See all 13 routes on Buffalo River
Arkansas | Ozark Highlands
Buffalo RiverPruitt to Hasty
Seven-mile Buffalo National River day from Pruitt to Hasty, often used when the river above Pruitt is too low. NPS documents the exact trip and the direct Pruitt gauge is live, but this remains swift, rain-dependent Ozark water with sharp bends, wood, and remote-service caveats.
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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 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.
Access map
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.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Hasty, then drive back to Pruitt Landing. NPS says shuttle time is about 25 minutes, but Buffalo access roads and parking can change with floods, rough gravel, congestion, or posted park direction. 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 a guarded minimum-only threshold from the NPS Float Guide bands. It is not a full ideal-range recommendation.
More route and safety guidance
- The Little Buffalo River enters mid-route and can noticeably increase speed and consequence before the Hasty finish.
- Use the direct Pruitt gauge and current park alerts before launching. Very low water creates scraping and pinballing around obstructions, and NPS says flows above 2,000 cfs at Pruitt are unsafe.
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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 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.
- Gauge check during route review · May 31, 2026USGS 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.
- 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.
Other routes nearby
More on Buffalo River
All 13Nearby routes within 75 miles
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