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Arkansas | Ozark Highlands
Buffalo River
Pruitt to Hasty
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 Pruitt Landing and take out at Hasty across from Chimney Rock Bluff for a 7-mile Buffalo National River day. Use the direct Pruitt USGS gauge as a 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
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Put-in
Pruitt Landing / Highway 7 accessPruitt is a busy Highway 7 access and NPS concession rules reference special handling when the Pruitt gauge is very low. Make a visual low-water and wood check before committing.
Take-out
Hasty river access / Chimney Rock Bluff take-outHasty 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.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Pruitt is a busy Highway 7 access and NPS concession rules reference special handling when the Pruitt gauge is very low. Make a visual low-water and wood check before committing.
- 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 a guarded minimum-only threshold from the NPS Float Guide bands. 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 route 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.
- Cold-water swims, remote rescue exposure, limited/no cell service, rough-road shuttle delays, and late-day darkness.
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 shapePruitt to Hasty, 7 miles
NPS describes Pruitt to Hasty as a 7-mile Buffalo National River trip, usually taking 3 to 5 hours, and says it is a popular alternative when conditions upriver are too low for paddling.
- Access and mileagePruitt to Hasty, 6.8 miles on the NPS mileage chart
NPS lists Pruitt and Hasty as Buffalo River access points and gives 6.8 river miles between them.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 07055680
USGS Buffalo River at Pruitt showed same-day May 31, 2026 data during review, including 442 cfs and 4.85 ft at 16:30 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.
- Route characterSwift water, sharp bends, Little Buffalo inflow
NPS says the Little Buffalo River enters halfway through the trip and the river typically gains velocity from there; NPS also says the section is not recommended for beginners.
- Access coordinatesPruitt 36.057666, -93.135032; Hasty 36.008993, -93.08242
NPS Getting Around lists Pruitt-Launch coordinates. Hasty is identified by NPS route text and access charts, with the coordinate anchored from map-verified public access records pending a better NPS coordinate table.
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
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More routes to check next
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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 Pruitt Landing / Highway 7 access and ends at Hasty river access / Chimney Rock Bluff take-out, about About 6.8 to 7 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.
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