Trukee’s Cabins and Canoe Rentals is providing a one of a kind float trip experience on the beautiful 11 Point River in Arkansas. Trukee’s is located at 7060 US-62, in Pocahontas, Arkansas. For more information or to book your next adventure, click here.

The section of river surrounding Pocahontas is perfect for float trips. There is just enough current to keep you moving but not so much that it becomes dangerous. This is a trip the whole family can enjoy.

My favorite part of kayaking here, was the lack of traffic on the river. So often on rivers like this, there are hundreds of other people out fishing, boating, or enjoying the float trip. During my trip, I was the only one on the river. This was a welcomed change from my trips on the Current and Meramec Rivers.

Trukee’s is currently offering 4 different float trips. So they have something for everyone! The first trip is the Cruiser, this is a 4 mile float that takes between two and four hours! The second is the Day Trip, this is a 10 mile float and takes 5-7 hours.

The more experienced kayaker may enjoy the Long Haul which is a 14 mile float trip that takes between 8-10 hours. For those wanting to test their limits and spend the entire day on the river, they offer the Long Haul Plus, this is a 20 mile trip that last 9 to 11 hours!

With such a beautiful setting and so much adventure to be enjoyed, I suggest booking on of the cabins or even a campsite and staying for a few days. The cabins are first class all the way and the primitive campground is perfect for those who enjoy the great outdoors. My personal favorite cabins are the Hilltop Luxe Cabin and The Shanty. If you are staying in one of the cabins or at the RV Park, Trukees will pick you up at your rental and let you float back! This is a super cool feature, that you don’t find every where.

Planning a date night? Trukee’s currently offers a date night special, that includes dinner and a float trip. They provide full shuttle service. They also have a private beach and pavilion that is available for rent. Just imagine a Saturday with your own private beach!

All an all I really can’t say enough good things about Trukee’s. This is a top notch destination every way you look at it. From the cabins to the float trips, to the customer service and the clean grounds. Everything you could hope for is right here at Trukees.

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With its breathtaking natural beauty and unlimited opportunities for outdoor recreation, a trip to Giant City State Park near Carbondale is sure to delight visitors of all ages. From camping and horseback riding to fishing and rappelling, it’s an outdoor lover’s paradise. Giant City State Park is located at 235 Giant City Road in Makanda Illinois. For more information, click here.

Visitors will marvel at the many hiking trails. Especially popular is the Devil’s StandTable Trail, home of huge sandstone bluffs and unique rock formations. The rock formations found on this trail date back more than 12,000 years.

The Devil’s StandTable Trail is a relatively short hiking trail, checking in at just 1/4 of a mile. However don’t let its size fool you. The Devil’s StandTable is a fantastic hike brimming with caves, overhangs, bluffs and some of the strangest rock formations in the Midwest. This epic trail is just around the corner from the Giant City Nature Trail, you can easily do both of them in one afternoon.

The Devil’s Standtable Trail leads to a unique geologic formation that has dominated the bluff line landscape here for thousands of years. Called by many “the mushroom rock,” this large free-standing pillar of sandstone must have seemed more like a pulpit for the devil to many local folks. Their name for it has stuck, and it remains one of the most interesting geologic features of Giant City State Park.

The immense rock shelter overhang formed because the softer sandstone in the lower part of the bluff eroded faster than the iron or permeated upper layers, forming a ledge, giving protection to the areas below. Prehistoric Native Americans used these caves as homes and, evidence of their activities can be found along the drip line of the bluffs. Small pieces of “chert” or “flint,” the byproducts of tool making, washes out of the ground where water drips from the bluff during rainfall.

As a word of warning the Devil’s StandTable Trail is a rugged hike and caution needs to be taken. Be careful-steep cliffs are dangerous and sandstone can be slippery. Please stay on designated trails. Poison ivy exists on this trail. Copperhead snakes (venomous) hibernate in the sandstone bluffs.

Other trails worth visiting are the Giant City Nature Trail, The Trillium Trail, and the Stone Fort Trail. All of these deserve a visit and offer stunning sites within the park.

If your looking for nearby lodging, click here. If you want to find more hidden gems nearby, click here. For the areas best family activities, click here.

Whitewater Rafting in Jackson Hole

The custom made, state of the art Aire rafts can hold up to 16 people with seats for all types of rafters in this boat. As a lead paddler you can sit in front and meet the waves head-on, or you can sit toward the back next to the guide, enjoy the canyon scenery and not get as wet. With seats in the raft for all preferences, families and groups can’t go wrong with this ride. This is also a great raft for kids, giving them the option to sit in back and get use to the river or getting soaked by sitting in the front and being the “hood ornament” as you go through the waves (a great picture for the Christmas card!). Either way, with the kids sitting in the middle flanked by paddles on each side, they have the most secure spot in the raft. Enjoy views of cliffs, large canyon walls and mountain peaks in the Bridger Teton National Forest in Wyoming as you float. Guided whitewater rafting adventure, Paddle over class II and III rapids. Prepare to get wet! This tour takes about 4 hours and costs $105. For more information or to book your trip, click here.

French Broad Gorge Whitewater Rafting

One of the country’s favorite rafting rivers, experiencing Asheville’s French Broad River is a paddler’s rite of passage. On this guided tour, you’ll raft through four miles of Class II and III rapids, stopping for river dips, taking in the views of the surrounding Pisgah National Forest, and eventually ending with an Asheville tradition: a cold, local craft beer. Easy transfers to and from the French Broad River Life jacket, paddle, and helmet provided. Spend two hours navigating whitewater, rafting through the forest, even stopping for a swim. End your journey with a complimentary cold one! This tour takes about 4 hours and cost $69. For more information or to book this trip, click here.

Ocoee River Rafting Adventure Tour

Get a new perspective on Chattanooga Tennessee with a rafting adventure tour on the Middle Ocoee River. After a safety demonstration, set off on a white water rafting excursion through the scenic Cherokee National Forest. Experience class III and IV rapids as you descend the river gorge. Paddle through the rapids during this exhilarating river adventure. Go white water rafting in the Cherokee National Forest Paddle through rapids on the Middle Ocoee River. Experience the thrill of class III and IV rapids. Explore beyond Chattanooga to see the region’s natural beauty.  This tour takes about 3 hours and costs $55. For more information or to book this trip, click here.

Half Day Whitewater Rafting Trip

Take to the water for an adrenaline-fuelled white-water rafting excursion in the Glacier National Park. Paddle along the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, enjoy a thrilling 8-mile (13-kilometer) route including Class II and II rapids, and admire stunning views of the John Stevens Canyon and the surrounding Glacier National Park. Magnificent views of the Glacier National Park from the water Fun white-water rafting excursion with up to 3.5 hours on the water Tackle Class II and II rapids, including the ‘Bone Crusher’ No experience necessary: full instruction and equipment provided. This trip lasts about 2 and a half hours and costs $80.92. For more information or to book this trip, click here.

The Best Whitewater Rafting

Rafting on the Upper Pigeon River in Tennessee gives you a lasting adrenaline rush without leaving anyone out. First-time white-water rafters and kids 8 and up are welcome to join in on the fun—your guide makes sure you’re taken care of as you get soaked powering over Class III to IV rapids. Upper Pigeon River white-water rafting trip Bring excitement into your day as you handle class III to IV rapids Guide handles tricky navigation so first-time rafters can relax Equipment included: helmets and life jackets get you ready for anything.  This tour takes 2 hours and costs $45.85. For more information or to book this trip, click here.

Bighorn Sheep Canyon Half-Day Rafting

Paddle down the scenic Arkansas River on a half-day rafting adventure through Colorado’s Bighorn Sheep Canyon. Navigate class II and II whitewater rapids with an expert guide, and soak up the beauty of the surrounding high desert landscape, home to an abundance of native wildlife. It’s a great way for families and first-timers to experience one of Colorado’s favorite—and wettest!—outdoor adventure sports. Rafting trip down Bighorn Sheep Canyon Navigate thrilling class II and II whitewater rapids Stop to swim in calm river pools Be surrounded by the beauty of southern Colorado’s high desert landscape Look for wild bighorn sheep and other native wildlife Great adventure for beginning rafters and families with children No experience necessary. This tour takes 3 hours and costs $84. For more information or to book this trip, click here.

Browns Canyon National Monument Whitewater Rafting

Explore Browns Canyon National Monument in Colorado in a thrilling way during this whitewater rafting excursion. A professional guide will lead you through the Arkansas River, as you drift through calm waters and tackle Class III-IV rapids. All skill levels will find that this activity is both fun and manageable no matter your experience with whitewater rafting. Keep your eyes off the water as well; wildlife, dazzling granite rock formations, and mountainous peaks might make an appearance. Raft down Class III and IV rapids on the Arkansas River See a unique view of Browns Canyon National Monument from the water Purchase professional photos of your rafting experience This guided activity is appropriate for all skill levels. This tour lasts 5 hours and costs $95. For more information or to book this trip, click here.

Deschutes River Rafting

Crash through the rapids on a whitewater rafting trip with your friends or family. This Deschutes River tour in Oregon is an exhilarating full day adventure. Enjoy exciting rapids, deep canyons, placid pools, and a delicious barbecue lunch. No prior experience is necessary; professional guides support you every step of the way. Enjoy the excitement of rafting the rapids and swimming in clear pools Marvel at the wild and scenic Deschutes River Eat a filling lunch of barbecue, fruits, and vegetables Make memories when you purchase photos of the day’s adventures (your expense) This tour lasts 3 hours and 30 minutes and costs $75. For more information or to book this trip, click here.

White-water Rafting Adventure on the Menominee River

Paddle the Menominee River on a white-water rafting trip that includes two exciting runs through the Piers Gorge rapids. A mix of flat water and more adventurous Class IV rapids makes this Menominee River white water rafting trip a good fit for families with all ages and experience levels, with a river guide to steer the raft through waves, holes, and ripples. Two runs through Piers Gorge mean even more whitewater Pass towering cliffs on the Michigan–Wisconsin border Group size limited to eight people for personal service Convenient shuttle service cuts down on time in the car. This tour lasts 3 hours and costs $58. For more information or to book this trip, click here.

Lower New River Whitewater Rafting Trip

Navigate a mix of whitewater rapids and lazy stretches of river during this half-day guided rafting experience in West Virginia. Work as a team to maintain balance and steer. Listen to stories about the area’s natural scenery and coal mining towns. A boxed picnic lunch by the river is included, plus free time to swim, float, or jump off rocks. A half-day guided whitewater rafting excursion in West Virginia with boxed lunch Safety instructions and equipment is included, plus transportation to the river site Float and paddle down the New River—a mix of adventure and stunning scenery Enjoy a tasty deli-style lunch on the riverbank, with time to swim and relax. This trip lasts 5 hours and costs $130.77. For more information or to book this trip, click here.

With its breathtaking natural beauty and unlimited opportunities for outdoor recreation, a trip to Giant City State Park near Carbondale is sure to delight visitors of all ages. From camping and horseback riding to fishing and rappelling, it’s an outdoor lover’s paradise. Giant City State Park is located at 235 Giant City Road in Makanda Illinois. For more information, click here.

Visitors will marvel at the many hiking trails. Especially popular is the Giant City Nature Trail, home of the “Giant City Streets” – huge bluffs of sandstone formed 12,000 years ago.

The Giant City Nature Trail is one of the best not only at Giant City State Park but also within the entire Midwest. This 1 mile hike is the essence of the word short but sweet!

While the trail is only a mile in length, you will still spend a fair amount of time on the trail. It took me nearly two hours to complete. There is just so much to see and explore, you could spend hours climbing around.

The Giant City Nature Trail is one of my favorite trails I have hiked however it can be dangerous as well. Be careful-steep cliffs are dangerous and sandstone can be slippery. Please stay on designated trails. Poison ivy exists on this trail. Copperhead snakes (venomous) hibernate in the sandstone bluffs.

The trail has some amazing features including: caves, balanced rock, towering bluffs, huge trees, and countless rock formations! The highlight of the trail is no doubt the Giant City Streets. Traversing through these streets is an adventure all its own.

As you walk through the rich Oak-Hickory woodland, try to imagine the daunting task that the pioneers had to make the
massive timber disappear. Some of the larger trees that once stood here had girths of up to eight feet and stood to heights of 150 feet. Clearing the land to till the soil was hard work, especially because only a few of the smaller trees were needed to build the log cabins and split rail fences. Most of the smaller trees were piled up and burned because of this. The trees around you are less than 150 years old, and mere saplings when compared to the older virgin trees of an uncut forest.

At the end of the long wooden walkway you will catch your first glimpse of the park’s namesake. You have reached the “giant city streets.” Notice how the height of the bluff walls and trees on top force the trees in the valley to grow above them to reach sunlight and branch out. Also, notice the temperature changes in the deeper narrow “streets.” This huge hill of sandstone rests on Drury shale, which breaks easily and is slippery. Past earth movements and the melt water of glaciers some 12,000 years ago have aided the sliding of sandstone on the slippery shale to leave narrow canyons between the bluffs. Some geologists also suggest that slightly acidic rainwater is eroding the sandstone walls and is the cause of these passageways. A Visitor’s Center display explores these theories in more depth.

Pioneers had not seen skyscrapers, so these sheer bluffs seemed like the “streets of a giant city” to them. Imagine a walk through here when black bears and mountain lions hunted these hillsides (black bears disappeared from Illinois in 1822 and mountain lions disappeared later in the century). Many weary travelers must have enjoyed the protection of these walls from the wind and weather.

Weather its for the historical significance, the natural beauty, or just spending time in nature. Do yourself a favor a hike this trail, this is an experience you won’t soon forget and you will be hard pressed to find a better trail system.

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Big Spring was one of Missouri’s first state parks. It was a state park from 1924 until 1969 when the people of Missouri donated it, along with Alley and Round Spring State Parks to the National Park Service to become a part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. A gift from Missouri to America.  Big Spring is located four miles south of Van Buren at the end of State Route 103. For more information, click here.

The Big Spring area contains the Big Spring of course, but also a campground, a picnic area, a dining lodge, trails and housekeeping cabins. The park is also loaded with caves, rocky bluffs and numerous scenic sites!

The Big Spring is sometimes called America’s biggest spring. In reality there are three contenders for that title: Big Spring, Idaho’s Snake River Spring Complex and Florida’s Silver Spring. Since the flow from springs varies with local rainfall, any of these three might be biggest on any given day depending on the weather in Missouri, Idaho and Florida! The truth is they are all about the same size.

In any case, at an average daily flow of 286 million gallons of water, Big Spring is an awesome sight and a geologic wonder. Underground passages carry water from as far as 45 miles away to emerge at the spring. Studies have shown that the water is carrying a load of dissolved limestone equivalent to 70 tons a day! This dissolved rock gives the spring its color and is also carving out a huge conduit underground. Should the spring ever go dry, a huge cave will be the result.

The spring can be seen from the parking area, and a wheelchair accessible walkway leads right to it. The accessible Slough Trail is nearby, along with several other trails that are not suitable for wheelchairs.

Big Spring Campground has sites for tents as well as RVs. Some have electric hook-ups and some do not. There are no water or sewer hook-ups, but a dump station is located nearby. During the warmer months reservations are recommended for electric sites. www.recreation.gov. Rangers present campfire programs on weekend evenings in the campground amphitheater during the summer. Various special events are held near the spring as well. Check out our calendar page for details on special events.

Picnic Areas are located throughout the area, with tables and grills. There are two picnic shelters, Big Spring Shelter, located near the Spring and Peavine Shelter, located near the campground, that can be reserved.

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