"There is no greater gift we can give our children than an appreciation of the natural world, the tools to maintain it, and the passion to preserve and enjoy." - Mark Hughes, Arkansas River Coalition

• Cheyenne Bottoms. This 19,857 acre basin is just northeast of Great Bend. As the largest interior marsh in the U.S, the refuge is vital to shorebird migration. Outside of waterfowl season, only hand-powered boats are allowed. Life jacket laws are enforced.

• Arkansas River. Great Bend is located at the apex of a giant northward bend in the river, thus given our name, Great Bend. You can enter the Arkansas River at Stone Lake, and exit at either Dartmouth (approx. 7 miles) or Ellinwood (approx. 10 miles).

To view the Paddling brochure for maps, access points, tips, regulations, and additional information, click 'view' under the link below. You can download the PDF document by clicking 'download', or email it by selecting email below.