Buffalo River (Arkansas)

State

River

Buffalo River

Notes

The Ponca low water bridge air space measurement, compared to the USGS gauge, is explained by Mike Mills from Buffalo Outdoor Center. He describes 3-4 feet (10-20" air space) as being ideal for the upper Buffalo River as measured at Ponca.

Links

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Duck Duck Go Search
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National Park Service
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Arkansas Outdoors
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A Float Trip Blog from the Midwest
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Ozark Adventures

Gauges

Ponca (07055660)	Currently good (488 cfs) and steady
Saint Joe (07056000)	Currently good (851 cfs) and falling
Harriet (07056700)	Currently good (1070 cfs) and steady
View all gauges

Trips for Buffalo River (Arkansas)

	Date	Start	End	Distance	Condition	Gauge	Discharge	Height	Fishing	Details
	2022-06-07	Maumee North (A)	Buffalo Point (B)	Total trip distance: 138.8 miles16.6	Good	Harriet (07056700)	854	4.24	None	None Turner, Skip Day 6 of 9. Camped at river mile 123.5. USGS Gauge Data: Harriet (07056700) Discharge: 854 Height: 4.24 Source: Turner
	2022-06-08	Buffalo Point (B)	Rush Landing (B)	Total trip distance: 138.8 miles17.2	Good	Harriet (07056700)	844	4.23	None	None Turner, Skip Day 7 of 9. Camped at river mile 140. USGS Gauge Data: Harriet (07056700) Discharge: 844 Height: 4.23 Source: Turner
	2022-06-09	Rush Landing (B)	Buffalo City (A)	Total trip distance: 138.8 miles9.1	Good	Harriet (07056700)	772	4.15	None	None Turner, Skip Day 8 of 9. Camped at river mile 148.5. USGS Gauge Data: Harriet (07056700) Discharge: 772 Height: 4.15 Source: Turner
	2022-06-10	Buffalo City (A)	Riley's Outfitters	Total trip distance: 138.8 miles4.8	Good	Harriet (07056700)	746	4.12	None	None Turner, Skip Day 9 of 9. Total trip miles 138.8. Day 1: hiked the goat trail. Day 2: hiked Hemmed In Hollow. Day 3: no hike. Day 4: hiked the Narrows. Day 5: shower at Tyler Bend, cheeseburger at Gilbert store. Day 6: hiked Indian Rock house. Day 7: hiked Rush Mountain trail. Day 8: no hike; camped across from Skull Bluff. USGS Gauge Data: Harriet (07056700) Discharge: 746 Height: 4.12 Source: Turner
	2016-11-26	Maumee North	Spring Creek	Total trip distance: 9.4 miles4.4	Low	Harriet (07056700)	405	3.54	Poor	LMB Brown, Steve Coroleuski, Linda Torissi, Chris Van Someren, Tom No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Harriet (07056700) Discharge: 405 Height: 3.54 Source: Van Someren
	2016-11-27	Spring Creek Bluff	Dillard's Ferry	Total trip distance: 9.4 miles5.0	Low	Harriet (07056700)	336	3.42	Poor	LMB Brown, Steve Coroleuski, Linda Torissi, Chris Van Someren, Tom No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Harriet (07056700) Discharge: 336 Height: 3.42 Source: Van Someren
	2015-11-08	Rush Landing	Fish Trap Creek	Total trip distance: 28.9 miles6.9	Good	Harriet (07056700)	258	3.20	Great	LMB SMB Fillmore, Brian Miller, Russ No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Harriet (07056700) Discharge: 258 Height: 3.20 Source: Fillmore
	2015-11-09	Fish Trap Creek	Leatherwood Creek	Total trip distance: 28.9 miles9.3	Good	Harriet (07056700)	243	3.17	Good	LMB SMB Fillmore, Brian Miller, Russ No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Harriet (07056700) Discharge: 243 Height: 3.17 Source: Fillmore
	2015-11-10	Leatherwood Creek	White River (B)	Total trip distance: 28.9 miles7.1	Good	Harriet (07056700)	224	3.13	Fair	SMB Fillmore, Brian Miller, Russ No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Harriet (07056700) Discharge: 224 Height: 3.13 Source: Fillmore
	2025-10-10	Maumee North	Maumee South (B)	Total trip distance: 18.3 miles1.0	Low	Harriet (07056700)	97	3.33	Fair	GSF SMB Fillmore, Brian Fillmore, Rebecca Fillmore, Rosy Fillmore, Tristan Fillmore, Vivien Javorsek, Rachel No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Harriet (07056700) Discharge: 97 Height: 3.33 Source: Fillmore
	2014-10-08	Dillard's Ferry	Ingram Creek (B)	Total trip distance: 9.0 miles4.5	Good	Harriet (07056700)	96	2.53	Fair	SMB RB LSF GSF Fillmore, Brian Fillmore, Rebecca No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Harriet (07056700) Discharge: 96 Height: 2.53 Source: Fillmore
	2014-10-09	Ingram Creek (B)	Rush	Total trip distance: 9.0 miles4.5	Good	Harriet (07056700)	96	2.53	Fair	SMB RB LSF GSF Fillmore, Brian Fillmore, Rebecca No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Harriet (07056700) Discharge: 96 Height: 2.53 Source: Fillmore
	2025-10-11	Maumee South (B)	Buffalo Point (B)	Total trip distance: 18.3 miles10.3	Low	Harriet (07056700)	94	3.32	Poor	None Fillmore, Brian Fillmore, Rebecca Fillmore, Rosy Fillmore, Tristan Fillmore, Vivien Javorsek, Rachel Didn't fish very much. Did more paddling and swimming. USGS Gauge Data: Harriet (07056700) Discharge: 94 Height: 3.32 Source: Fillmore
	2025-10-12	Buffalo Point (B)	Rush	Total trip distance: 18.3 miles7.0	Low	Harriet (07056700)	91	3.31	Poor	None Fillmore, Brian Fillmore, Rebecca Fillmore, Rosy Fillmore, Tristan Fillmore, Vivien Javorsek, Rachel Didn't fish very much. Did more paddling and swimming. USGS Gauge Data: Harriet (07056700) Discharge: 91 Height: 3.31 Source: Fillmore
	2016-08-28	Elephant's Head	White River	Total trip distance: 28.9 miles4.3	Good	Harriet (07056700)	0	3.70	Poor	LSF Fillmore, Brian Fillmore, Rebecca Fillmore, Wylee Javorsek, Rachel No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Harriet (07056700) Discharge: 0 Height: 3.70 Source: Fillmore
	2016-08-25	Rush Landing	Fish Trap Creek	Total trip distance: 28.9 miles6.9	Good	Harriet (07056700)	0	4.06	Good	LMB SMB Fillmore, Brian Fillmore, Rebecca Fillmore, Wylee Javorsek, Rachel No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Harriet (07056700) Discharge: 0 Height: 4.06 Source: Fillmore
	2016-08-26	Fish Trap Creek	Leatherwood Creek	Total trip distance: 28.9 miles9.3	Good	Harriet (07056700)	0	3.91	Fair	SMB Fillmore, Brian Fillmore, Rebecca Fillmore, Wylee Javorsek, Rachel No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Harriet (07056700) Discharge: 0 Height: 3.91 Source: Fillmore
	2016-08-27	Leatherwood Creek	Elephant's Head	Total trip distance: 28.9 miles2.8	Good	Harriet (07056700)	0	3.77	Good	LMB SMB Fillmore, Brian Fillmore, Rebecca Fillmore, Wylee Javorsek, Rachel No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Harriet (07056700) Discharge: 0 Height: 3.77 Source: Fillmore
	2024-05-09	Ponca	Kyles	Total trip distance: 10.6 miles10.6	Good	Ponca (07055660)	589	3.99	None	None Edmond, Brian Van Someren, Tom Although the water was a bit cloudy, the level and riffles were perfect with several of them rising into perfect haystacks. This was not technically challenging at all but it could be intimidating for someone who wasn't ready for it. Ponca was really chaotic and busy but we didn't encounter a lot of people on the trip, most of those being the same groups we kept leapfrogging. We found two waterfall creeks besides Hemmed In Hollow (in photos). This was a very long day. I returned home via Arkansas backroad highways leading up to Shell Knob via MO 39. USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 589 Height: 3.99 Source: Edmond
	2016-03-15	Ponca	Kyles	Total trip distance: 10.6 miles10.6	Good	Ponca (07055660)	449	3.31	None	None Amburn, Andrea Arnold, Al Edmond, Brian Eth, Joe Van Someren, Tom The water level was nearly perfect for this trip. There were a few places where kayaks dragged the gravel or some rocks but the current was swift nearly the entire time and most riffles were easily navigated. USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 449 Height: 3.31 Source: Edmond
	2022-06-02	Boxley	Kyles (A)	Total trip distance: 138.8 miles13.6	Good	Ponca (07055660)	367	3.46	None	None Turner, Skip Day 1 of 9. Canoe camped at river mile 35.5. Boxley to Ponca easy Class I & II, numerous tree hazards and blind corners. USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 367 Height: 3.46 Source: Turner
	2013-05-11	Ponca	Kyles (B)	Total trip distance: 23.8 miles9.0	Good	Ponca (07055660)	195	2.52	Fair	SMB RB LSF GSF Fillmore, Brian Fillmore, Rebecca No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 195 Height: 2.52 Source: Fillmore
	2024-04-01	Ponca	Kyles	Total trip distance: 10.6 miles10.6	Good	Ponca (07055660)	190	2.91	None	None Peterson, Jackie Turner, Skip No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 190 Height: 2.91 Source: Turner
	2022-06-03	Kyles (A)	Hasty (A)	Total trip distance: 138.8 miles21.3	Good	Ponca (07055660)	164	2.82	None	None Turner, Skip Day 2 of 9. Camped at river mile 56. USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 164 Height: 2.82 Source: Turner
	2013-05-12	Kyles (B)	Erbie (A)	Total trip distance: 23.8 miles9.0	Good	Ponca (07055660)	164	2.41	Fair	SMB RB LSF GSF Fillmore, Brian Fillmore, Rebecca No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 164 Height: 2.41 Source: Fillmore
	2017-02-19	Ponca	Kyles	Total trip distance: 10.6 miles10.6	Good	Ponca (07055660)	148	2.58	None	None Acharya, Sreekanth Amburn, Andrea Amburn, Matt Arnold, Al Van Someren, Cynthia Van Someren, Tom Williams, Sarah Water level was okay, not great, but still worthy of a marginally 'Good' rating. Our boats ran into may many hidden rocks, and the less experienced kayaker got stuck on low gravel bars a few times. But the current was still moving along sufficiently. We got in the water at 11:40 and arrived at Kyle's at 5:30. A flat tire on the kayak trailer, along with a couple spills by Cynthia and Andrea in the canoe, prevented us from being able to hike in to Hemmed-In Hollow. USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 148 Height: 2.58 Source: Van Someren
	2019-03-22	Ponca	Kyles	Total trip distance: 10.6 miles10.6	Good	Ponca (07055660)	144	3.14	None	None Arnold, Al Bartlett, Renee Bullard, Loring Jones, Marianne Siegfried, Beth Turk, Scott Van Someren, Tom Williams, Sarah The weather today was excellent for a day on the Buffalo. The water level could have been higher to make this a perfect trip, but there was still enough flow to give it a 'Good' rating. Lots of half hidden rocks for the less experienced kayaker (as well as experienced floater) to get stuck on. Late in the day we had to help do a minor rescue of a father-daughter who capsized their canoe .3 of a mile upstream from Kyle's (they were two cold soaked and shivering floaters). We got in the water at 10:40 and arrived at Kyle's at just after 18:00, which included a hike in to Hemmed-In Hollow. USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 144 Height: 3.14 Source: Van Someren
	2013-05-13	Erbie (A)	Pruitt	Total trip distance: 23.8 miles5.8	Good	Ponca (07055660)	143	2.33	Fair	SMB RB LSF GSF Fillmore, Brian Fillmore, Rebecca No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 143 Height: 2.33 Source: Fillmore
	2022-06-04	Hasty (A)	Woolum (A)	Total trip distance: 138.8 miles21.5	Good	Ponca (07055660)	112	2.58	None	None Turner, Skip Day 3 of 9. Camped at river mile 76.2. USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 112 Height: 2.58 Source: Turner
	2015-06-27	Tyler Bend	Gilbert	Total trip distance: 5.6 miles5.6	Good	Saint Joe (07056000)	2470	7.41	None	None Beaver, Laura Seever, Mike Seever, Natalie This trip was reported by Natalie null. She stated that they didn't drag anywhere and took the trip in about 3 hours, half of the estimate given to them. USGS Gauge Data: Saint Joe (07056000) Discharge: 2470 Height: 7.41 Source: Seever
	2021-05-15	Baker Ford	Gilbert	Total trip distance: 9.7 miles9.7	Good	Saint Joe (07056000)	1160	5.60	None	None Feistner Osborn Water was absolutely perfect for floating. We put in around 10 and took out around 3. River was moderately crowded for a Friday. The agents checked some boats for life vests prior to putting in a Baker. Also, several pickups that were non-4WD got stuck on the gravel bar at Gilbert. I ended up having to pull one out that was blocking the main drive area. Based on that, 2WD vehicles should park with care at the take out location. USGS Gauge Data: Saint Joe (07056000) Discharge: 1160 Height: 5.60 Source: Feistner
	2022-06-05	Woolum (A)	Tyler Bend (B)	Total trip distance: 138.8 miles20.0	Good	Saint Joe (07056000)	873	4.96	None	None Tuner, Skip Day 4 of 9. Camped at river mile 94.5. USGS Gauge Data: Saint Joe (07056000) Discharge: 873 Height: 4.96 Source: Turner
	2022-06-06	Tyler Bend (B)	Maumee North (A)	Total trip distance: 138.8 miles14.7	Good	Saint Joe (07056000)	778	4.81	None	None Turner, Skip Day 5 of 9. Camped at river mile 107.5. USGS Gauge Data: Saint Joe (07056000) Discharge: 778 Height: 4.81 Source: Turner
	2010-10-09	Carver	Mount Hersey	Total trip distance: 15.3 miles6.8	Low	Saint Joe (07056000)	57	3.79	Great	SMB RB LSF BLG Fillmore, Brian Fillmore, Rebecca No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Saint Joe (07056000) Discharge: 57 Height: 3.79 Source: Fillmore
	2010-10-10	Mount Hersey	Woolum	Total trip distance: 15.3 miles8.5	Low	Saint Joe (07056000)	55	3.78	Great	SMB RB LSF BLG Fillmore, Brent Fillmore, Brian Fillmore, Rebecca Ligon, Day Ligon, Elicia Ligon, Elseya No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Saint Joe (07056000) Discharge: 55 Height: 3.78 Source: Fillmore
	2011-10-13	Little Rocky Creek	Maumee South	Total trip distance: 11.7 miles3.9	Low	Saint Joe (07056000)	47	3.49	Great	SMB RB LSF Fillmore, Brian Fillmore, Rebecca No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Saint Joe (07056000) Discharge: 47 Height: 3.49 Source: Fillmore
	2011-10-12	Red Bluff	Little Rocky Creek	Total trip distance: 11.7 miles3.9	Low	Saint Joe (07056000)	47	3.49	Great	SMB RB LSF Fillmore, Brian Fillmore, Rebecca No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Saint Joe (07056000) Discharge: 47 Height: 3.49 Source: Fillmore
	2011-10-11	Gilbert	Red Bluff	Total trip distance: 11.7 miles3.9	Low	Saint Joe (07056000)	44	3.47	Good	SMB RB LSF Fillmore, Brian Fillmore, Rebecca No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Saint Joe (07056000) Discharge: 44 Height: 3.47 Source: Fillmore
	2003-05-31	Steel Creek	Kyles	Total trip distance: 10.0 miles10.0	Good	(none)			None	None Edmond, Alex Edmond, Brian Edmond, Joseph UU Church Group See water level information in the Notes section. No USGS gauge for this river and date Source: Edmond

A total of 39 rows are displayed.

Trip Summary for Buffalo River (Arkansas)

Miles	351.2
Trips	17
People	40
Dates	39
Years	13
Months	8
Rows	39
Sources	6

Condition Descriptions

Flood - The river is flooding. Obstacles can be treacherous or deadly. The river should be avoided at this stage for casual trips and definitely for the inexperienced. Trips should be attempted only with protective gear and equipment.
High - The river is high and potentially dangerous, especially for the young and / or inexperienced. Normal stream obstacles are sometimes difficult to navigate. Extended distances can be attempted, but canoe travel may not be advisable.
Good - Conditions are ideal for a canoe or kayak. Boats typically will drag on fewer than one-quarter of riffles, if at all, and portages are unnecessary or rare. Normal float lengths can be attempted without a problem.
Low - River is low but can still be floated. Some riffles are okay but most come with significant dragging and might need a portage. Float lengths should be reduced to accommodate low flow, dragging, and portages.
Poor - River is too low to float comfortably. Most or all riffles will drag or must be portaged and some obstacles (such as slick shelf rock) cause undue problems. Avoid the river at this stage for casual paddling trips.
Potential - Evaluative discharge ratings do not exist for this gauge and water level. However, the current discharge is at or above the historic median value for today's date, indicating that conditions might be sufficient for a successful trip.
Unknown - A value of unknown indicates that enough information has not yet been gathered to determine a rating at the current river level. Review gauge and river data for more information.

Fishing Conditions

None - No fishing
Poor - 0 - 2 fish caught
Fair - 3 - 6 fish caught
Good - 7 - 15 fish caught
Great - 15 - 30 fish caught
Excellent - 30+ fish caught

Fish Species

Notes

A - Above / upstream
B - Below / downstream

Classic Trip List

The classic River Trips application is still available for use. It is updated with the new system using a data retrofit. It is no longer maintained. The original River Trips application is no longer updated (as of 1 Dec 2016) but can be checked for errors or for the condition of the data before it was converted to the new system.