Blue Mountain Lake, which straddles the border between Logan and Yell Counties, was created when the river was dammed in 1947.

[3] According to local legend, the river and the nearby Petit Jean Mountain were both named after a French woman who posed as a man to follow a lover to America.

She fell ill and died after reaching Arkansas and was reportedly buried on the side of the mountain.

[4] An alternate explanation states that the river was named for the French phrase "petit jaune", or "little yellow", due to its appearance.

[6] one in Yell County has since collapsed after a truck driver drove over with a load that exceeded the weight limit by 32 tons in 2019.