Beginning Monday, August 12th, the Lower Tyler Bend River Access will be closed to facilitate the renovation process. The Upper Access will remain open. The Tyler Bend Campground will also remain open.
Newton County Road 5, also known as Cave Mountain Road, will be closed Mondays - Thursdays from 8am - 4pm for road improvements. The road will be open Fridays - Sundays to all traffic.
Dark green sections with green borders mark the boundaries of Buffalo National River. Several boat launch areas are marked within the boundaries by blue boxes and offer recreation opportunities and facilities (ex. restrooms, camping, hiking). Light blue lines mark Buffalo River and nearby creeks. At the bottom of the map, a dark blue line highlights the river miles between boat launches.
Paddling conditions in the lower (easternmost) district of Buffalo National River are typically navigable year-round. The river is rainfall dependent though and needs consistent rainfall in the watershed to keep the water at a moderate level. For current floating conditions, please check with a concessioner, call the Buffalo Point Ranger Station at 870-449-4311, or check river gauges online at ar.water.usgs.gov/buffaloriver.
The map shown does not depict many details as far as the bluffs and topography are concerned. Call the Buffalo Point Ranger Station at 870-449-4311 or refer to a Trails Illustrated Buffalo National River (East Half) map for more details. For information about renting a vessel from one of the park's authorized canoe concessioners please visit the park's Canoe Rentals page.
The float between Dillard's Ferry and Buffalo Point is a short trip for those that have a very limited amount of time. The highlight of the trip is floating by Skull Rock. Be aware that there is not a road on the gravel bar at Buffalo Point so all vessels will need to be carried up the gravel bar to the parking lot. Shuttle time between Dillard's Ferry and Buffalo Point is 12 minutes (5.5 miles).
This 9-mile paddling trip offers some great fishing holes between Buffalo Point and Rush, where the pools get long and the current typically slows in the summer time. You have the option at stopping at Buffalo Point, which is 1.5 miles from Dillards Ferry to admire Painted Bluff and Ludlow Bluff further downstream, which is actually the tallest bluff on the river (sorry, Big Bluff).
This typically quiet and calm piece of river takes you past Maumee Bluff and Schoolhouse Ridge before approaching Spring Creek itself, Spring Creek Bluff, and the Spring Creek access point and primitive campground. This 4.7-mile stretch of river has a decent shuttle trip of approximately 45 minutes (20 miles).
This 30-mile paddling trip cuts through the Lower Wilderness Area to the mouth of Buffalo National River. This is a stretch of river that a majority of visitors never see. As you paddle through the Lower Wilderness you will be greeted by Woodcock Bluff, Sheep Jump Bluff, and Elephant Head Rock. You can also park your boat at the mouth of Big Creek and hike a 1/4 mile to the Cold Spring Schoolhouse, a historic Works Progress Administration structure, from the 1930s.
This friendly, 4.6-mile paddle is great for folks that want to get a good feel for the river, but don't want to be out all day. You will paddle by Jackpot, Kimball, and Stairstep Bluffs as you make your way towards Water Creek, a great place to park the boat and get out and explore. This river trip ends at Dillards Ferry, the Highway 14 bridge.
* Durations are based off a moderate or average 2 miles per hour river flow. The length of a paddle or float trip will vary greatly with changing river levels. Additionally, times largly depend on if you paddle or not and stop to swim, fish, or explore. Please check with park staff or concessioner for a current estimate on river trip durations.
