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The Cossatot’s two sides are equally wild
Deep in the Ouachita Mountains of southwest Arkansas, a river runs that can’t make up its mind. In spring, it throws expert kayakers through Class V rapids over sharp rocks and steep ledges.
In summer, it pools up into clear swimming holes where kids wade between boulders.
The Cossatot River is one of only eight rivers in Arkansas with National Wild and Scenic status, and the 12.5 miles the park protects give you both versions, depending on when you show up.
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The name “Cossatot” means crushed head
That name is not a marketing slogan. It likely comes from the French “casse-tête,” which translates to crushed head, a reference to what those sharp upper-river rocks can do…