See all 20 routes on Buffalo River
Arkansas | Ozark Highlands
Buffalo River
Tyler Bend to Grinder's Ferry
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 Tyler Bend and take out at Grinder's Ferry for a short middle-Buffalo float often used for tubing. Use the direct St. Joe gauge as the decision point, and avoid the route when water is too low to carry or already pushing into unsafe flood conditions.
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
Tyler Bend river accessThe current NPS concession operating plan says only the Upper Tyler Bend access is available until further notice. This route's marker is the upper gravel slipway; use its connected parking area and follow current signs rather than the separate downstream gravel-bar feature.
Take-out
Grinder's Ferry access / gravel barGrinder's Ferry is a primitive gravel-bar access that can flood and soften. Confirm that the vehicle approach, turnaround, and take-out path are workable before launching.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- The current NPS concession operating plan says only the Upper Tyler Bend access is available until further notice. This route's marker is the upper gravel slipway; use its connected parking area and follow current signs rather than the separate downstream gravel-bar feature.
- Grinder's Ferry is a primitive gravel-bar access that can flood and soften. Confirm that the vehicle approach, turnaround, and take-out path are workable before launching.
- Even on this short reach, Buffalo access roads and GPS routing can be unreliable. Carry a real park map and do not assume cell service.
- This route uses a community-calibrated St. Joe minimum-only threshold paired with official NPS route and safety evidence. It is not a full ideal-range recommendation.
Watch for
- Swift current, wood, strainers, and pushier water when the St. Joe gauge rises.
- Low water below about 120 cfs at St. Joe, when dragging and shallow lines become likely.
- Very high water approaching or above the NPS 8,000 cfs Grinder's Ferry unsafe level.
- Crowded tubing traffic, swimmers, and concession traffic near Tyler Bend and the short-access middle corridor.
- Soft gravel bars, hot-weather complacency, afternoon storms, and cold-water swims when rain refreshes the reach.
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 near St. Joe, 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 | 120 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Rivers.MOHERP Buffalo River St. Joe gauge bands and same-route trip evidence |
| 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 shapeUpper Tyler Bend to Grinder's Ferry, about 1.7 mapped river miles
NPS publishes the short Tyler Bend to Grinder's Ferry trip and its older access chart lists 1.1 miles. Because the current NPS operating plan says only the upstream Upper Tyler Bend launch is available, Paddle Today measures the present route along the corrected canonical river trace instead of applying the shorter lower-launch spacing.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 07056000
Direct USGS Water Services for Buffalo River near St. Joe showed same-day values of 184 cfs and 3.37 ft at 2026-07-14 18:45 CDT during review.
- Low-water floor120 cfs minimum-only
Rivers.MOHERP lists the St. Joe gauge Low band beginning at 120 cfs. Paddle Today uses only that conservative floor and does not infer an ideal range.
- High-water cutoffNPS unsafe above 8,000 cfs at Grinder's Ferry
NPS says Buffalo River levels greater than 8,000 cfs at the Grinder's Ferry / Highway 65 gauge are unsafe.
- Access coordinatesUpper Tyler Bend water entry 35.9894782, -92.766846; Grinder's Ferry 35.986017, -92.743686
The Upper Tyler Bend water entry is aligned from the official NPS area-map launch symbol to the uniquely shaped upstream gravel slipway and independently checked against current imagery and fresh NHD hydrography. The separate NPS parking/facility anchor remains in the canonical access registry.
- Route characterMostly flat short middle-Buffalo float
NPS says this reach is mostly flat, commonly used for tubing, and has a short shuttle of about 10 minutes between accesses.
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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Keep exploring
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 near St. Joe, AR and uses 120 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 Tyler Bend river access and ends at Grinder's Ferry access / gravel bar, about About 1.7 mi from the currently available upper launch 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.