The Five Best Reasons to Love April in Ponca (Besides the Weather) | Buffalo Outdoor Center

April is when the upper Buffalo National River wilderness bursts forth from the silence of winter into the vibrant colors of spring.  Here are five reasons we love exploring the Ponca area during this month when nature begins to sing its song of rebirth!

WATERFALLS, WATERFALLS, WATERFALLS

April showers bring more than May flowers—they turn thousands of pour-offs and ledges into cascading strands of liquid angel hair.  It is a photographer’s dream world as iconic places like Hemmed-In Hollow and Eden Falls frequently flow with world-class waterfall scenery.  Click here to learn more about where to find Buffalo National River waterfalls!

WILDFLOWERS ABOUND

If you love flowers—-wildflowers in particular—April is YOUR month to explore!  There’s something new blooming every week, with prime wildflower season tending to fall into the latter two weeks of the month.  Among our favorite wildflowers are Indian Paintbrush, fire-pink, wild iris, and the elusive golden ladyslipper, all of which tend to favor waterfall areas and other riparian ecosystems within the park.  Looking for dogwood tree blossoms?  Dogwoods tend to be in full flower around the second week of April.

WARM DAYS, COOL NIGHTS

April can see some of the most ideal weather days of the year. Daytimes can warm into the upper 70’s and even low 80’s, yet nights tend to be on the cool side and lend themselves to fire gazing, whether it’s beside a cozy fire in your cabin’s fireplace or tent-side in a Buffalo River campground. It’s also a great time to enjoy swinging through the bright-green treetops of Buffalo River country on our Buffalo River Canopy Tour zip line!

Packing Tip:  Quick-dry layers are the best choice for April and a waterproof rain jacket can be your best friend.  You want to have clothing options that allow you to easily change with shifts in temperature.  Clothing that dries fast is also essential should you encounter rain or find yourself going overboard when paddling.

FEWER FOLKS ARE ABOUT

The months of May and June see the heaviest visitation to the national park’s upper district where Ponca is located, so an April getaway offers you a better chance of finding solitude when hiking or paddling.

Travel Tip:  Weekends in April can be popular, so coming during the week is the optimum choice for those seeking solitude.

MIST IN THE BUFFALO RIVER VALLEY

Shifts in evening-to-morning temperatures create shrouds of mist that float above the Buffalo National River corridor.  Many of our cabins overlook this corridor, so you can enjoy the morning mist from your front porch swing with a cup of coffee in hand.  Cabin Bookiing Tip:  Choose one of these cabins for optimum mist-watching opportunities: Cabin X | Mountain Ecstasy Cabin | Mountain Magic Cabin | President’s Cabin | Mountain Breeze Cabin | Arkansas Cabin | Balloon Cabin | Mountain Sunrise Cabin | Compton Mountain Cabin  Or, if you have a group, our RiverWind Lodge offers the perfect perch for enjoying mornings with river mist in the valley below.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

We promise, there are many more reasons to love April in Ponca!  To get your adventure plans underway, give us a call at 870-861-5514 or click through the helpful links found in this blog post.