>> TAKE A SURF BOARD AND A PADDLE AND WHAT YOU HAVE THE LATEST CRAZE IN WATER SPORTS, STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING.

>> NOW BECAUSE THERE'S A DORSAL FIN ON THE UNDERNEATH OF THIS BOARD THAT ALLOW US TO GO STRAIGHT.

OKAY.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO PADDLE ON ONE SIDE AND ONCE ON THE OTHER.

YOU CAN PADDLE MULTIPLE TIMES ON ONE SIDE.

>> WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY OUT THIS UNIQUE WAY OF EXPLORING ARKANSAS ON WATER AT BEAVER LAKE IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

>> FOLLOW ME.

THERE YOU GO.

>> OUR INSTRUCTOR MELODY ELLIOTT, A FORMER HAWAII GIRL HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING SINCE ITS BEGINNING.

>> IT CAME ABOUT 2004 KIND OF STRONG BUT NOT REAL STRONG IN HAWAII.

YOU WOULD SEE A LOT OF THE GUYS STARTING OUT ON A LIFEGUARD BOARD JUST PADDLING AROUND AND TAKING PICTURES AND ANYTIME WE DID RESCUE, OCEAN RESCUE OFF ONE OF THE BOATS WE WOULD USE THE LIFEGUARD BOARDS BECAUSE IT'S A LONG BOARD AND FLUID AND YOU CAN STAND IT WITHOUT A WAVE SO WE WOULD TAKE PICTURES OF OUR TOURISTS SNORKELING JUST HAVING A GREAT TIME IN THE OCEAN AND WHEN WE ACTUALLY LEFT THE ISLAND AFTER BEING IN TOURISM I WAS KIND OF MISSING THAT FEEL OF INTERACTING WITH CUSTOMERS AND DOING THAT ALL DAY LONG BECAUSE YOU'RE PART OF FAMILIES.

I WAS OUT HERE ON BEAVER LAKE AND PLAYING ON THE BOARD AND PEOPLE WOULD SAY "WHAT IS THAT?

LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE WALKING ON WATER" AND THEY WANTED TO LEARN AND I GOT THAT FEELING OH MY GOSH THIS IS WHAT I AM SUPPOSED TO DO IN THE NEXT CHAPTER OF MY LIFE.

IT'S NOT LIKE SURFING REALLY.

THERE IS A BALANCE THERE, BUT YOUR FEET AREN'T ONE IN FRONT OF THE OTHER WHEN SURFING AND YOU ALSO DON'T NEED A WAVE TO DO THE STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING SO THEY'RE BUTTANT AND MORE THAT THE FEET ARE PARALLEL WITH ONE ANOTHER.

>> ONCE YOU BECOME PROFICIENT AT STANDING UP ON THE PADDLE BOARD YOU CAN TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL IF YOU SO DESIRE WHICH IS YOGA ON A PADDLE BOARD.

>> OH MY GOSH.

>> YES, WE DO YOGA ON THE BOARD.

IT'S CALLED SUP YEAR'S AGOA, A NEW TREND.

THIS STYLE OF PADDLE BOARDING HAS BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS NOW AND IT'S ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE GROWING SPORTS AND HAS BEEN AND IT'S GOING INTO A WHOLE THING OF THIS FORM OF YOGA AND THAT IS BLOWING UP.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REALLY GETTING INTO THAT.

THEY WANT MORE ADVENTURE AND MOVE TO THE WATER.

>> I WAS EXPECTING TO BE MORE FAMILIAR WITH ME BECAUSE I GREW UP ON A SURF BOARD BUT IT'S DIFFERENT.

THE WATER KEEPS YOU MOVING CONSTANTLY AND I TRIED TO GET MY FEET STEADY AND LIKE SHE SAID TO YOUR SHOULDERS, WHICH IS A LITTLE WIDE AND MAKES YOU SHAKY AND DIFFERENT FROM OTHER BOARDS AND DON'T EXPECT THAT WHEN YOU GET ON IT BUT AS FAR AS LEARNING IT I THINK IT'S A EASY PROCESS TO LEARN.

THE INSTRUCTION IS SHORT AND SIMPLE AND SOMEONE IS TELLING YOU WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND ONCE I FORGET YOU SHOULDN'T FORGET SOMETHING EASY, AND IT'S JUST THE WATER, YOU KNOW, LITTLE WAVES PICK UP A LITTLE BIT YOU GET A LITTLE SHAKY ON IT, BUT THE WATER YOU HAVE TO MOVE LIKE SHE WAS TELLING US.

I FIND IT EASY IF YOU'RE WILLING TO LEARN IT, NOT OVERLY EASY, NOT SOMETHING I WOULD SEE SOMEONE JUMPING ON AND DOING EASILY, BUT IF YOU HAVE A GOOD INSTRUCTOR DEFINITELY.

>> YOU KNOW IT WAS ACTUAL LEEWAY EASIER THAN WHAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

SOME OF MY FRIENDS HAD GOTTEN A PADDLE BOARD OVER THE SUMMER AND THEY'RE LIKE "YOU SHOULD TRY IT."

I DON'T WANT TO TRY IT.

IT LOOKS REALLY HARD BUT THANKFULLY I HAD A GREAT INSTRUCTOR AND SHE MADE IT SUPER EASY.

ONCE YOU LEARN IT ONCE IT'S EASY TO KEEP DOING.

>> KIND OF A WAY TO ENJOY THE LAKE AND THE OUT DOORS.

>> YEAH, IT'S VERY THERAPEUTIC.

IF YOU'RE STRESSED OUT DEFINITELY WHERE I WOULD WANT TO GO AND IT'S PEACEFUL OUT THERE AND I KIND OUT YOU COULD DO YOGA SESSIONS ON IT AND WHAT IS BETTER THAN THAT DOING YOGA ON THE LAKE ON A PADDLE BOARD?

>> BEACH BOYS MUSIC).

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> THAT WAS AWESOME.

GREAT.

VERY WELL WELL DONE.

>> THOSE OF YOU WHO ENJOY COMING TO EUREKA SPRINGS AND WOULD LIKE TO PARTAKE IN MOUNTAIN BIKING ADVENTURE THERE ARE TRAILS AROUND WOOD WOOD AND A POPULAR ONE IS ROCK TRAIL AND FOLLOW US AROUND AND WE WILL SHOW YOU WHY IT'S CALLED THAT.

>> I WAS INVITED HERE WITH THE OZARK OFF-ROAD CYCLISTS IN 1998, 99 TO PRODUCE A MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE ON SOME OF THE EXISTING TRAILS AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE STRUCK A DEAL TO DO SOME MAINTENANCE AND START BUILDING NEW TRAILS THROUGH THE PARK, AND THAT'S THE WAY MINER'S ROCK TRAIL AND MANY OF THE OTHER TRAILS CAME ABOUT LIKE LEATHER WOOD AND OUR EFFORT WITH THE OFF ROAD CYCLISTS.

>> OF COURSE THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE ENTIRE 3-MILE TRAIL IS MINERS' ROCK ITSELF.

>> I I THINK THE MOST INTERESTING THING THIS IS A STONE MADE OF SAND STONE CONTRARY TO THE OTHER STONE AROUND HERE WHICH IS LIME STONE AND CHERET THROUGH THE IONS OF RECEDING OCEANS THROUGH THE MILLIONS OF YEARS SOMEHOW THIS SAND STONE DEPOSIT REMAINED WHILE THE OTHER LIME STONE WORE AWAY AND YOU HAVE MINER'S ROCK WITH THIS INTERESTING SHAPE.

I THINK SOME PEOPLE CALL IT THE WAVE ROCK AND IT'S A FRIENDLY SPOT FOR LOCAL CLISMERS.

>> AND LIKE THE SHOWER NOW YOU CAMP OUT FOR A WHILE AND THEN GO ON.

>> BESIDES MINER'S ROCK THERE ARE INTERESTING FEATURES ALONG THE TRAIL.

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A POPULAR TRAIL FOR MOUNTAIN BIKES BECAUSE MUCH OF THE TRAILFUL TRAS ALONG AN OLD ROAD AND CONTOURS ALONG BEMPS.

ALTHOUGH THERE IS A GRACIOUS AMOUNT OF TRACK AND A BIKER'S FAVORITE TRAIL AND A COLLECTION OF SINK HOLES IN PLACES AND SOME HAVE CAVERNS THAT ARE DEEP DEPRESSIONS.

A COUPLE OF THE SPRINGS AND SOME RANDOM ROCKS STACKING.

>> THOSE TUNNELS OR THE BRIDGES IF YOU WANT TO CALL THEM THEY'RE MADE BY THE CCC WAY BACK THEN.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

THE TRAIL HEAD AND AT THE END OF THE TRAIL WHERE IT MEETS THE ROAD THERE ARE TWO TUNNELS AND TWO TRAILS AND YOU SEE THE QUALITY OF THE WORK THAT IS A TESTAMENT TO THAT WORK ERA.

>> MINER'S ROCK TRAIL AT WOOD WOOD IS PART OF THREE TRAIL AREAS WHICH ARE ALL UNDER A MASTER PLAN.

>> THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION HAS BEEN WORKING ON A MASTER PLAN FOR TRAILS TO TIE ALL OF THE EXISTING TRAILS TOGETHER BY BUILDING NEW TRAILS.

WE HAVE THREE POCKETS CURRENTLY MOST AT WOOD WOOD AND 25-MILES OF TRIALS AND AS MUCH OF THREE MAILS AT BLACK BASS PARK ON THE OUT SKIRTS OF TOWN AND SCATTERING OF TRAILS IN TOWN AND THE WHOLE IDEA IS TIE IT TOGETHER BY CREATING A TRAIL SYSTEM IF YOU WILL.

>> TELL US ABOUT WHAT YOU ENJOY ABOUT THE TRAILS HERE AROUND WOOD WOOD?

>> WELL, THERE IS SUCH A VARIETY OF TRAILS HERE AT LEATHERWOOD AND ANYTHING FROM THE NOVICE, THE INEXPERIENCED TO THOSE TECHNICALLY GIFTOD A BIKE, BUT REALLY I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYBODY NOT HAVING A GOOD TIME ON SOME PIECE OF TRAIL HERE.

THERE'S LOT OF CCC FEATURES TO TAKE IN.

OBVIOUSLY LOTS OF WOODED AREAS.

AND NOT SO MUCH WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW BUT IN MANY PARTS OF THE PARK YOU HEAR NOTHING BUT THE WIND BLOWING THROUGH THE TREES AND THE BIRDS SINGING.

>> THERE ARE FISHING GUIDES AND THEN THERE ARE FISHING GUIDES.

>> WE'RE GOING WITH THE GREEN BEAN SUPREME TODAY BOYS AND GIRLS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND USE THE GREEN AND THE WHITE AND PUT A PIECE OF CORN ON THE END CALLED A HEADLIGHT GUARANTEED TO CATCH FISH.

>> GOING BY THE DESCRIPTION OF THE TROUT BAIT YOU CAN TELL THAT DAVID "MOUNTAIN MAN" MITCHELL IS NOT YOUR ORDINARY EVERYDAY FISHING GUIDE.

>> LOOK AT THAT.

>> MOUNTAIN MAN YOU SEE LOVES TO TAKE KIDS FISHING AND SO WE JOINED HIM ALONG WITH HEATHER AND KEELY FOR A FISHING EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME.

>> THERE YOU GO.

THERE YOU GO.

PERFECT.

NOW START WINDING, THERE YOU GO.

THERE YOU GO.

>> OH, OH -- >> YEAH.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> KEELY SAID -- >> [LAUGHTER] >> THAT'S THE WAY WE DO IT RIGHT THERE.

>> NOW THE ONE THING THAT'S A REQUIREMENT ON CONGRESSMAN'S BOAT YOU HAVE TO KISS THE FISH AFTER CATCHING IT.

>> STAY WITH ME ON THIS ONE.

OKAY KISS IT.

>> OH THE KISSING PART.

OKAY.

>> JUST PUCKER UP.

DID YOU GET IT?

>> YEAH.

>> FIRST ONE OF THE DAY RIGHT HERE.

>> I GREW UP ON LITTLE RED AND THE FIRST TIME I WENT TROUT FISHING I WAS PROBABLY -- YOU HAVE TO SET THAT DOWN TO CATCH THIS ONE.

I WAS PROBABLY ABOUT 12 YEARS OLD AND WITH MY DAD AND UNCLE AND WENT TO CATCH TROUT ON THE RIVER WE WERE HEARING ABOUT AND OH MAN 40 YEARS PLUS I HAVE BEEN FISHING THIS RIVER.

TROUT FISHING IS FUN AND GOOD CLAY FISHING AND THE BAIT IS NOT SCARED OF IT AND YOU USE CORN AND THESE BAIT BUT THIS RIVER HAS BECOME ONE OF THE BEST FISHERYS IN THE UNITED STATES.

THIS IS NO DOUBT ONE OF THE BEST IN THE UNITED STATES AND WORLD RECORDS THAT COME OFF THIS RIVER AND I FEEL BLESSED TO BE HERE EVERYDAY.

WHO COULD HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER OFFICE THAN WHAT I HAVE.

I HAVE ENJOY IT AND I ENJOY THE KIDS TO CATCH UP ALL THESE FISH.

>> YEAH THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN TAKING A KID OUT HERE AND HAVING EXPERIENCING OUT IN NATURE.

>> GETTING TO SEE ALL OF THE ANIMALS TOO AND THIS TIME OF YEAR YOU'RE ABLE TO SEE THE BABY GEESE, THE DUCKS.

WE HAVE BABY EAGLES AND ALL ALONG THE RIVER AND SEE THE MOTHERS TAKING CARE OF THE BABY EAGLES AND THAT IS NEAT AND I WILL CATCH THE FISH AND GO ON THE SIDE AND EAT THE TROUT.

>> AND IT WASN'T TOO LONG BEFORE WE STARTED MOMMA EAGLE FLYING OVER HEAD.

>> COME ON.

SHE WILL BE BACK.

HEAR HER?

>> WOW.

>> THAT'S BABY HOLLOWING AT MOMMA NOW.

THE BABY IS WAITING FOR BREAKFAST AND MOMMA WAS SUPPOSED TO SHOW UP WITH BREAKFAST.

ALL RIGHT.

HE'S GETTING READY AND HOLD IT HIGHER, RIGHT THERE AND WHEN HE BENDS IT BRING ME NOTHING BUT TROUT INTO THAT THING.

TROUT LIPS IS ALL I WANT ON THAT.

OH BIG FISH.

>> IT'S BIG.

>> BIG FISH.

BIG FISH.

HOLD HIM UP THERE.

OH YEAH!

[LAUGHTER] NOT TOO SHABBY.

>> OH MY GOODNESS.

>> WE'RE GOING TO SPOT THE HOOK OFF AND LEAVE HIM.

LOOK HOW PERFECT A FISH THAT IS.

WOW, WOW -- >> SOMETIMES THOUGH AFTER CATCHING A FISH IT CAN BE A BIT OF A CHORE JUST TRYING TO GET IT IN THE BOAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

COMES DOWN TOWARD THE POLE.

LET'S FIGHT HIM ON THE STICK.

THERE YOU GO FIGHT HIM.

OH -- HERE WE GO, HERE WE GO.

[LAUGHTER] PERFECT CATCH HIM.

CATCH HIM IN THAT HAND.

[LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT.

[LAUGHTER] >> [INAUDIBLE] >> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S DO IT THIS WAY.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S DO IT THIS WAY.

HOW ABOUT THAT?

>> OH MY GOSH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

GET THAT RIGHT THERE.

HOLD THAT FISH RIGHT OVER HERE LIKE THAT.

THERE YOU GO.

>> THERE ARE THOSE FISH THAT YOU CATCH AND RELEASE AND THEN THERE ARE THOSE THAT YOU KEEP, NOT TOO BIG AND NOT TOO SMALL BUT JUST RIGHT FOR THE FRYING PAN.

>> OH THIS ONE IS GOING TO LAKE CRISCO AND TAKE HIM BACK AND IN THE FRYING PAN.

PERFECT FISH RIGHT HERE.

>> [INAUDIBLE] >> YEAH, IT HAPPENS HUN.

BOY, THAT IS A PRETTY ONE RIGHT THERE.

>> HE IS PRETTY.

>> HE'S A PRETTY FISH.

LOOK AT THAT.

SEE THE PRETTY RAINBOW COLORS IN HIM.

>> YEAH.

>> LOOK AT THAT.

THIS IS ONE OF THE STOCKERS THAT COME OUT HERE.

THIS FISH HAS BEEN RELEASED IN THIS RIVER ABOUT TWO MONTHS NOW.

>> REALLY?

>> YEAH.

THE ELUSIVE RAINBOW TROUT.

OH HERE'S ANOTHER PRETTY ONE.

ANOTHER PRETTY FISH.

>> RAINBOW OR [INAUDIBLE] >> RAINBOW ON THE MOST COMMON.

THERE ARE FOUR SPECIES IN THE RIVER.

YOU HAVE THE BROWN, THE BROOK AND THE CUTTHROAT.

THE CUTTHROAT BEING THE HARDEST ONE TO CATCH RIGHT HERE.

WOULD YOU SMILE.

WOULD YOU GO AHEAD AND SMILE.

LOOK AT THAT.

>> OF COURSE THERE'S ALWAYS THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY.

>> HOW ABOUT THAT?

>> NOW THIS ONE HAS -- >> OH, OH.

>> OH!

>> THAT WAS YOUR DINNER.

YOU GO HUNGRY TODAY.

IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME.

>> OH MAN.

>> IT WAS RIGHT THERE.

>> YOU LOOKED LIKE YOU GOT HIM IN THE BOAT.

>> IT'S THE OLD MOSS TROUT.

>> YOU KNOW GUYS WE HAVE BEEN HERE 30 MINUTES AND HAVE EIGHT FISH ON HERE.

>> NOT BAD.

>> AND WE ARE FISHING FOR OUR DINNER TODAY GIRLS, SO IF YOU DON'T CATCH FISH YOU GO HUNGRY.

.

THERE HE IS.

>> [INAUDIBLE] >> NO, YOU DIDN'T.

HOW COULD YOU MISS THAT ONE?

THAT POOR FISH HAD DONE DECIDED HE WAS GOING TO THE FISH FRY AND YOU LET HIM GO.

>> I DON'T THINK THE POLE IS ANY GOOD.

>> I DON'T WANT A POLE THAT DOESN'T WORK RIGHT.

>> THERE IS ANOTHER REQUIREMENT ON MOUNTAIN MAN'S BOAT -- WELL, SORT OF.

YOU HAVE TO TRY AND EAT A WORM.

>> HERE'S YOURS.

HERE'S MINE.

>> OH NO -- [LAUGHTER] >> ARE YOU EATING IT RIGHT NOW?

>> I SWALLOWED IT AND WAITING FOR IT TO CRAWL UP AND DO IT AGAIN.

>> NO.

[LAUGHTER] I DON'T THINK SO.

>> WHY?

>> BECAUSE -- >> HUH?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

>> [INAUDIBLE] >> WHY?

IT TASTES LIKE WORMS, CHICKEN.

IT TASTES LIKE CHICKEN.

>> INSTEAD OF EATING WORMS I MUCH RATHER EAT FISH WHICH BRINGS US TO MOUNTAIN MAN'S FAMOUS FRIED TROUT IN LAKE CRISCO AS HE MENTIONED EARLIER.

IF ONLY THIS WAS SMELL-A-VISION.

ONLY ONE THING LEFT TO DO NOW.

MIGHTY FINE, MIGHTY FINE.

THE BLANCHARD SPRINGS RECREATION AREA NORTH OF MOUNTAIN VIEW IS ONE OF THE PLACES I LIKE TO COME BACK TO TIME AND TIME AGAIN BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO FANTASTIC SWIMMING HOLES SO IF THE FIRST ONE GETS TOO CROWDED YOU CAN GO UP THE ROAD TO THE OTHER ONE.

BOTH THE LOWER AND UPPER BLANCHARD SPRINGS SWIMMING HOLES ARE PAST THE ROAD ENTRANCE TO BLANCHARD SPRINGS CAVERNS AND FOLLOWED THE PAVE ROAD UNTIL NORTH SYLAMORE CREEK AND CROSS TO THE RIGHT INTO THE PARKING AREA FOR THE FIRST HOLE.

AT THIS LOWER SWIMMING HOLE AREA YOU CAN EXPLORE NORTH SYLAMORE CREEK ITSELF, BUILD A ROCK DAM OR CHILL IN THE CLEAR REFRESHING CREEK WATER.

>> IT'S A GREAT TIME FOR US AND THE CHILDREN.

THEY GET AWAY.

THEY'RE AT POOLS AND THE LAKE ALL SUMMER SO IT'S A CHANGE OF PACE FOR US TO GET OUT AND LET THEM PLAY IN THE CREEK AND GO IN THE CAVE AND JUST HAVE A GOOD DAY GOING TO THE MOUNTAINS AND WATCHING THE WATERFALL COME OUT.

WE HAVE A GREAT TIME.

>> THE UPPER BLANCHARD SPRINGS SWIMMING HOLE IS LOCATED UP THE ROAD OFF THE RIGHT NEAR A CAMPGROUND AREA.

IF YOU HAPPEN TO COME HERE DURING THE WEEK WHEN MOST OF THE CAMP SITES ARE EMPTY YOU WILL LIKELY HAVE THE ENTIRE SWIMMING HOLE TO YOURSELF.

>> IT'S PERFECT.

IT'S PERFECT.

LIKE I AM FROM OKLAHOMA SO OUR WATER IS MUDDY AND DENSE, AND THIS WATER YOU CAN SEE THROUGH.

CAN YOU SEE THE FISH SWIMMING IN IT.

IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

I AM SCARED TO JUMP OFF THE CLIP BUT AS FAR AS SWIMMING IN THE WATER I AM NOT WORRIED ABOUT MUD GETTING IN MY EYES AND IT'S WONDERFUL.

YOU CAN OPEN THEM AND SEE THE FISH.

>> [INAUDIBLE] >> SO YOU SEE NOW WHY YOU CAN'T COME HERE JUST ONCE.

>> YEAH, I WOULD DEFINITELY HIKE OR CAMP HERE.

IT'S A GREAT SPOT.

IT'S $10 A NIGHT.

YOU CAN'T BEAT IT.

IN COLORADO IT'S $18 A NIGHT AND HAVE TO PAY QUARTERS TO USE THE SHOWER AND HERE THE SHOWERS ARE FREE BUT YOU JUST HAVE TO PUSH THE BUTTON EVERY FOUR SECONDS.

>> SO TAKE A DIP FOR YOURSELF IN THE TWO SWIMMING HOLES AT BLANCHARD SPRINGS NORTH OF MOUNTAIN VIEW AND FOR MORE ON THIS DESTINATION AND OUR OTHERS OR ORDER A COPY OF AN EPISODE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT AETN.ORG/EXPLORINGARKANSAS AND DON'T FORGET TO LIKE US ON OUR FACEBOOK FAN PAGE AND WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER EXCITING ADVENTURE OF "EXPLORING ARKANSAS".