#buffaloRiver
Hike to Devil’s Tea Table in the Lower Buffalo Wilderness
Hiking to Devil’s Tea Table is one of those Buffalo River experiences that quietly surprises you. The hike to Devil’s Tea Table leads to a massive rock formation perched above the Buffalo River in the Leatherwood Wilderness area of the Ozarks near the small community of Cozahome, Arkansas. From the edge, you get a wide, sweeping view of the river corridor below. Additionally, this area sits within a landscape packed with hiking opportunities along the Buffalo River and throughout the Leatherwood Wilderness. Sometimes we hike to waterfalls. But when there’s no rain, we find alternatives. During the dry season, we usually aim for views, caves, or unique rock features instead. The hike to Devil’s Tea Table delivers a huge rock formation sitting right on top of a scenic vista...
Floating Carver to Woolum on the Buffalo River
There’s something truly therapeutic about an overnight float trip on the Buffalo National River. The quiet stillness of the evening, and the crackle of a campfire under a canopy of stars. Sleeping to the sounds of water rushing through nearby shoals. A front row view of a towering bluff with the morning sun peeking over its ridge is one of the best ways to enjoy morning coffee. For those seeking a perfect blend of stunning scenery, manageable paddling, and ample camping opportunities, floating Carver to Woolum on the Buffalo River is an ideal choice. This journey offers a fantastic multi-day adventure that showcases the heart of America’s first national river. Floating Carver to Woolum on the Buffalo River is a classic overnight float through serene forests, rugged bluffs, and ...
Ozark Campground to Hasty on the Buffalo River
Floating from Ozark Campground to Hasty on the Buffalo National River offers a serene and scenic adventure through the heart of the Ozarks. This is a great option for paddlers that love the Pruitt to Hasty float but would like to add a couple more miles to it. Ozark Campground is two miles upstream from Pruitt Access. The seven mile float from Pruitt to Hasty is one of the more popular day trips on the Buffalo. Most – maybe all – of the local outfitters put paddlers on the river at Pruitt. I don’t know of any that provide float or shuttle service starting at Ozark Campground. I assume this is because Pruitt’s close proximity to Hwy 7 makes it much easier for outfitters to access than Ozark. But for anyone willing to self-shuttle their own boat and skip the line at P...
Floating Rush Landing to the White on the Buffalo River
The Buffalo National River offers a unique wilderness experience for millions of hikers and paddlers every year. This natural playground of the Ozarks attracts visitors from all over to experience the thrill and beauty of its many scenic floats. But for those seeking ultimate tranquility, solitude and stunning scenery, the Lower Buffalo Wilderness offers a true escape. Floating Rush Landing to the White on the Buffalo River is a 25-mile float that delves into the heart of the Ozarks. This remote stretch of the river provides a glimpse of a world mostly untouched by civilization. Floating Rush Landing to the White on the Buffalo River has been on my adventure to-do list for years. After bad weather spoiled our plans for this float in 2023, my buddies and I were determined to try again. With...
Baker Ford to Tyler Bend on the Buffalo River
I once wrote that Tyler Bend to Gilbert on the Buffalo River is my top recommendation for beginner paddlers. I think it still is. But Baker Ford to Tyler Bend comes in a close second in that category. This short section of the Buffalo is a perfect lazy river float for a beginner to get a taste of Ozark paddling. With no dangerous rapids, the steady current carries floaters downriver without too much paddling required. All while experiencing the majestic bluffs and crystal-clear waters that keep us all coming back. The only thing that makes Tyler Bend to Gilbert a slightly better option for beginners is the ease of self-shuttling. The driving distance to the put-in is much shorter to Tyler Bend than Baker Ford. Aside from that, it’s about the same floating conditions and scenery. This...
Grinder’s Ferry to South Maumee on the Buffalo River
As float season gets underway, the businesses along Hwy 65 between Marshall and St. Joe are getting into their busy season. Paddlers of all kinds will flock to this beloved area by the thousands for a fun day on the Buffalo River. A majority of folks floating in this area will do Tyler Bend or Grinder’s Ferry to Gilbert. It’s one of the most popular sections of the Buffalo due the ease of shuttling. But what does the Buffalo River look like after Gilbert? The next take-out after that is Maumee, and most people never see this 12-mile section. It’s been one of the few sections of the Buffalo left on my to-do list. So to start the 2023 float season, we did an overnight float from Grinder’s Ferry to South Maumee. You may be asking, “What’s the deal with this...
Maumee to Rush on the Buffalo River – An Overnight Float
One of my favorite ways to experience the rivers in Arkansas is with an overnight float trip. I’ve done several of these, and my most recent overnighter was South Maumee to Rush on the Buffalo River. All of the lands bordering the Buffalo River are public lands owned by the National Park Service. This makes the Buffalo one of the few rivers in Arkansas where you can camp almost anywhere along the entire river. Maumee to Rush is located on the lower Buffalo, making it floatable – usually – well into July. I love overnight floats because I don’t have to worry about the campgrounds filling up or trying to find a site. I don’t have to worry about getting off the river at a certain time to catch a shuttle. And when I do come off the river I don’t have to driv...
Hiking the Riverview Trail at Tyler Bend
It seems like every Arkansas Summer has a stretch of drought sometime between July and September. When the float rivers dry up and waterfall hikes become… well, just hikes. This summer (2021) has been especially dry and hot, making it difficult to get out and do these things. So what can you do when you just gotta get out there? How about a vista hike? Well that’s exactly what I did one Sunday in August. I hiked the Riverview Trail at Tyler Bend Recreation Area on the Buffalo River. There are a lot of high bluffs along the Buffalo River with trails leading to some great views. I like to hit those trails this time of year. Last Summer I did the most popular, Centerpoint/Goat Trail to Big Bluff near Compton. So this time I chose something closer to the Lower Buffalo. There a...
Floating Kyle’s Landing to Ozark on the Buffalo River
Spring is here and it’s time to float the upper portion of your favorite rivers. This year, my first float trip was Kyle’s Landing to Ozark on the Buffalo River. I usually make it a point to float Ponca to Kyle’s Landing every year. But I’m on a mission to float all the sections of the Buffalo I haven’t done yet, along with some new rivers. So floating this section on the Upper Buffalo was a top priority. It will likely be too low to float by mid-June, so you’ve got to get it while you can! We had a perfect Saturday for floating the last weekend of March. The area had gotten some good rain that week and the river was really high that Friday. But the Upper Buffalo drains off quickly, and by Saturday the water level was just right. Combine that with a sunn...
Paige Falls and Broadwater Hollow Falls
I have written a few articles lately about hiking around the Upper Buffalo River. That’s because there are so many great places there to hike. And most of them are not that far from each other, so it’s easy to do several in a day. All the trails have something different to offer. Some of them have waterfalls, others have majestic views, and some have caves and weird rock formations. They range from easy to difficult, short to long. And some of them are barely a hike at all. Paige Falls and Broadwater Hallow Falls is one of those. Much like Six Finger Falls and Fuzzy Butt Falls, it’s really hard to call this one a hike because the falls are so close to the road. The hike may be really short, but that doesn’t make the waterfalls here less impressive. In fact, this is ...
Hike to Hideout Hollow
As much as I hate for summer to end, there is a silver lining to Fall and cooler weather getting here. It’s my favorite time of the year to go hiking, for so many reasons. Overgrown trails become more clean. Ticks, chiggers and snakes go away. I can hike all day without sweating my ass off. The fall colors make the drive and the hike even more scenic. And late Fall means more rain, which means the waterfalls are running! This Fall I picked the perfect day to make the hike to Hideout Hollow. Hideout Hollow is a huge grotto/gorge (a hollow) encased in steep bluff walls with a 40 foot waterfall in the middle. Beneath the cliffs you can find the remains of an old “hideout” structure used by outlaws years ago. Hence the name “Hideout Hollow”. Stories vary on who th...
Hike to Balanced Rock Falls
The Buffalo River is well-known as probably the most popular floating and paddling river in Arkansas. But the lands around it are home to some of the best hiking spots in the state. In particular the Upper Buffalo area near Ponca, Boxley Valley and Compton is where you’ll find a lot of the most popular trails. There is a lesser-known hike in this area that is worth a look and that is the hike to Balanced Rock Falls. You won’t find the trailhead for this one on Google maps like the other ones. Nor is it listed on the Buffalo River NPS hiking page or the Hiking Project App. But you can find it on the AllTrails app I found this hike when I saw pictures of Balanced Rock Falls posted on some of the Facebook hiking pages that I follow. I like interesting rock formations as much as I ...
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