River guideArkansas
Buffalo River
Compare trips by distance, difficulty and current conditions. Open a trip for its map, directions and planning tools.
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Start with distance, then compare current scores where available.
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End of mapRiver overview
Buffalo River paddle planning
What to verify before you commit.
Water levels
These Buffalo River routes use 3 gauge references depending on the stretch.
Route options
Compare all 12 Buffalo National River endpoint choices. Ponca–Steel Creek and Pruitt–Hasty keep guides to NPS-named Upper District floats; Tyler Bend–Grinder’s Ferry covers the separate Middle District. The other nine combinations remain selectable with their own endpoints, mileage, water-level information, and hazards.
Difficulty
Buffalo River routes here are marked hard and moderate, so choose the stretch that fits your group and conditions.
Buffalo National River · Arkansas
Choose the district before setting a shuttle
The upper and middle route choices use different gauge references. Open the matching section guide, then compare exact endpoints in the trip picker.
Upper District · Ponca to Hasty
The National Park Service describes Ponca–Steel Creek and Pruitt–Hasty as named trips. Pruitt–Hasty is a popular alternative when water levels farther upstream are too low. Longer choices connect the same access chain; use the Ponca or Pruitt gauge assigned to the trip you select.
Open the Ponca to Steel Creek guideOpen the Pruitt to Hasty guideMiddle District · Tyler Bend to Grinder’s Ferry
This separate short reach uses the St. Joe gauge for nearby river context. Do not use either upper-district gauge as a substitute for checking the selected launch, take-out, water trend, and same-day conditions.
Open the Tyler Bend to Grinder’s Ferry guideCheck the National Park Service Upper District paddling guidance, river access and mileage chart, and paddling conditions before setting out.
Quick answers
Buffalo River paddling FAQ
Where can I paddle the Buffalo River?
Paddle Today tracks 13 Buffalo River routes across Ozark Highlands. Compare the route cards on this page, then open an individual route for put-in, take-out, distance, and access notes.
How should I check Buffalo River water levels?
Check the gauge notes for your stretch and its live score where available. This hub uses 3 gauges or gauge references. Planning routes have no live score; check their source guidance and current access notices.
Which Buffalo River route is best today?
Compare current scores where available, along with water level, recent trend, weather, access, and route difficulty. Planning-only cards provide trip information without a live paddling recommendation.