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Arkansas | Ozark Highlands
Buffalo RiverErbie to Pruitt
Upper Buffalo continuation from Erbie to Pruitt, combining the exact NPS Erbie-to-Ozark and Ozark-to-Pruitt paddles into one compact campground-to-highway day. The Pruitt gauge is the direct same-corridor official check for the finish.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Erbie and take out at Pruitt for a compact upper Buffalo continuation below Ozark. Use the direct Pruitt USGS gauge as the low-water check, and skip the route when the river is rising fast, very low, or above the NPS unsafe level.
Access map
Put-in
Erbie Campground / river access (imagery-derived water-entry edge)Erbie and Pruitt are signed NPS accesses, but the roads and parking can still be muddy, crowded, or slow after storms and during summer weekends.
Take-out
Pruitt Landing / Highway 7 accessNPS says to continue about half a mile past the Highway 7 bridge to reach Pruitt Landing on river left. Do not mistake the bridge area for the signed take-out.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Pruitt Landing, then drive back to Erbie. NPS says the component shuttles are about 30 minutes from Erbie to Ozark and 15 minutes from Ozark to Pruitt, but upper Buffalo park roads can still be slow, rough, or muddy after storms. Inspect both accesses before launching.
Additional access notes
- NPS says no road follows the river, access roads may be unpaved or rocky, and GPS can be unreliable in the park. Carry a real map and do not assume cell service.
- This route uses the direct Pruitt gauge with minimum-only scoring. It is not a full ideal-range recommendation.
More route and safety guidance
- Scout current wood, sweepers, and landing conditions at Erbie, Ozark, and Pruitt because NPS warns the river can change too quickly for gauge data alone.
- Upper-district roads, unreliable GPS, limited cell service, and the mandatory finish at Pruitt Landing make daylight and shuttle margins part of the safety plan.
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Conditions
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Weather
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Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Buffalo River at Pruitt, AR. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Buffalo River at Pruitt, AR |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 100 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | NPS Buffalo National River Float Guide Pruitt gauge bands |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official route shapeErbie to Pruitt, 7.6 miles
NPS publishes Erbie to Ozark as a 5.4-mile trip and Ozark to Pruitt as a 2.1-mile trip, while the NPS access mileage chart lists 5.5 and 2.1 river miles between those access points.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-14USGS 07055680
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Low-water floor100 cfs minimum-only
The NPS-linked Buffalo National River Float Guide uses Pruitt bands of Very Low below 100 cfs, Low from 100 to 200 cfs, Moderate from 200 to 1,000 cfs, High from 1,000 to 2,000 cfs, and Flood above 2,000 cfs. Paddle Today uses only the start of Low as a conservative floor.
- Campground-backed put-inErbie Campground
NPS route and campground pages describe Erbie as a formal park campground with river access support for float planning.
- Access coordinatesErbie 36.070346, -93.211886; Pruitt 36.057666, -93.135032
NPS Getting Around lists Erbie and Pruitt coordinate anchors. Use the signed landings and current park access conditions rather than GPS alone.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- NPS Paddle Erbie to Ozark
- NPS Paddle Ozark to Pruitt
- NPS Buffalo River accesses and mileage
- NPS Buffalo National River paddling
- NPS Buffalo getting around / coordinates
- NPS Buffalo camping
- NPS Buffalo National River Float Guide
- USGS 07055680 Buffalo River at Pruitt
- USGS Water Services 07055680 latest conditions
Other routes nearby
More on Buffalo River
All 13Nearby routes within 75 miles
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