The Woolum to Baker Ford float is one of those Buffalo River sections that can easily get overlooked. It sits between several more talked-about stretches, yet it has plenty to offer in its own right. At around 11 miles, it makes for a nice, quiet day on the water with a good mix of scenery, long gravel bars, and a more peaceful feel than some of the busier sections of the river. If the water is there, it is a float that is well worth considering.
This section can be a little hit or miss by mid-summer because the river level in this area can drop quickly. The Buffalo is known for going dry in places along this reach when water levels get low, so checking conditions before you go is important. The National Park Service notes that this stretch can even become a dry riverbed in spots during lower water conditions. Before heading out, it is a good idea to check levels on American Whitewater or River App. But when the water is high enough, the Woolum to Baker Ford float offers a quiet, scenic trip that also looks like it would provide some pretty decent fishing.
Quick Glance
Distance: Approx 11 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Woolum Access: 35.970607, -92.886403
Baker Ford Access: 35.981502, -92.813615
(Copy/Paste Coordinates into GPS or Google Maps search bar)
Directions
From Hwy 65 at St. Joe, go south on 374. At the fork, stay left on Searcy 18 Hwy, following the signs to Baker Ford. Taking a right at this same fork on Searcy Hwy 14 will lead to Woolum. The roads to both points have several miles of gravel road. The put-in and take-out points are mapped below.
UPDATE: As of Summer 2025, South Woolum Road between Woolum and Baker Ford was still closed due to washout from floods. You might have to take North Woolum Road off Hwy 65 at Pindall to get to Woolum Access. A little bit longer drive, but it’s not terrible.
What to Expect
The Woolum to Baker Ford float on the Buffalo is 11 miles, and took us around 6 hours. It’s a very easy float as far as rapids go. We did this float at 3.8 feet on the RiverApp guage and 4.0 on American Whitewater. I don’t recommend this float if the levels are too much lower than that. None of the rapids were more than class I. I don’t know about them when the water is higher, but it looked like it could be really fun at 5-6 feet. The river was a little low that day, but we never dragged. It still had a pretty nice current but we did paddle quite a bit on some of the long pools. It’s a little longer and more difficult to get to than Tyler Bend and Gilbert. But aside from that, the float is very similar. It’s kind of a lazy float at this level, suitable for paddlers of all skill levels.
My favorite thing about the Woolum to Baker Ford float on the Buffalo was that it wasn’t crowded. We may have seen 20 or so other paddlers that day, and that’s about it. Maybe it’s more crowded on other days and we just got lucky. But I suspect it’s because the put-in and take-outs require a little more effort to get to. There’s nothing wrong with mingling with lots of floaters and having a good time on the river. I like those days too. But sometimes it’s nice to have a chill day on the water with a few friends. This is a great stretch of the Buffalo to do that.
Scenic Bluffs and Cool Rocks!
As for the scenery, I didn’t really know what to expect on my first trip there. I was pleasantly surprised at the size of the bluffs on this stretch. A couple of them are huge – much larger than I thought would be this far down the river. Also there’s a lot of really interesting rock formations all along the float. Some of them are unique to this section of the river. I don’t remember seeing rocks like these anywhere else on the Buffalo. This float is worth doing for the rock formations alone.
Plan Your Trip
If you self-shuttle, you’ll want to be at Woolum by noon, which means you’ll need to drop a vehicle at Baker Ford around 11:30 or so. For anyone renting and/or shuttling with an outfitter, you’ll want to be at the outfitter by 8-9 am to ensure getting a boat. Some of the shuttles only run between 8-10 am. I recommend calling to reserve ahead of time. There are several outfitters between Hwy 65 and Gilbert to choose from. I don’t play favorites, so I won’t list them all here – just Google Outfitters near Tyler Bend AR, or St. Joe.
Accomodotions
Cell service here is pretty good between Tyler Bend and Gilbert, so it’s easy to coordinate with groups from there. If you want to spend the night or weekend, there are plenty of options for that. In addition to the Tyler Bend campground, there are two campgrounds and an RV park in Gilbert. This would also be a great section to camp out on the river. For more on overnight floating, read my article here. There are also a ton of cabins and vacation rental properties in the area. But you better book those well ahead of time. They usually are booked at least a month out in the summer. For anyone that likes a good post-float dinner, there are plenty of dining options between Marshall and St. Joe.
Know Before You Go
Allow yourself 6-8 hours on the river, depending on how much you want to stop and take breaks. Be sure to bring food and drinks for the river and remember – NO GLASS! If you are a new paddler, please be sure to check out the Paddling Tips and Gear List on our Paddling page. Be prepared to pack out any trash you have. If you see trash in the water that’s not yours, please pick it up anyway. We must all do our part to leave no trace. This is how we take care of this gift we’re so lucky to have. Be safe and enjoy the float. We’ll see ya on the river!
