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Mountain Fork River

Upper Mountain Fork

At the present time there are no canoe outfitters on the upper Mountain Fork.  If there is someone that can outfit please let us know.  For the present take your own raft, canoe or waders.

Upper Mountain Fork: N off Hwy 4. Lower Mountain Fork: off Hwy 70. Located in the scenic Kiamichi Mountains, the upper Mountain Fork empties into Broken Bow Reservoir and the Lower Mountain Fork flows south of the lake.

The Rivers Edge Cottages (Upper Mountain Fork) P.O. Box 114, Hwy 4 East, Smithville, OK 74957 Phone: 580-244-7296 E-mail Tim & Suzy Knapp We offer families, couples beautiful cottages on the Mountain Fork River in the Kiamichi Mountains of southeastern Oklahoma. We have hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, swimming, fishing and bird watching available.  Peaceful relaxing fun.
Double-Jacuzzi tub. Cozy fireplace. Completely furnished, with towels, linens and cooking utensils provided. Furnishings include microwave, coffee maker, refrigerator, and stove. Large open decks with charcoal grill, picnic table. Right on the River We do not outfit canoe or rafts, so you must bring your own.

This fast moving-water of the lower Mountain Fork is not only excellent for year-round canoeing, but it is one of the best fishing streams in the Midwest. It offers twelve miles of excellent rainbow trout fishing. A trophy brown trout area offers a catch and release program. The upper Mountain Fork is one of the best smallmouth bass streams in the state and offers seasonal canoeing.

Located in the scenic Kiamichi Mountains of southeastern Oklahoma, the stream is considered to be an extremely clear and high quality stream. It is characterized by successive riffles with numerous rock ledges and boulder outcroppings between riffles. The rock outcroppings tend to impound water and create small waterfalls. The stream is rather wide with a high gradient that results in a fast moving flow. The stream bed is composed of sandy, clayed deposits. Gravel bars are absent on this stream. The majority of the stream flows through property owned by the Weyerhaeuser Company (logging industry) and the surrounding area has been extensively planted with pines. There is cane and weed vegetation around the upper reaches of the stream and is so thick that it creates a "canopy" overhead.  As the stream widens on its way through the mountains this canopy disappears. During the fall of the year trees along the mid and lower section of the stream provide picture perfect scenes of colors from the turning sugar and red maple, sweet gum, red and white oak trees present along the banks. The stream is one of the officially designated scenic river areas included in the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Act.

 The stream is a prime Smallmouth stream and has been the focus of several magazine articles and the subject of a few fishing films. The stream is best fished from a canoe or flat bottom John boat. A word of caution to the first time visitor to the stream is needed. Depending on the stream flow, the rock outcroppings that cross the stream at several locations often appear as continuing unbroken flat water to the floater. You can suddenly find yourself going over the falls of one of these rock outcroppings and getting a "dunking" while loosing everything in your boat. For the most part though, the stream is an easy, pleasant floating experience.

There are several access points for the stream ranging from low water crossings used by the logging trucks of the Weyerhaeuser Company to jeep trails and a highway crossing. The following is a description of the access points that are considered usable.

Hatfield Crossing - This is a low water bridge on a gravel road between Hatfield, Arkansas and Smithville, Oklahoma. This is in the extreme northeast corner of McCurtain County, near the town of Beachton. This crossing offers adequate access for launching a canoe or flat bottom boat. Parking is limited but there is an area available for primitive camping.

Pikes Crossing - Located 2 miles further downstream, this is an old river ford. Access to this put in is by a rough jeep road from the right bank.

Rock Creek - Due east from Smithville a dirt road leads to Rock Creek. When the streams are "up" some from recent rains, this small tributary can be used to reach the main stream.

Highway 4 Crossing - Just downstream from Rock Creek Oklahoma Highway 4 crosses the Mountain Fork over a paved bridge. One the right side access can be gained through the Mountain Fork Lodge for a small fee. The Mountain Fork lodge is a fishing camp with six to eight cabins and expert fishing guide services.

Gravel Pit - Adjacent to the Hwy. 4 bridge is an old dirt road crossing. Parking is available near an old gravel pit which is a short walk to the river.

Eagle Fork - An old highway bridge immediately east of U.S. Highway 259 offers access to the Eagle Fork. Access off of the east end can be difficult after rain. The mountain Fork is .4 of a mile from this point.

Low Water Bridges - There are several low-water bridges crossing the Mountain Fork near the downstream area known as the "Narrows". This area is immediately off of U.S. 259 southwest of Smithville. These low water bridges are part of the logging roads of the Weyerhaeuser Corporation and are accessible to the public. The low water crossings offer easy access for put-ins of canoes and John boats. Caution should be exercised around these areas. The suction created by the culverts under these low water bridges can be dangerous for wading and swimming at the intake side of the culverts.

 Rental canoes on the Lower Mountain Fork

Beavers Bend River Floats  (Canoe Rental / Float Trips (580)494-6070) and shuttle services are available in the park (Beavers Bend) and near the Highway 70 bridge. Five miles east of Broken Bow on US 70, north on Mountain Fork Park Rd, follow the signs to WW Trading Post & Canoe Rentals. Open March through October, this Lower Mountain Fork canoe outfitter and sales offers fishing packages, picnic supplies, trout flies, tackle, and snacks.  E-Mail information@beaversbend.com

Riverside Canoe Rental
7 miles East on Hwy 70
Broken Bow, Ok 74728
580-835-7130
Lower Mountain Fork River canoe outfitter; float trips available; fishing packages; RV hookups.Open all year.

Ambush Canoe Rentals
Highway 70 East 
Broken Bow, Ok 74728
580-584-2273
Canoe and kayak outfitter for the lower Mountain Fork River in southeast Oklahoma.  4, 5 or 9 mile float trips,  shuttles to and from  Days/Hours Open: Open 7 days a week from March-October

Trout Fishing - available year round in Mountain Fork River (license required and may be purchased at reservation office).
River is stocked with almost 4000 rainbows and browns every other Thursday. Designated Trout Stream area is 12 miles long. This tailwater is the most noted year around trout fishery in the state. Nestled deep in the pine covered Kiamichi Mountains of extreme southeast Oklahoma, trout will be found throughout the stream and its tributaries. The 12 mile designated trout stream begins at the base of Broken Bow Dam extending downstream to the U.S. Highway 70 bridge. Below Beavers Bend State Park there are public access points at the Reregulation Dam and Presbyterian Falls. There is a fee access site located near the Highway 70 bridge.

Mountain Fork Dam

Cabins
River Information
Beavers Bend State Park