Submit a New Trip| State | Missouri | ||
| River | Bull Creek | ||
| Notes | The Sunday 3 February 2013 edition of the Springfield News-Leader contained a front page article about Bull Creek. It mentioned a local who called the river "white-watery" at 600 cfs and "low and draggy" below 200 cfs (as measured from Walnut Shade).
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| Links | Duck Duck Go Search A Paddler's Guide to Missouri KML | ||
| Gauges |
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| Date | Start | End | Distance | Condition | Gauge | Discharge | Height | Fishing | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2020-05-14 | Red Bridge Road | Goodnight Hollow | Total trip distance: 9.4 miles9.4 | High | Walnut Shade (07053810) | 1000 | 4.81 | Poor | SMB Barton, AdamKromrey, Mike Simmons, Dillan Wheeler, Seth  The river was EXTREMELY fun at this level, but only if your head was on a swivel at all times. We averaged about 3.5 mph for the trip and had many class II rapids to run between Dry Hollow Road and Goodnight Hollow. Would recommend this float with the gauge at 800 cfs or higher due to large boulders and some low-water bridges in play. This section has many trees down as well, so its recommended for experienced paddlers only. Beautiful views though and a shuttle time of 35 minutes due to the aforementioned low-water crossings being impassable. USGS Gauge Data:Walnut Shade (07053810)Discharge: 1000 Height: 4.81  Source: Barton |
| 2020-05-24 | Woods Fork | Dry Hollow Road | Total trip distance: 8.7 miles2.5 | Good | Walnut Shade (07053810) | 844 | 4.50 | None | None Edmond, Brian Edmond, Julian Van Someren, Andrea Van Someren, Tom The confluence of Woods Fork and Bull Creek was a tumultuous "whirlpool" (Julian's word). A thunderstorm blew up over the last mile of Woods Fork and it was still raining as we paddled this last stretch of Bull Creek. USGS Gauge Data:Walnut Shade (07053810)Discharge: 844 Height: 4.50 Source: Edmond |
| 2021-05-01 | Woods Fork | Dry Hollow Road | Total trip distance: 6.2 miles2.5 | Good | Walnut Shade (07053810) | 719 | 4.00 | None | None Williams, Sarah Van Someren, Tom This day-trip consisted of floating three streams consecutively: Camp Creek, Woods Fork, and Bull Creek. Camp Creek truly is a small creek, but it can be successfully navigated after a strong rain. Our experience this day was less than optimal as we were about a day late in catching it with high enough water. While it did have enough water flowing through it we scraped in many spots and had to pull our kayaks over one spot with a small waterfall. The rest of the float (Woods Fork and Bull Creek) had excellent water with only two spots where we had to portage our kayaks around obstructions (one right before the confluence of Woods Fork into Bull Creek. USGS Gauge Data:Walnut Shade (07053810)Discharge: 719 Height: 4.00 Source: Van Someren |
| 2021-05-30 | Woods Fork | Dry Hollow Road | Total trip distance: 5.5 miles2.5 | Good | Walnut Shade (07053810) | 683 | 3.92 | None | None Edmond, Brian Milligan, Jane Van Someren, Tom This was a great day to paddle Bull Creek. The water was crystal clear (as usual) but was high enough to move with only a few places where we dragged. USGS Gauge Data:Walnut Shade (07053810)Discharge: 683 Height: 3.92 Source: Edmond |
| 2020-05-01 | Woods Fork | Dry Hollow Road | Total trip distance: 5.5 miles2.5 | Good | Walnut Shade (07053810) | 582 | 3.89 | None | None Van Someren, Andrea Van Someren, Tom Once we reached the confluence with Bull Creek, the complexion of the stream changed from smallish creek to a fuller river. No snarls or obstructions were encountered though either. The water level was GREAT too, with very little paddling even needed to keep moving. We shouldn't hesitate to get on this section of the upper Bull when the discharge is reading 1000 CFS at the Walnut Shade gauge. USGS Gauge Data:Walnut Shade (07053810)Discharge: 582 Height: 3.89 Source: Van Someren |
| 2020-04-07 | Goodnight Hollow | Walnut Shade | Total trip distance: 7.2 miles7.2 | High | Walnut Shade (07053810) | 479 | 3.60 | None | None Ingram, Annabelle Ingram, EJ Ingram, Eric Ingram, Isaac Ingram, Shaundra Fletcher, JJ Fletcher, Jacey Fletcher, Jack Fletcher, Jaxson Fletcher, John Luke Fletcher, Joshua Fletcher, Macey Fletcher, Stacey The CFS was 361 and Depth was 3.62. There were multiple spots where we had to get out and carry our kayaks around down trees. There were two bridges The first one has about a 3 ft drop and my kids decided to try out. My girl made it, but my boys flipped due to back current after going over it. The second bridge was fun but rough, as we rode through it and then there is a large limestone rock that has a 2 ft drop after. Nobody flipped on that one. There were several good rapids, which we would estimate at class 2-3. USGS Gauge Data:Walnut Shade (07053810)Discharge: 479 Height: 3.60 Source: Ingram |
| 2020-01-27 | Goodnight Hollow | Walnut Shade | Total trip distance: 7.2 miles7.2 | Good | Walnut Shade (07053810) | 401 | 3.55 | Poor | RT SMB Beauchamp, ZakGuthrie, Chris Good float level for Bull Creek. After the first low water bridge, there were a bunch of trees down and we chose to portage around them. There weren't many other obstacles other than that. We only caught two fish just before Walnut Shade. USGS Gauge Data:Walnut Shade (07053810)Discharge: 401 Height: 3.55 Source: Guthrie |
| 2018-12-16 | Goodnight Hollow | Walnut Shade | Total trip distance: 7.2 miles7.2 | Good | Walnut Shade (07053810) | 361 | 3.92 | None | None Bartlett, Renee Van Someren, Tom Despite the water level being 130 cfs higher than we've ever floated Bull Creek before, there *STILL* were several spots where the kayaks dragged over gravel bar-ish areas. Previously I felt a little cautious about doing this stream the closer the cfs climbed toward 600 (our current "High" limit setting). But now I'm thinking 550-600 would be a great flow rate to look for in a day trip. Whenever were able to try it at that flow rate we'll no doubt need to raise the "High" limit spec. Didn't see but a single fish in the stream the entire way. USGS Gauge Data:Walnut Shade (07053810)Discharge: 361 Height: 3.92 Source: Van Someren |
| 2018-04-29 | Goodnight Hollow | Walnut Shade | Total trip distance: 7.2 miles7.2 | Good | Walnut Shade (07053810) | 306 | 3.84 | Poor | None Edmond, Brian Larsen, Chris Van Someren, Andrea Van Someren, Tom Williams, Sarah We encountered a few portage obstacles from flooding damage last year. Some places were tricky because the water was low enough for exposed bedrock and some other obstacles. We decided this water level was probably the minimum for a comfortable "Good" float for this river. USGS Gauge Data:Walnut Shade (07053810)Discharge: 306 Height: 3.84 Source: Edmond |
| 2018-09-01 | Goodnight Hollow | Walnut Shade | Total trip distance: 7.2 miles7.2 | Good | Walnut Shade (07053810) | 305 | 3.67 | Great | GSF LSF SMB Edmond, BrianFillmer, Lawrence Larsen, Chris Larsen, Lisa Travers, Gina Van Someren, Tom The water level for this trip was not ideal. It was too low for a comfortable trip but it was good enough to do again in a pinch. The water was crystal clear despite a major rain event on Thursday. Friday's water level would have been perfect for a good trip. USGS Gauge Data:Walnut Shade (07053810)Discharge: 305 Height: 3.67 Source: Edmond |
| 2015-12-05 | Goodnight Hollow | Walnut Shade | Total trip distance: 7.2 miles7.2 | Good | Walnut Shade (07053810) | 248 | 4.17 | None | None Arnold, Al Eth, Joe Flat Brian Turk, Scott Van Someren, Tom Williams, Sarah Tom: I'd rate Saturday's float just below "Good". The water level condition wasn't "ideal", as we still hit bottom many times going through riffles, but didn't have to get out and pull over gravel bars (unless you REALLY effed up and chose your path poorly). Al: I'd say it was "Good". There were maybe four or five riffles I got stuck on, but I probably could have avoided at least a couple of them! USGS Gauge Data:Walnut Shade (07053810)Discharge: 248 Height: 4.17 Source: Van Someren |
| 2013-03-16 | Goodnight Hollow | Walnut Shade | Total trip distance: 7.2 miles7.2 | Good | Walnut Shade (07053810) | 209 | 4.02 | None | None Bowe, Michelle Edmond, Brian Edmond, Julian Ligon, Adalia Ligon, Day Ligon, Elicia Ligon, Elseya Some places were too shallow for a canoe, particularly towards the end on a long stretch of bedrock. Several places tipped our canoes or filled them with water. USGS Gauge Data:Walnut Shade (07053810)Discharge: 209 Height: 4.02 Source: Edmond |
| 2016-07-02 | Goodnight Hollow | Walnut Shade | Total trip distance: 7.2 miles7.2 | Good | Walnut Shade (07053810) | 209 | 3.63 | None | None Arnold, Al Eth, Joe Turk, Scott From Joe: It was ok, to me, I would not really want it any lower. USGS Gauge Data:Walnut Shade (07053810)Discharge: 209 Height: 3.63 Source: Eth |
A total of 13 rows are displayed.
| Miles | 77 |
| Trips | 13 |
| People | 39 |
| Dates | 13 |
| Years | 6 |
| Months | 7 |
| Rows | 13 |
| Sources | 6 |
BLG - Bluegill CCF - Channel Catfish CP - Chain Pickerel FWD - Freshwater Drum GSF - Green Sunfish KSB - Kentucky Spotted Bass LMB - Largemouth Bass LSF - Longear Sunfish RB - Rock Bass / Goggle Eye RSF - Redear Sunfish RT - Rainbow Trout SMB - Smallmouth Bass WB - White Bass WF - Whitefish WL - WalleyeThe classic River Trips application is still available for use. It is updated with the new system using a data retrofit. It is no longer maintained. The original River Trips application is no longer updated (as of 1 Dec 2016) but can be checked for errors or for the condition of the data before it was converted to the new system.