Bear Creek is a fierce, tightly wound Arkansas creek that dares paddlers to test their skills over a sharp 4.2-mile stretch before it meets Big Piney Creek. This run isn't for the faint-hearted; its steep gradient — averaging a punishing 185 feet per mile — pushes water through narrow slots, rapid slides, and towering drops that demand acute focus and precise maneuvering. Starting from a primitive campsite nestled near McMinn Knob, paddlers launch into a wild sequence of three waterfalls and long slides, each presenting a unique challenge. The creek’s steep banks and frequent logjams require constant vigilance—wood jams can trap unwary kayakers, especially near the notorious logjam just downstream from Bear Pin.

From the first steep funnel slide, water hurls you down tight stair-step drops that quickly escalate into technical whitewater. Rayzr Burn, a split channel section with a sharp undercut and a rocky plunge, tests control and line choice in equal measure. Boulder fields and cascading chutes pepper the middle stretch, culminating at Bear Claw, a complex boulder jumble where multiple routes beckon but pinning hazards are very real.

The creek's centerpiece is a sequence of waterfalls named for their relative size: Baby Bear Falls offers a clean drop into a grotto pool; Mama Bear Falls channels water through a narrow notch before fanning out over slick bedrock; and then the infamous Papa Bear Falls demands scouting or portaging for safe passage. Here, water guns through twin slots separated by a massive boulder, tumbling into a violent cauldron below. The current’s power is so unrelenting that even the first successful runs at lower flows ended with capsizes and swims.

Below the falls, the Lower Gorge calms slightly but keeps paddlers alert with tricky boulder passes before arriving at Bear Trap, a technically demanding boulder squeeze just shy of the take-out. The take-out itself requires attention; an ATV trail near Highway 123 provides access, but paddlers new to the area must avoid continuing onto Big Piney Creek inadvertently.

Planning a trip here means preparing for remote conditions, primitive access points, and variable flow rates. The recommended gauges may lag in relevance due to the creek's small size and rapid fluctuations, so scouting current conditions is essential. The trail to the put-in involves a short carry from a camp off Forest Service Road 1802, descending through forest and past a small pond before dropping to the creek.

Wear high-traction footwear for the rocky, uneven trails around put-in and take-out zones, and bring water and first aid supplies for a remote paddling experience. Due to the creek's nature, this run is best attempted by advanced paddlers familiar with Class IV-V whitewater hazards.

Bear Creek’s raw energy, unforgettable drops, and hidden boulder features carve out a memorable Arkansas run — where every rapid tells a story of water pushing hard against stone, and every eddy offers a brief respite before the next challenge. Its blend of natural obstacles and narrow passageways promises a whitewater adventure that tests both skill and resolve.