In Franklin County it turns southward into the valley of the Arkansas River and flows past the town of Mulberry.

It joins the Arkansas about 3 miles (5 km) south of Mulberry, on the common boundary of Franklin and Crawford counties.

The Mulberry is a scenic and popular river for recreational boating with kayaks or canoes.

The river varies greatly in its flow depending upon the season and recent precipitation, but the water level is usually adequate for paddling between mid-October and mid-June.

There are Class I to III rapids at many points in the river and paddling can be hazardous if the water level is high.