Buffalo River questions

[silvercobra]

Hello,

I need to get on the Buffalo River bad, everyone and their dog that sees I kayak has been on it at one point in there life, it is time for me as well. The only probably is all I have is maps to look at and I don't know a think about the Buffalo. It is too far off for me to scout it out.

I live in Fort Smith Arkansas and it will be a one day trip, so leave here at sunrise or maybe a bit earlier and leave there at dark. I would like to get some rock climbing in if possible. I do deep water soloing so I need rocks on the water in case I fall.

It will be me in a Tsunami 145 and my friend in a Katana. I saw a few pictures of some pretty major whitewater and while we have the boats for it I can't roll every single time and he is just learning and can't roll his so I would like to avoid anything major. I figured the whitewater on the Buffalo would just be a small part of the very long river.

My friend and I are used to paddling up-stream first then coming back down so we avoid the need to shuttling but we have done it before and can fit both kayaks on either car if need be.

I just need to know where to put in at? I would prefer it not be a back road where our vehicles will not be safe. If you know a good stretch that is a quick drive between entry and exit points I wouldn't mind but keep in mind I will be driving from Fort Smith AR so I would rather only drive 2 hours and go upstream than to spend an extra hour to hour and a half diving to a place with a good entry and exit. We both drive cars as well so nothing that would require a vehicle with a bunch of ground clearance.

Thanks for any help!
Jeremy

[kru1]

If you don't want to put stress on your car by traveling on a gravel roads, then the upper buffalo access points for you are Boxely bridge, Ponca bridge, Steel Creek, and Pruitt (you can easily get to Ozark but there will be some gravel roads). You have to hit the upper after some rain, although it will hold for a few days after. Watch the Ponca gauge to see if it is flowing. Boxely-Ponca is a class II/II+. Ponca to Kyles is a popular class II-ish float, but the drive down to Kyles in a passenger car is hell, both getting in and out. All of the other sections downstream I consider class I with the possibility of a class V strainer around any corner.

I consider Pruitt down to Tyler Bend/Gilbert the middle Buffalo, great scenery. Hasty and Carver have paved roads to the access, but everything downstream will require traveling on gravel roads, save Tyler Bend and Gilbert just downstream. This section holds water a lot longer then the upper section (and is probably still floatable today). Woolum to Gilbert is my favorite, and there are few access points in between to make a float shorter. Huge limestone bluffs, most are on the Buffalo so I don't know how they are for climbing.

Gilbert to Buffalo City is what I consider the lower Buffalo. Paved roads can be found at Dillard's Ferry, Buffalo Point, and Rush (but there is a few mile stretch of gravel). This section usually flows year round. Below Rush is a 23 mile float through the wilderness. The bluffs here are generally more stepped and tree lined, not the shear vertical bluff like you find on the middle and upper section. Beautiful none the less.

You should see the Buffalo,
kru

[silvercobra]

Thanks Kru! I don't mind traveling on dirt roads as long as they are even and I won't get stuck. Though I am not a fan of parking my vehicle around areas that are only accessible by dirt roads unless it is a paid park, at least I know on the Mulberry Cambell Cemetary is like that (not a park) and I wouldn't want to leave my vehicle there with the stuff I have seen.

I will look into those access points and distance from Fort Smith and try to get a plan going. I was planning on going Saturday August 1st.

I guess those class V strainers are probably what I saw pictures of online.

Appreciate the information!

[Deuce]

There's nothing even approaching class V on the Buffalo. The upper upper section referred to as Hailstone is advanced whitewater but the rest of the river is class I and II and most of it, especially now, is class I.

Here's a helpful link. http://www.troop142bsa.org/buffalo_national_river.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Roger]

Here is one website with all gauges for convenience. Also let's you know what is floatable or not.

http://ar.water.usgs.gov/buffaloriver/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not just a lot of climbing opportunities where your fall will be straight into water. Be sure to carry your fishing gear as the Buffalo is a blue-ribbon small mouth stream.

[okieboater]

"All of the other sections downstream I consider class I with the possibility of a class V strainer around any corner."

kru posted the above and I agree with him.

I have paddled Hailstone a bunch and most of the Buffalo many times. Never got the shakies on the rapids even when Dog, Fish and I paddled Hailstone the afternoon after it crested above the Boxley Bridge that noonish.

However, that willow jungle closer to the end of the Hailstone run has caused me a lot of mental and physical anguish several times. Granted my version of a class 5 strainer might well be different from a Buffalo First Timer, but the vision of a kayak or canoe trapped in the classic Buffy willow jungle gives me the shakes.