In May 2021, we had the opportunity to live one of our bucket list trips. In total we paddled/floated 78.2 miles over 5 days and 2 nights over a period of three different dates on the Buffalo National River. This is our review.
In all we paddled/floated 78.2 miles of the historic 135-mile river.
The Buffalo River, located in Northern Arkansas, was the first National River to be designated in the United States by an Act of Congress in 1972. This foresight by officials protects The Buffalo from industrial uses, and other obstructions that may change the natural character of the river or disrupt the natural habitat for the flora and fauna that live in or near the river.
The upper portions of the river are only navigable during the rainy season (March – May) when water is high and offers the most challenging (and fun) white water sections. We arrived in Harrison, Arkansas the beginning of May during unprecedented rainfall and cold spells. Therefore, we had to wait and strategize on the exact time to navigate the river. Too high and the river is flowing fast and too dangerous for our liking and too low and you drag bottom and no fun rapids. A fine line…. We waited and found the PERFECT 3-day period for a 50 mile leg.
On a Wednesday, making a point to avoid the heavy weekend traffic, we began our journey at Ponca with the assistance of the Buffalo Outdoor Center who shuttled our car to our ending destination of Woolum.
Day 1 was a chilly start but warmed up nicely as we traveled 16 miles to the Erbie Campground to hammock camp. Along the way, witnessing the dramatic topography that the Buffalo National River is so famous for: the sandstone and limestone bluffs ranging in height to over 500’, rock formations, sink holes, caves and springs all while navigating the Class I and II rapids.
Hemmed In Hollow Falls
We were also able to find the easy-to-miss short trail to Hemmed in Hollow Falls. From the river you walk 0.65 miles up a boxed canyon to the 209’ tall waterfall, the highest of its kind between the Southern Appalachians and the Rockies. A truly magical experience you will not want to miss.
Day 2 was a lazy start, getting on the river by 9:00 am and traveling approximately 20 miles, past the campgrounds/put-in points of Ozark, Pruitt Landing, Hasty and Carver to finally find a campsite with adequate trees to accommodate our hammocks. NOTE: when we do this trip again, we will take a tent as there are many more options for amazing campsites for tent camping.
On day 3 we woke up in a light misting of fog on the river. As we were setting our trusty Aire Lynx in the water around 8:30, the fog lifted to another glorious blue sky and sunshiny day.
We traveled 13 miles, over some of the finest rapids, past lots of weekend campers and past Skull Bluff to end our trip at Woolum.
Several days later, we chose to float a second section where the water level is pretty consistent and not dependent on the rainfall. From Baker Ford to Gilbert, a 10 miles section. Although a pleasant float, it did not have the dramatic bluffs and exciting rapids. We took off for a day trip with the assistance of the Gilbert General Store to assist with shuttling us to the put-in point and drive our vehicle back to the Gilbert General Store/Buffalo Camping and Canoeing Outfitters location right on the river.
A third section from Maumee South to Rush Landing, a 18.3 mile leg was accomplished with the assistance of Crockett’s Buffalo River Canoe Rental https://www.buffalorivercanoerental.com/. We highly recommend this lovely family-owned business! Amanda went out of her way to accommodate our last-minute change in plans with a smile and kind words so that we wouldn’t miss our chance to experience Buffalo Point (great lunch location) and the dramatic bluffs of Toney Bend.
All-in-all, our 78.2 mile experience was a dream come true. The blue green water, the colorful large bluffs, the excitement of catching fast water at every turn, made the Buffalo River a trip we hope to do again.
Nspired Adventures 