The White River stretches almost 40 miles before reaching Lake Norfork. Originating at the eight hydroelectric power generators of Bull Shoals Lake, the White River has plenty of cold water to support miles of great Trout Fishing. On River mile 418.6 of the White River, Bull Shoals Dam is about 12 miles west of Mountain Home, Arkansas, on Highway 178.

There are dozens of scenic views, but a good start would include Bull Shoals State Park, which provides an overlook near the dam, and an overlook off of Highway 412 west of Cotter, which includes a view the rainbow-arched bridge.

As an historical note, the exact origin of the name "Bull Shoals" is unclear, but the shoals where the dam now sits had that name when Henry Rowe Schoolcraft visited in 1819. He wrote: "Here the river has a fall of 15 or 20 feet in the distance of half-a-mile and stands full of rugged calcareous rocks, among which the water forms and rushes with astonishing velocity and incessant noise."