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.
NPS / National Park Service
Paddling conditions in the upper (westernmost) district of Buffalo National River are extremely dependent upon rainfall. On an average year, the upper river is only navigable by boat in the spring and early summer when consistent rainfall feeds into the watershed. For current paddling conditions, please check with an outfitter, call the Steel Creek Ranger Station at 870-861-2570, 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 Steel Creek Ranger Station at 870-861-2570 or refer to a Trails Illustrated Buffalo National River (West Half) map for more details.
* Durations are based off a moderate or average 2 miles per hour river flow. The length of a paddle trip will vary greatly with changing river levels. Additionally, paddle and float 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.
The most technical section of Buffalo National River, Boxley to Ponca is recommended only for highly-experienced whitewater paddlers. Water levels on this section tend to rise and fall rapidly, so paddlers must have a solid understanding of reading river gauges to properly time their float.
Downstream from the hustle and bustle of Kyles Landing, one can find solitude among this comparatively quiet, 5.7-mile stretch of river snaking through the Ponca Wilderness. Paddlers will cruise through adrenaline-inducing shoals, tranquil pools, and haystack waves on this section with fascinating sandstone formations adorning the banks.
A short but delightful float of about 2.1 miles, Ozark to Pruitt is a fun run with several long pools connected by bouncy riffles. The swimming hole at Ozark can get crowded on hot days, so paddlers putting in here should be especially careful when swimmers are present.
This short section offers an introduction to the Upper Buffalo’s striking scenery and challenging whitewater. The highlight of the trip is paddling beneath Roark Bluff, one of the most iconic blufflines along the entire Buffalo River.
The 7 mile float from Pruitt to Hasty is a popular alternative when conditions upriver are too low for paddling. This section flows past geologic curiosities, shaded swimming holes, and cool, dripping springs as the river veers southward in its journey.
Hands-down the most beloved and popular section of the upper river, the 8-mile section from Steel Creek to Kyles Landing meanders through the heart of the Ponca Wilderness past towering bluffs, hidden side canyons, and relics of early settlement. Alternating between tumbling rapids and long, cerulean pools, paddlers will delight in the variety of pace and challenge.
