|
Map & Directions...
|
From Little Rock and South
Take I-40 West to Exit 64 at Lamar. Go west on Hwy 64, 9 miles to Ark Hwy 21 North and go 50 miles to Boxley. Then turn right onto Hwy 43 North to Ponca....BOC is 4.5 miles north on the left-hand side of the road.
From Springdale, Fayetteville, Tulsa & Rogers area
Take U.S. Hwy 412 East to Hwy 21 South to Boxley. Then take Hwy 43 North....BOC is 4.5 miles north in Ponca on the left hand side.
From Branson, Springfield, St. Louis and Kansas City area
Take U.S. Hwy 65 South to Harrison, AR. Take Hwy 7 South....just as you leave Harrison take Hwy 43 South. 25 miles later you will be in Ponca. The BOC office will be on the right.
From Memphis and North East Arkansas
Take Hwy 63 North to Hwy 412/62 West into Harrison, AR. Take Hwy 7 South and just as you are leaving Harrison, hit Hwy 43 South. Stay on Hwy 43 and 25 miles later you will be in Ponca. The BOC office will be on the right.
From Fort Smith, Dallas and the South East
Come North to Fort Smith. Take I-40 East to Clarksville, AR. Take Hwy 21 North to Boxley. You will then take Hwy 43 North into Ponca. The BOC office will be on the left.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
About the River
|
The Buffalo National River begins as a trickle in the Boston Mountains, where it flows north and then eastward through the Ozark Mountains until it merges 150 miles later with the White River at Buffalo City.
The upper Buffalo, where we’re located, offers the river’s finest scenic beauty. With its massive towering bluffs, countless waterfalls, watchable wildlife, ties to both historic and prehistoric cultures, and remote unspoiled location, the upper Buffalo River wilderness is surely mid-America’s finest outdoor destination.
In fact, the entire river is such a special place that in 1972, Congress designated it as America’s first national river. This unique status protects the Buffalo from commercial or residential development, along with other destructive operations such as damming and gravel mining, thus preserving its scenic beauty and natural wild state forever.
Buffalo River Day Trips
Buffalo River Multi-Day Trips
Canoe Rental / Shuttle Rates
Buffalo River Map
Buffalo River Camping
BOC Cabin & Lodge Rental
|
|
Floating Season
|
The floating season on the upper Buffalo River (Ponca to Pruitt) is March through June with early July floating an occasional possibility.
The Buffalo is primarily dependent upon rainfall for its water level, so once the rains of spring and early summer have passed, so has the
chance to float the upper section.
ADVANCE RESERVATIONS TIP: As a river preservation measure, the National Park Service limits the number of rental boats that can be
launched on any given day with the peak demand day being Saturday. Therefore, if you are planning a weekend float it is wise to reserve your boat(s) in advance. For example,
it is never too early to book a boat for a May weekend, which is the upper Buffalo’s most popular floating month.
NOTE TO PRIVATE BOATERS: The NPS does not limit the number of private boat launches.
|
|
River Mileage
|
Here’s a handy reference chart of our most popular float trips. Please remember that the “Time Required” to complete a trip can vary somewhat due to water level, weather conditions, and the speed and skill with which you paddle.
| River Trip | # Miles | Time |
| Ponca to Kyle's Landing | 10 miles | 4 to 6 hours |
| Steel Creek to Kyle's | 8 miles | 4 to 5 hours |
| Ponca to Pruitt | 24 miles | 2 days (min) |
| Pruitt to Hasty | 7 miles | 4 to 5 hours |
| Pruitt to Carver | 11 miles | 6 to 7 hours |
| Pruitt to Woolum | 26 miles | 2 days (min) |
View river mileage chart. (MS Excel)
Interactive River Map
Use this helpful tool to easily calculate mileage between access points!
|
|
Gearing Up For a Float
|
|
Click here for our helpful Gear-Up Chart for planning a Buffalo River float based on the month or type of weather in which you’re floating. |
|
River Levels / Safety
|
The Buffalo National River is rated Class I & II, meaning that it is typically suitable for paddlers of most any age and skill
level (see “Floating With Kids” to follow). Floating is generally done in canoes or kayaks with rafting possible when the
water level is high enough.
Current River Conditions
We post river conditions in terms of “inches of air space” at the Ponca Low Water Bridge. “Air space” is the distance between
the top of the water and the underside of the bridge. During the floating season we monitor current river conditions throughout the
day, updating our Web site accordingly. We also provide information about what type of paddling skills may be required to run the
river at its reported level. Click here to receive a daily RSS Feed of river conditions from our blog site (conditions reported March
through June).
Floating With Kids
Although rated a Class I/II river, we recommend that children be capable swimmers, wear personal floatation devices (PFDs) and be
carefully supervised while floating the Buffalo or any river. Consider taking small children to one of the upper Buffalo’s pretty
swimming holes where they can splash at water’s edge and play in the sand, rather than float. For directions to a nearby hole, just
see us in the office. For paddling safety tips for kids, visit the American Canoe Association’s SmartStart
site or the National Safe Boating Council’s kids’ pages.
High Water
Launching in high water or flood stage is a personal decision of risk that you must carefully make, especially if you are taking other people in your boat.
Whatever the conditions, be sure your paddling and swift water rescue skills are up to the challenge and that you are properly geared.
|
|
River Regulations
|
Here’s a tip sheet of some important park regulations of which you’ll want to be aware:
- Glass containers are prohibited on the Buffalo National River.
- Ice chests must have the lids secured so that contents stay put in the event of an overturned boat.
- Open beverages must be placed in a floatable holder, such as a can koozie (available for purchase in our store).
- You must have a trash bag on board (1 per boat). If you are renting from us, this is included with your rental.
- Each person must have a Personal Floatation Device (PFD) and wear it.
- Dogs must be on a leash in campgrounds and are not permitted on park trails.
For complete regulations or for clarification of a regulation, call the National Park Service Headquarters for the Buffalo National
River in Harrison, AR at 870.741.5443.
|
|
Buffalo Outdoor Center is an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service. |
|