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Arkansas | Ozark Highlands
Buffalo River
Ozark to Hasty
Check current paddling conditions for this Buffalo River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
Get the answer fast, then scan the route.
Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Launch at Ozark and take out at Hasty for a longer Buffalo continuation that drops through Pruitt into the popular lower-water fallback section. 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.
Put-in
Ozark Campground / river accessOpen mapOzark can attract swimmers and beach users, so loading space and parking rhythm may be different from quieter Buffalo accesses.
Take-out
Hasty river access / Chimney Rock Bluff take-outOpen mapHasty is the sandy river-right take-out across from Chimney Rock Bluff. It is a rural access with limited services; do not assume cell coverage or quick rescue response.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Ozark can attract swimmers and beach users, so loading space and parking rhythm may be different from quieter Buffalo accesses.
- Hasty is the sandy river-right take-out across from Chimney Rock Bluff. It is a rural access with limited services; do not assume cell coverage or quick rescue response.
- 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.
Watch for
- Swift water, sharp bends, occasional obstacles, strainers, sweepers, and fresh flood wood.
- The Little Buffalo River enters about halfway through the Pruitt-to-Hasty half and NPS says the river typically gains velocity from there.
- Low water below about 100 cfs at Pruitt, when the Float Guide marks Pruitt very low and dragging or portage-like sections become likely.
- High water above the NPS 2,000 cfs Pruitt unsafe level; do not treat flood or rising water as suitable private-boater conditions.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind 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 |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 100 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Data confidence 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 |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official route shapeOzark to Hasty, 8.9 to 9.1 miles
NPS publishes Ozark to Pruitt as a 2.1-mile trip and Pruitt to Hasty as a 7-mile trip, while the NPS access mileage chart lists 2.1 and 6.8 river miles between those access points.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 07055680
Direct USGS Water Services for Buffalo River at Pruitt showed same-day values of 41.7 cfs and 3.25 ft at 2026-07-14 20:30 CDT during review.
- 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.
- Route characterUpper Buffalo connector into the lower-water Pruitt-to-Hasty fallback
NPS says Pruitt to Hasty is a popular alternative when the river above Pruitt is too low for paddling and that the river usually gains velocity after the Little Buffalo River enters halfway through the trip.
- Access coordinatesOzark 36.062132, -93.159724; Hasty 36.008993, -93.08242
NPS Getting Around lists Ozark and Pruitt coordinate anchors, and Hasty remains the signed public take-out identified by the NPS route page across from Chimney Rock Bluff.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
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Quick answers
Buffalo River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Buffalo River?
Paddle Today watches Buffalo River at Pruitt, AR and uses 100 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Buffalo River route start and end?
This route starts at Ozark Campground / river access and ends at Hasty river access / Chimney Rock Bluff take-out, about About 8.9 to 9.1 mi on the water.
Is this Buffalo River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.