>> FLOATING THE BUFF BLOW RIVER, AMERICA'S RIVER IS QUITE A THRILL IN ITSELF BUT WHEN YOU'RE 88 IT BECOMES EVEN A MORE SPECIAL LOCATION.

>> WOW!

YEAH.

THIS IS NICE.

WOW!

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

>> A TRIP DOWN THE BUFFALO HAS BEEN MILLIE CALHOUN'S DREAM FOR A LONG TIME SO WHEN SHE WROTE US AND ASKED IF WE COULD PUT HER INTO TOUCH WITH AN OUTFITTER WE KNEW IT WAS WOULD BE A TRIP OF A LIFETIME.

>> OH MY, GORGEOUS.

WOW!

>> [INAUDIBLE] >> MILI'S DESIRE WAS TO FLOAT THE UPURE PORTION OF THE BUFFALO SO WE HOOKED HER UP WITH MIKE MILLS FROM THE BUFFALO OUTDOOR CENTER FROM PONCA.

>> IT'S EASIER THAN THE TRAIL.

I AM GLAD THERE IS ONLY ONE PADDLING BECAUSE THAT MEANS IT WILL TAKE LONGER.

>> WELL, ACTUALLY I'M NOT DOING A WHOLE LOT.

THE RIVER IS JUST MOVING US ALONG.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT A FLOAT TRIP.

>> IT'S REALLY WILD OUT HERE.

>> YES, MA'AM.

THIS IS ABOUT AS CLOSE TO WILDERNESS IN ARKANSAS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET.

>> LOOK AT THAT.

>> ISN'T IT AMAZING WHEN THEY MADE THIS THE FIRST NATIONAL RIVER AND JUST LIKE YOU SEE TODAY YOU HAVE FAMILIES AND KIDS AND ADULTS, AND THEY'RE ALL ABLE TO GO DOWN THIS PART OF THE RIVER BECAUSE IT'S NOT THAT DANGEROUS, AND IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.

>> YEAH.

>> AND I MEAN YOU'RE ONE OF THE LUCKIEST PEOPLE I KNOW BECAUSE A WEEK AGO IT WAS TOO LOW TO CANOE.

>> OH DEAR.

>> AND WE GOT A FEW INCHES OF RAIN AND BRINGS THE RIVER UP LIKE IT IS AND REALLY NICE FLOATING.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

WHEN IS YOUR USUAL HIGH WATER STUFF?

>> IT'S USUALLY IN MAY OR APRIL.

ALTHOUGH IT CAN HAPPEN IN NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T EVER SEE THE BARN UP THERE.

SEE IT ON TOP THERE.

LOOK UP.

>> OH BOY.

THAT'S SOME REAL WHITE WATER NOW.

>> HEY.

THAT'S WHAT MOST PEOPLE COME FOR.

THEY DON'T WANT TOO MUCH, JUST A LITTLE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S GREAT.

DOES IT EVER GET WARM ENOUGH TO DO THIS IN AN INNER TUBE.

>> WELL , WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT'S LIKE THAT IT'S SHALLOW AND YOU HAVE TO WALK ACROSS IN AREAS AND WHEN IT'S THAT WARM YOU GET ALGAE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER AND IT'S SLIEK AND THEY'RE YOU'RE WALKING ON THAT AND THEY PLAY WITH INNERTUBES AS FAR AS THE SWIMMING HOLES AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.

THERE WOULD BE SOME FISH IN THIS POOL BECAUSE OF THE ROCKS THERE JUST BELOW A RAPID.

THE FISH WOULD BE THERE BEHIND THE ROCKS AND THE ETY OF THE ROCKS AND WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO COME THROUGH.

NOW, WE WILL GO THIS WAY SO WE CAN LOOK AT ALL THOSE BLUFFS.

>> WOW!

>> THAT'S A LOT OF ROCK.

SEE THE NATURAL COLOR OF THE BLUFF IS THAT LIGHT COLOR.

THAT'S LIME STONE AND THE STAINS ARE MADE WHAT THE WATER COMES THROUGH AND THIS IS A GREAT PLACE AND SEE THE COLOR AND WHERE IT RUNS OFF A LITTLE AND THE BROWN WHERE IT RUNS OFF A LOT.

>> UNBELIEVABLE.

>> SPEAKING OF BLUFFS ALONG THIS STRETCH BETWEEN STEEL STEEL AND KYLES LANDING HAPPENS TO BE THE TALLEST BLUFF IN AMERICA SIMPLY CALLED BIG BLUFF.

>> ABOUT 525 FEET TALL AND THEN IF YOU SEE THE RED STRIPE ABOUT 3/4 UP THAT IS THE GOAT TRAIL.

CAN YOU SEE THE LEDGE AND IT LOOKS 4-5 FOOT THICK BUT IT'S MORE LIKE 10-12 FOOT AND THAT'S WHERE THEY WALK RIGHT THERE AND IT KEEPS GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER AND BIGGER.

>> THAT'S A WATERFALL WE HEAR?

>> YEAH.

>> ANOTHER AREA ALONG THIS SECTION OF RIVER THAT IS WORTH WHILE TO STOP AND EXPLORE IS BEAR CAVE HOLLOW FALLS.

>> IT JUST KEEPS DOING THIS.

>> YEAH, IT'S GORGEOUS.

>> MORE AND MORE.

>> IT'S GORGEOUS.

>> THIS IS CALLED BEAR CAVE HOLLOW AND AT THE TOP THERE ARE CAVES WHERE THE BEAR STAY.

RIGHT HERE IT'S THE WATERFALLS THAT ARE SO PRETTY.

>> THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.

>> AND SO AS THE WATER FLOWED THE BIRDS SANG THE BUFFALO NATIONAL RIVER ENVELOPED 88 YEAR YOUNG MILLIE CALHOUN INTO AN UNFORGETTABLE PIECE FOR AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME.

>> SO PEOPLE JUST SHOW UP THERE WITHOUT ANY INSTRUCTION AND ANYTHING AND RENT SOMETHING AND GO OUT?

>> YES, MA'AM.

IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY.

>> WELL MILI, TELL US WHAT YOU THINK?

>> I THINK IT'S A GRANDEST TRIP JUST TO KNOW THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO HURRY.

YOU'RE JUST HERE.

IT'S ALL BEAUTIFUL.

>> DID YOU EVER THINK THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE THIS SPECTACULAR?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT I THOUGHT.

I DIDN'T KNOW I WOULD HAVE SUCH GOOD GUIDES AND PEOPLE ON THE SIDE TO HELP DO EVERYTHING.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE TRIP WONDERFUL.

>> NOW, YOU HAD -- WHEN WE FIRST TALKED ABOUT THIS YOU HAD MENTIONED GOING IN A JOHN BOAT.

>> YES.

>> SO YOU REALLY DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE GOING IN A CANOE.

>> WE SPRUNG THAT ON YOU.

>> I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE COME UP QUITE SO QUICKLY.

>> YEAH, FIRST TIME IN A CANOE.

>> AT GIRL SCOUT CAMP THEY TRIED TO TEACH US TO PADDLE AND THAT WAS A FAILURE.

>> YEAH.

>> I LOVE THE WAY THE COLORS RUN DOWN THE BLUFF.

IT'S JUST -- AND THEN SOME HAVE MILLIONS OF LITTLE HOLES IN IT, AND THERE IS NO PLACE FOR SOME PLACES FOR DIRT BUT TREES GROW ANYWAY.

IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE HOW NATURE KEEPS COMPETEING.

>> I TELL A LOT OF PEOPLE AND MIKE MILLS DOES TOO AND YOU COME HERE AND YOU REALIZE WHY THIS WAS CHOSEN AS AMERICA'S FIRST NATIONAL RIVER AND MIKE MILLS TELLS EVERYBODY "WELCOME TO HEAVEN".

>> IT'S TRUE.

>> YOU KNOW CHUCK WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE POSTCARD DAYS, WHITE PUFFY CLOUDS, BEAUTIFUL TEMPERATURE.

MILLIE CALHOUN MAY BE 88 YEARS OLD BUT SHE'S 20 IN HER SOUL AND SHE SAID "I DON'T KNOW WHEN I WILL GET RID OF THE PEACE TODAY" AND I BELIEVE HER.

SHE SOAK TODAY UP AND TOOTS WHAT THE NATIONAL RIVER DOES TO YOU.

>> I THINK THE LORD HAD FUN PUTTING THIS STUFF TOGETHER.

LOOK AT THAT.

OH BOY.

HOW MANY MORE MILES DO I HAVE?

>> OH ABOUT FIVE, FOUR AND A HALF, FIVE.

>> GOOD.

>> IF YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THAT PERFECT PLACE TO GO TUBING THAT HAS SOME REALLY NEAT RAPIDS THAT ARE PERFECTLY SAFE BY THE WAY IT'S RECOMMEND THE WHITEWATER RECREATION PARK JUST SOUTH OF SILOAM SPRINGS.

>> WE WILL GO DOWN THE RAPIDS AND WE FLIP A MILLION TIMES, AND -- WELL, THIS ONE IS FUN BECAUSE YOU FLIP A LOT, AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T GET UP BUT YOU CAN.

>> THE WATER IS REALLY FUN HERE AS FAR AS YOU GO UNDER BUT LIKE YOU SAID YOU POP RIGHT BACK UP.

>> YEAH.

I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND GOING WITH NOTHING BECAUSE YOU -- >> AT LEAST WITH A LIFE JACKET.

>> YEAH.

>> WITH A TUBE IT'S EVEN BETTER.

>> YEAH.

>> WE HAVE BEEN COMING DOWN HERE EVER SINCE THEY OPENED IT, AND WE HAVE BEEN ENJOYING THE RAPIDS.

IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO GET VERY CLOSE TO THEM WHILE AS THEY'RE GOING DOWN YOU CAN -- YOU WATCH THEM LAUGH AND PLAY AS THEY'RE GOING DOWN THE RAPIDS AND THERE'S A LOT OF AREAS THAT YOU CAN NOT ONLY HAVE THE RAPIDS BUT THEY CAN ENJOY SWIMMING AND LAYING OUT IN THE SUN AND VISITING WITH THEIR FRIENDS.

>> AND THE BEAUTY ABOUT THIS EVEN THOUGH IT'S MAN-MADE ENGINEERED BUT IT'S NATURAL.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

THERE'S A LOT OF SHALLOW PARTS.

THERE ARE DEEP PARTS AND I THINK THEY HAVE GOT SEVERAL AREAS WHERE THE KIDS CAN GO DOWN WITH THE TUBES AND HAVE THE KAYAK AREAS WHETHER ADVANCED OR A NEW SWIMMER, I THINK EITHER WAY YOU CAN ENJOY IT.

>> WHAT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE THOUGH AND APPRECIATED IS WHAT THIS PARK OFFERS FOR WHITE WATER KAYAKING ENTHUSIASTS.

THAT'S PROVEN TO BE THE IDEAL TRAINING GROUND FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS.

>> WELL, THE PARK HAS BEEN ENGINEERED IN A WAY TO HELP PLAY BOATERS AND CREEK AND RIVER BOATERS TO IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS.

THIS IS ENGINEERED SO YOU CAN PRACTICE YOUR SURF AND FERRYING AND ANY ACTIVITY FOR THE KAYAKERS AND OPEN BOATERS SO IT'S A GREAT PARK FOR ANY KIND OF LEARNING.

I HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR TWO MONTHS AND I LIVE CLOSE BY SO I HAVE GOTTEN A YEAR'S WORTH OF PADDLING HERE.

>> YOU COULD DO IT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR?

>> YEAH.

OBVIOUSLY THE WATER IS COLDER AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR BUT MOST OF THE BOATERS FROM THE AREA -- THERE ARE PEOPLE COMING FROM HUNDREDS OF MILES AROUND TO THIS PARK AND PLAY AREA AND THEY HAVE THE DRY SUITS ON AND OUT IN JANUARY AND TESTING THE WAVES FOR THE ENGINEERS AND GETTING THE SKILLS UP.

ANY TIME OF THE YEAR IT WILL ALLOW SOME FORM OF LEARNING WITHBOATS.

>> I WENT THROUGH THE NATURAL FISHER FORD BEFORE THEY STARTED CONSTRUCTION AND IT WAS ABOUT A 1 FOOT DROP OFF AND THEN A 3-FOOT DROP OFF NATURALLY AND IT'S JUST A BLAST AND I KNEW THEY WERE COMING IN TO DO THIS AND IMPROVED IT SO DRAMATICALLY.

CAN YOU SEE RIGHT HERE AND PLAY ALL DAY LONG.

I HAVE THREE DIFFERENT KAYAKS BUT I CAN COME HERE AND DON'T HAVE TO SHUTTLE BOATS AND HAVE SOMEONE PICK ME UP AT THE OTHER END.

I CAN COME HERE AND STAY ALL DAY LONG.

IT'S GOING TO GROW AND GROW.

KAYAKING HAS GROWN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

THE EQUIPMENT IS AMAZING.

AS CAN YOU SEE I TURNED OVER A FEW TIMES TODAY.

THIS IS A NEW BOAT FOR ME.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.

I DO IT ALL YEAR ROUND.

WE GET THE RAINS AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS AND DOWN SOUTH SO I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT HONING MY SKILLS HERE AND LEARNING HOW TO PROTECT MYSELF AND BE SAFE SO THAT WHEN I DO HIT THE BIG WATER I'M NOT UPSIDE DOWN TALL THE TIME.

>> WELL, IF YOU CAN DO THE CASSIA DAYOU'RE BETTER THAN ME.

>>I WILL DO IT.

THAT'S MY GOAL.

>> WELL, I THINK THE ENTIRE SITE IS FAR MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN I EXPECTED IT TO BE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I EXPECTED.

I WAS OUT HERE BEFORE THEY MADE THIS TRANSFORMATION AND IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THE PEOPLE ENJOYING THE SPACE WITH THEIR FAMILIES SWIMMING AND SOME WENT DOWN -- WHICH I DIDN'T EXPECT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING AND SOME FLOATING WITH KAYAKS AND TUBES AND IT'S A NEAT PLACE.

>> IT'S THE WHOLE ARRAY OF WHITE WATER ACTION HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I CAN SEE THERE IS EXCITEMENT FOR ADVANCED BOATERS AND PEOPLE JUST STARTING OUT IN KAYAKS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND NOT UNLIKE MYSELF AND MY 10 YEAR OLD SON WHO IS HERE SO I THINK IT HOLDS A LOTS OF EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE AND WE WILL SEE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE OUT HERE.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW NOW I COULDN'T RESIST BORROWING A TUBE AND ENJOYING THE RAPIDS MYSELF AND HOP ON AND LET US TAKE YOU DOWN WITH US.

>> OH YEAH!

>> GREAT.

ALL IN A DAY'S WORK AT THE OFFICE.

THE LONG POOL CAMPGROUND AND RECREATION AREA NORTH OF RUSSELLVILLE NEAR DOVER IS ONE OF THOSE PLACES THAT IS POPULAR THE WHOLE YEAR ROUND.

DURING THE SUMMERTIME HUGE BOLDERS SERVING AS DIVING PLATFORMS AND THE COOL WATER OF BIG PINEY CREEK MAKE FOR A PERFECT SWIMMING HOLE.

>> I LIKE TO JUMP OFF THE ROCK OVER THERE BECAUSE IT'S DEEP ENOUGH.

YOU WON'T HIT ANYTHING.

YOU CAN GO AROUND AND NOT -- >> JUST ENJOY -- THE NATS ARE NO EXTRA CHARGE.

>> YOU CAN JUMP OFF THE ROCK IF YOU'RE SCARED.

IT'S NOT THAT HIGH TO CLIMB.

IT'S KIND OF HARD BUT THERE ARE LITTLE STEP THINGS YOU CAN STEP ON AND GET UP AND THERE IS THIS RAPID THING OVER THERE AND A RAPID SWELLING STREAM AND IT WILL PULL YOU BUT YOU CAN GRAB ON TO ROCKS.

THAT'S WHAT ME AND HIM WERE DOING EARLIER AND IT'S JUST REALLY FUN HERE.

>> WE'RE ABOUT FIVE OR SIX TIMES WE'RE HERE.

MY KIDS LOVE TO JUMP OFF THE ROCK AND EVERYTHING AND COME OUT AND SWIM.

THE WATER IS ALWAYS CLEAN AND PRETTY.

IT'S NICE AND COOL, JUST A NICE PLACE TO SWIM.

THE WATER IS DEEP ENOUGH.

YOU CAN WADE IF YOU WANT TO.

THERE ARE RAPIDS THAT DON'T GET OUT OF HAND.

MY KIDS LOVE IT.

IT'S MAINLY FOR THEM.

I GET OUT A LITTLE BIT.

THE ROCK HAS DEEP ENOUGH WATER THAT THEY CAN JUMP AND THERE IS NO PROBLEM.

>> AND PAST THE RAPIDS YOU CAN FISH.

THEY DON'T ALLOW FISHING HERE BY THE SWIMMING AREA.

>> YEAH, THERE ARE SIGNS AND WHERE YOU CAN FISH AND NO ALCOHOL AND I LIKE THAT TOO AND KEEPS THINGS SETTLED DOWN FOR MY KIDS WHILE THEY'RE HERE.

>> SINCE LONG POOL IS ONE OF THE MAIN ACCESS POINTS FOR BIG PINEY CREEK KAYAKERS AND CANOERSES ALSO MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE SWIMMING HOLE AREA.

AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER DOWN STREAM FROM THE SWIMMING AREA PAST THE RAPIDS IS WHERE YOU CAN THROW A LINE IN AND DO A LITTLE FISHING.

>> LONG POOL IS LIKE MT.

NEBO AND THERE IS NO WATER IN MT.

NEBO AND IN THE SUMMERTIME WE LIKE WATER AND WE LOOK FOR NATURAL SWIMMING HOLES AND SOMEBODY HOLD US ABOUT LONG POOL EIGHT YEARS AGO AND WE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES.

IT'S REALLY PRETTY.

IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO JUMP OFF THE ROCKS.

MY SON TALKS ABOUT IT AND COMING BACK; RIGHT?

HE CAME -- HE ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT COMING BACK HERE.

LEXY, WHY DO YOU LIKE IT?

>> I LIKE JUMPING OFF THE ROCKS AND THE CLIFFS AND I LIKE ROLLER COASTERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> YOU'RE THE HIGH ADVENTURE ONE, THE DARE DEVIL ONE.

>> YEAH.

>> SO GET OUT AND EXPLORE FOR YOURSELF THE LONG POOL CAMPGROUND AND RECREATION AREA IN THE OZARK NATIONAL FOREST NEAR DOVER AND FOR INFORMATION ON THIS EPISODE OR OTHERS GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT AETN.ORG/EXPLORINGARKANSAS AND DON'T FORGET TO LIKE US ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN FOR ANOTHER EXCITING ADVENTURE OF "EXPLORING ARKANSAS".