The Kiamichi River begins on Pine Mountain in eastern Le Flore County near the Arkansas border and flows about 165 miles in a south-southwest direction to the Red River on the Texas border. Its name derives from the French word for "waterbird". Along its path the Kiamichi River flows through Hugo Lake, which was formed by a flood control dam built about 7 miles east of the Town of Hugo and just north of the confluence of the Red River.
The uppermost reach of the Kiamichi begins between SH 88 and SH 63 just west of Mena, Arkansas along the Oklahoma-Arkansas border, then flows under SH 63 down to US Highway 259 near Big Cedar in the Ouachita National Forest. The river forms just a few miles north of the headwaters of the Mountain Fork River, and follows an almost parallel course as it winds its way through the Kiamichi Mountains of Le Flore County. Between the K River and the Mountain Fork flows the Little River. The Kiamichi is rated Class II to III on a gradient of about 30 fpm amid beautiful forested banks and boulder garden rapids. Though not perpetual, the K River usually has an adequate flow for paddlers to enjoy other than in the dead of summer or during periods of extended drought conditions. It flows moderately swift, and paddlers should have at least intermediate level whitewater skills to safely run the stream because of its remote nature and the potential for pinning and/or wrapping. The area is very scenic, so bring a camera. The next time you are heading to the Upper Mountain Fork you might want to take a little longer and drive to the K River for a closer inspection. You might just discover a hidden gem in the Ouachitas that will make you return again.
Le Flore County in Southeastern Oklahoma, near the Arkansas border in the Kiamichi Mountains chain of the Ouachita Mountains. Fort Smith, Arkansas is about 90 minutes to the northeast, McAlester, Oklahoma is about an hour to the west northwest and Dallas, Texas is about 3 hours to the southwest.
Oklahoma City 220 miles; Dallas 280 miles; Austin 470 miles; San Antonio 550 miles; Houston 403 miles; Fort Smith 90 miles; Little Rock 180 miles; Kansas City 400 miles; Denver 845 miles; Grand Junction 1,039 miles; Albuquerque 762 miles; Phoenix 1,200 miles; Salt Lake City 1,321 miles (all distance are approximate depending upon starting point, destination at the river put-in and route taken).
Water quality will generally be good to very good because of a lack of commercial development. Like all Oklahoma streams, the Kiamichi River is highly dependent upon local rainfall for adequate flow. However, it is usually navigable though some dragging or carrying may be required except in August and September, when the hot, summer season has lowered its flow substantially.
The optimum season for the Upper Kiamichi River is March through June or October through November. The river has a near perpetual season that can be paddled anytime adequate water conditions and weather allow, though some dragging or carrying may be required in low water conditions.
The Upper Kiamichi River has several Class II-III rapids on a gradient of about 30 fpm. Boulder gardens can produce small standing waves and haystacks with cross currents, eddies, pourovers, small holes and similar hazards to navigation that can bite a boater who is not careful, especially at higher flows. Generally, boaters should have intermediate or higher level whitewater skills to safely paddle canoes or kayaks on the K River. Hazards are minimal for competent boaters.
Put in off SH 88 above SH 63 near the Oklahoma-Arkansas Border west of Mena, Arkansas at 0.0 miles; Take out below the US Highway 259 bridge bear Big Cedar, Oklahoma at about 7.0 miles. There are no other access points for this reach of the Upper Kiamichi River.
K River Campground (580-298-2442) offers riverside camping and recreational activities, a warm-water bathhouse, swimming pool, RV sites, dump station and other amenities. There are no other known campgrounds operating on the Kiamichi River.
K River Campground (580-298-2442) offers canoe rentals and shuttle services. There are no other known liveries or shuttle services operating on the Kiamichi River.
The Kiamichi River is one of those little-known and less often paddled rivers that deserves more recognition than it will ever get, and that is probably a good thing for boaters who want to enjoy this beautiful stream without contending for space with throngs of others. The Lower K River is starting to gain some recognition from paddlers in Oklahoma and North Texas, but the upper river is still a virtually undiscovered gem in the Ouachita National Forest on the Oklahoma-Arkansas border. It offers Class II to III boulder garden rapids on a gorgeous Kiamichi Mountains waterway lined with dense stands of forest and natural plantlife. Wildlife and birdlife are abundant, and the river has a near-perpetual flow, so canoeists and kayakers can paddle here almost anytime other than the dead of summer or the middle of winter. It is about 3.5 hours east of Oklahoma City and 4-5 hours from Dallas, in the general vicinity of the Upper Mountain Fork and Glover Rivers, two other southeastern Oklahoma whitewater streams. This short 7 mile run can be extended by paddling another 5 miles below US Highway 259 to Muse, or 9 miles further to Whitesboro, both along SH 63, for those who just don't get enough river time on 7 miles of river.
