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Arkansas | Ozark Highlands
Buffalo River
Ozark to Pruitt
Check current paddling conditions for this Buffalo River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
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
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch at Ozark and take out at Pruitt for a short upper Buffalo run past riffles, pools, and the natural tunnel corridor. 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.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Ozark Campground / river 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.
Take-out
Pruitt Landing / Highway 7 accessOzark can attract swimmers and beach users, so loading space and parking rhythm may be different from quieter Buffalo accesses.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- NPS 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.
- Ozark can attract swimmers and beach users, so loading space and parking rhythm may be different from quieter Buffalo accesses.
- 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
- Bouncy riffles, long pools, strainers, sweepers, fresh flood wood, and cold-water swims.
- Low water below about 100 cfs at Pruitt, when the Float Guide marks Pruitt very low and dragging or rocky shallows 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.
- Crowding around Ozark and Pruitt, limited or no cell service, and fast weather-driven level changes on the upper Buffalo.
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.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
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 |
| 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 |
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 Pruitt, 2.1 miles
NPS publishes the exact Ozark-to-Pruitt paddle as a 2.1-mile, 1-2 hour trip, and the NPS access mileage table lists 2.1 river miles between the two access points.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 07055680
USGS Buffalo River at Pruitt is the direct same-corridor gauge for this route. Its legacy current page exposed same-day official data during review, including 148 cfs and 3.82 ft at 2026-07-02 15:15 CDT.
- 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.
- High-water cutoffNPS unsafe above 2,000 cfs at Pruitt
NPS says Buffalo River levels greater than 2,000 cfs at the Pruitt / Highway 7 gage are unsafe. The app does not turn that into an ideal scoring range.
- Access coordinatesOzark 36.062132, -93.159724; Pruitt 36.057666, -93.135032
NPS Getting Around lists Ozark and Pruitt launch 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.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
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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 Pruitt Landing / Highway 7 access, about About 2.1 mi on the water.
Is this Buffalo River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.