service . The upper reaches of the river are designated as an "Arkansas Natural and Scenic River" by the state.History
During the
American Civil War a small battle was fought on the Little Missouri 10 miles north ofPrescott, Arkansas at the Clark-Nevada County line. The battle is called theBattle of the Little Missouri River by the north andBattle of Elkin's Ferry by the south.ee also
*
List of Arkansas rivers External links
* [http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/Lakes/lakegreeson/main.php?page=mainContent Little Missouri River and Lake Greeson]
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