"Aerial of boats on the river" by T. Fondriest , public domain

Buffalo

Brochure

brochure Buffalo - Brochure

Official Brochure of Buffalo National River (NR) in Arkansas. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).

Buffalo National River Buffalo National River Arkansas National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior You can find quiet places for reflection and exploration on the Buffalo River. A 'River NestCecCin tfie Arkansas How did this river escape impoundment, impairment, and massive change? To preserve the Buffalo River as a freeflowing stream. Congress designated it as America's first national river in 1972. It nestles in the Arkansas Ozark Plateau, which is bounded on the north, east, and south by the Missouri, Mississippi, and Arkansas rivers. Earliest maps called this the "Buffaloe Fork of the White River," no doubt for now-extinct woodland bison. Originating high in the Boston Mountains, the Buffalo drops steadily to its confluence with the White 151 miles to the east. The gradient is steeper and the water faster on the upper river, but the river levels out and slows down over its course. Long, quiet pools between rapids disguise its vertical fall. Collier Homestead near Tyler Bend NPS / MARK ROBINSON Ozarks Side trips to hollows flanking the river dramatize this land's wildness and isolation. Some of the many prehistoric and historic cultural sites are 8,000 years old. There are village sites on river terraces, seasonal bluff shelters of prehistoric hunters and gatherers, and farmsteads of the Mississippian people who raised corn on floodplains or of ancestral Osage Indians who hunted along the Buffalo in historic times. Remains of early settlers' cabins abound. In Boxley Valley you can see traditional farming. Other places—like Parker-Hickman Farmstead in Erbie, the 1920s Collier Homestead at Tyler Bend, and Rush Mining District and Civilian Conservation Corps structures at Buffalo Point—illustrate conspicuous events or the threads of Buffalo River history. NPS / DALE DOMBROSKI Erbie Rock Scenic Landscape Formations The Ozark's highest river bluffs—up to 500 feet high—are sandstone, limestone, and dolomite. Centuries of erosion sculpted multicolored cliffs to accent the Buffalo River and its setting within wild mountain beauty. Its caves, cliffs, sinkholes, waterfalls, springs, and often intriguing rock formations typify Arkansas Ozarks geology. Buffalo River from Big Bluff Nature Along the River Elk on the Buffalo River Hunting and Fishing Plant and animal species of the Southwest, Northeast, and Southeast coexist in the Ozarks. Armadillos, roadrunners, and In the 1980s the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission introduced Rocky Mountain elk to Newton County. Elk were not released in the park, but they quickly moved into its maintained hayfields and remote woods along the Buffalo River. Now the growing herd (estimated at 500 elk) is both a tourist attraction and a park management concern. Elk-viewing is popular in October and November in Boxley Valley. Be alert then to heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Arkansas hunting and fishing licenses are required, and state regulations apply. Find regulations specific to the Buffalo River at a park contact station or at www.agfc.com, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website. Respect the rights of the private property owners with homes and livestock in the park. Juniper hairstreak butterfly feeding NPS /CAVEN CLARK tarantulas live with lichens found in arctic tundra too. The range of elevations (375 to 2,385 feet), moisture, exposure, and soil types support over 1,500 plant species. The river boasts 74 species of Clearwater fish. White-tailed deer, raccoon, and opossum are frequently seen, but the bobcat, mink, bear, otter, and beaver are more elusive. White-tailed deer NPS / MARK ROBINSON Elk Cow NPS / DALE DOMBROSKI NPS / DALE DOMBROSKI Reflection of Skull Rock on a fall day NPS /APRIL WOOD Eden Falls Smallmouth bass NPS/DANFEASER Fishing The Buffalo River is a favorite with anglers. Long pools and shallow riffles offer excellent fishing. The Buffalo and its tributaries are among the nation's richest waters in number of fish species. Anglers favor smallmouth bass, catfish, Ozark bass, and a variety of panfish. Most people fish from the bank or a boat. Float fishing is common on the river's lower, eastern half. Catch-and-release of smallmouth bass— with artificial lures, barbless hooks, and careful handling—is encouraged. Hunting Non-developed park areas are open to hunting—mostly deer and turkey. Various hunting seasons may occur from early September to April and mid-May to mid-June (squirrel only). Anyone in the woods in hunting season must use caution and wear bright clothing—hunter orange is recommended—especially in November's gun deer season and spring turkey season. All nongame species are protected. Turkey NPS/MARK ROBINSON Ozark Vistas, River Float Trips, Wilderness Walks, and More Getting Here Use US 65 or AR 7, 14, or 21 to get to the park. Little Rock and Fayetteville, AR, and Springfield, MO, are two- or three-hour drives from here. The central Ozark Mountains boast many public scenic and recreation areas. Camping The 11 campgrounds reached by car are open first-come, first-served. Some Buffalo Point campsites can be reserved. The Tyler Bend and Buffalo Point campgrounds offer restrooms, showers, and trailer dump stations seasonally. Most Buffalo Point sites have water and electrical hookups. Mid-March through mid-November, fees are charged at most campgrounds and a reservation is recommended. From November through March, services at Tyler Bend and Buffalo Point are limited but dates may vary. Camping limit is 14 consecutive days. All park group sites and pavilions must be reserved. Make all reservations at recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777. Campgrounds from Steel Creek to Rush Landing are excellent for beginning or ending float trips. fJB River access point Distances between river access points are shown on the diagram below. Average floating time at "ample floating level" is about two miles per hour. All have toilets. The steep roads to Steel Creek and Kyles Landing are not recommended for trailers, buses, or motor homes. Campground quiet hours are 10 pm to 6 am; use generators only in developed areas and there only between 8 am and 8 pm. Accommodations Harrison, Jasper, Yellville, Marshall, and other communities offer food service and lodging. In the park, Buffalo Point has concession rental cabins and a restaurant open seasonally. Contact: Buffalo Point Concessions, 2261 Hwy. 268E, Yellville, AR 72687, 870-449-6206 or www.buffalopoint.com. Horseback Riding Horseback riding is permitted on many park trails. In the Lower Buffalo Wilderness the trail loop from Hathaway Horse Camp to Cow Creek, from Cow Creek along Buffalo River to Cook Hollow, and then back to Hathaway Horse Camp is a special-use zone. Horses are restricted to established trails there and also Pa Information station rfl Drinking water f% Campground fS| Interpretive trail in the Ponca Wilderness. Elsewhere, horse and stock use is allowed on abandoned roads, gravel bars, old traces, backcountry trails, and shoulders of roads open to motor vehicles. Horses and pack animals are not allowed on frontcountry trails or in areas designated closed to horses. Primitive camping facilities that accommodate trailers are near Steel Creek and Erbie and at Woolum. Hiking The park offers wonderful hiking. Find trail maps at the visitor center, ranger stations, or online. Short, day-use trails are at Lost Valley, Tyler Bend, Buffalo Point, and Pruitt Information Station. More difficult trails are in the Ponca and Lower Buffalo wilderness areas. You can also walk the traces of former roads. Hiking is best in winter when foliage is down, but ice may pose a hazard then. In hunting season, use caution and wear bright clothing in the woods. Dogs, cats, and other pets are not allowed on park trails, in designated wilderness areas, or in park caves except as follows: In the Ponca Wilderness, pets on a six-foot leash are permitted on gravel bars up to 25 feet from the water's edge. Three designated trails allow pets on a six-foot leash—Lost Valley (AR 43), Mill Creek (AR 7), and Forest Trail (Buffalo Point)—see map. Interpretive Programs Interpretive events in spring and summer at Buffalo Point, Tyler Bend, Pruitt, Ozark, and elsewhere include campfire programs, guided walks and hikes, guided canoe floats, and Ozark folk music. Get a schedule at any park information station. For a Safe Visit Common sense best protects you against accidents. This is a natural area with hazards. • Don't count on cell phone coverage in the river corridor. • The river is great for swimming, but never swim alone or when the river level is high. There are no lifeguarded swimming areas. • Diving is extremely dangerous—rocks and logs lie unseen below the surface. • Loose, crumbly rocks or winter ice can make climbing riverside bluffs hazardous. A fall from a bluff is certain injury; getting medical help is difficult, dangerous, and may take hours. • Boil all water not from approved sources. • Bury all human waste at least 100 feet from water. Carry out all garbage. • ATV use is prohibited in the park. • Park firearm regulations conform to Arkansas regulations; firearms are prohibited in public buildings. • Consult the Superintendent's Compendium on the park website for any special regulations or restrictions. • To report emergencies 24 hours a day, call 1-888-692-1162 or 911. More Information Buffalo National River Park Headquarters 402 N. Walnut, Suite 136 Harrison, AR 72601 870-365-2700 TTY 870-741-2884 www.nps.gov/buff To Enrich Your Visit River guides, topographic maps, and books that explore this region's great wealth of natural and cultural history are sold at the visitor center and ranger stations. Except for the sale of Access, Senior, or Annual permits, no visitor services or sales are offered at park headquarters in Harrison. Buffalo National River is one of over 390 parks in the National Park System. To learn more about national parks and National Park Service programs in America's communities please visit www.nps.gov. Tyler Bend Visitor Center 870-439-2502 Buffalo Point Ranger Station 870-449-4311 Pruitt Ranger Station 870-446-5373 tvGPO:2012—372849/80814 Reprint 2012 Printed on recycled paper. Service animals are welcome. A Primitive campsite • ~~1 Buffalo National ' River Authorized Area Private property exists within the authorized area Please respect owners' rights. 1 Historic site Wilderness area 7J Unpaved road WARNING Locally heavy rains cause rivers and streams to rise rapidly. Pick campsites that allow an escape route. Do not dive or jump into the river. Swim only in clear, calm water and check below the surface for submerged objects. River access point: ; Ponca. River distances: 6.1mi 2.6mi I 8mi # River access point: *Boxley Bridge SteelCreek S.7mi •Kyles Landing 5.4mi *Erbie . 2.7m/ •Ozark . Pruitt Landing 7mi .Carver 4mi *Hasty . M t . Hersey 6.8mi .Woolum 8.5mi 11,1mi .Baker Ford 4.2mi Tyler Bend * 1.4mi .Gilbert 4.2mi • Grinders Ferry 77.8m/ .Maumee N 4.7mi •MaumeeS Sprint, Buffalo Creek. P o i n t . .Rush Landing 4.6mi I.Smi 7.5mi • Dillards Ferry 24.4mi . Buffalo City 11 mi To Norfolk Floating the Buffalo River Few experiences can compare to a float trip down the Buffalo. Clean waters, high rocky bluffs, wooded hillsides, and myriad wildf lowers in season conspire to restore you as a nature enthusiast. Inexperienced beginners can float slow-moving river sections, and canoes may be rented nearby. Always check with a ranger about river conditions before you set out. The Buffalo River offers a near-wilderness experience between Carver and Woolum and downstream of Rush Landing. Choices for length of float trips are many. Choose a half-day float or a 10-day float, 120-mile expedition; or anything in between. Boat motors under 10 hp are allowed only up to the Erbie boat launch. Before Setting Out Upstream from Pruitt the river offers exciting Whitewater usually floatable in winter and spring only: Canoe or kayak experience is highly recommended. Between Ponca and Kyles Landing, use is usually high, especially on weekends. Except when the river level is high, the Buffalo below Pruitt has calm pools, riffles, and the occasional fast water. On the lower Buffalo, be aware that Rush Landing is the last A serene stretch of the Buffalo River. Whitewater action challenges paddlers on the upper river. takeout before entering the Lower Buffalo Wilderness. A Buffalo National River Services and River Level Guide (at ar.water.usgs.gov/ buffaloriver) has general river conditions. river, so listen carefully. They also offer shuttle services for both floaters and hikers. Guided johnboat fishing trips serve the middle and lower river. Gear and food can be provided. Concessioners Parkapproved concessioners (listed at www.nps. gov/buff) rent canoes, kayaks, rafts, and Johnboats, providing all trip needs except personal gear and food. Their brief talks are meant to get you and their equipment safely over rapids and down the River Safety Observe all river warning signs and water safety regulations. • A US Coast Guard-approved life jacket is required for all occupants of a vessel and must be worn by children under 13. Wear it for your protection. • Glass containers are not permit- ted on or near the river. • Keep gear in waterproof containers; stow them low and balanced in your canoe. • If you capsize, stay on the upstream side of the canoe so you don't get pinned between it and river obstacles. • Stay off the river during floodwaters. If rising water threatens, camp where you can move to higher ground—and pull your canoe well out of the water. River rises of a foot or more per hour are common. Great blue heron.

also available

National Parks
USFS NW
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Minnesota
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
North Carolina
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Wyoming
Lake Tahoe - COMING SOON! 🎈
Yellowstone
Yosemite