Buffalo River trip

[Raymond]

Hello everyone,

My name is Raymond Brugger, a boater from So. Illinois. I have a few questions about the Buffalo and hoped some of ya on here might be able to help me out. Like most boaters I have heard wonderful things about the Buffalo over the years and would like to experience it for myself, hopefully this X-mas break. What are the best sections? I was thinking of trying the Boxley-Ponca, Ponca-Kyles. What are the best levels for these sections? I'll probably be solo so don't want anything too hairy. A little class III excitement would be nice but nothing more. And what about shuttles? Are they easy to come by in the winter months? Any and all info is much appreciated! So lets all hope that the 1-2 inches of rain falls in Arkansas and Missouri and safe boating everyone!

Thanks,
Raymond

[painterbob]

raymond, you maybe in luck... at this time on that upper section from eurbie to ozark, or pruitt. is runable but it's a low level . with the rain on friday it might just make it!( ponca to kyles) but i doubt any class III water(wishful thinking) as for outfitters you have, buffalo outdoor center, lost valley,on the upper section. riverside, and gordons motel in jasper. but if the rain does come i'm sure a lot of boaters will be there also! hope this helps you? post your plans and we might be able to help with suttle... can't let some poor guy from out of state abuse our water all alone!

[Richard]

Raymond, when are you going to be here? Will you be camping? If so will you be camping on gravelbars or campgrounds?

[Raymond]

If I come I plan on camping somewhere, not sure just where though. I paddle a Fun so stashing camping gear in it and river camping is a little difficult. Was probably just gonna try to find a campground or look into maybe backwoods camping in the area. As far as when I'll be there I guess thats mostly up to the weather. Id really like to paddle all of boxley to kyles and I know the river has to come up pretty far from where it is now to do so. AW says 3.7 is the min. so I was gonna take off from here when the river is gonna reach that level. Been looking at the QPF's and looks like an inch or two is gonna hit NW Ar., will that be enough to reach that level?

[coolhand]

I have read that from Rush to the White River is suposed to be a great float. I belive that it is a 3 day. Also I think it is the least travled section on the river. The smallmouth fishin is suposed to be great. It is also a run that can be dun with low water according to a book I read.

Luke,

[Bad Andy]

The lower section is least traveled because it is flat and requires a lot of paddling. In my opinion the best section is Boxly(or realistically) Ponca to Kyles. All my favorite places are on this section. there is some gradient on this section also, nothing approaching class III though. A couple of places with some small class II waves. Mostly when people enjoy the Buffalo they are in a canoe, it is not really a whitewater kayak type run. Mostly canoe camping type stuff. If we get the rain that is being forecast now, (2 inches) the Hailstone section could very well be running this weekend. That is class II-III, awesome scenery and water quality. More of a whitewater kayak type run. The Hailstone is 13 miles long, and a very fun run. The take out is at Boxly bridge, which is the put-in for the Boxly to Kyles run. My personal min for the Hailstone is 6 ft at Ponca. It can be run lower but it gets boney and 13 miles at a level below 5 ft this time of year is a LONG day.

If you're coming from S Illinois you're driving past the Jacks Fork and Upper Current rivers in MO. If you've never run the Upper Jacks Fork from Buck Hollow to Rymers or Bee Creek, it is every bit as nice as the Upper Buffalo, as is the Current River from Babtist Camp to Owls Bend. Jacks Fork and Current are runable now, more rain and they will be for sure all next week.

[Raymond]

I have paddled on the Jack's Fork and Current rivers. I agree they are very scenic and the water quality is to die for. I am looking for a little whitewater though. I thought that the upper buffalo was sorta like the Nanty with class 2 and 2+ rapids. I would love to run the Hailstone section, but being 400 miles away, thought the logisitics would be a little hard. Will anyone hear be running it Sunday if the water level is there? How long will the water hold?

[Bad Andy]

The Buffalo is nothing like the Nantahala. The character of the Buffalo is very much like the Upper Current and Jacks Fork, no whitewater to speak of, just a couple waves and some "riffles" some heavy eddy lines stuff like that. But very scenic for canoe camping, lovely river.

The Hailstone generally doesn't hold water very long. A day maybe two, if it gets pretty high.(8 ft or so)

There are a lot of other creeks and streams in that area that have some whitewater and are very nice also. The Mullberry from Wolfpen to Byrds comes to mind, still easier than the Nantahala, but some whitewater, waves and holes. Richland Creek and that watershed is my personal favorite. Lots of choices there. If it is running, there will be paddlers there too. Usually meet at the Richland Creek Campground bridge around 10am. The Saint Francis in eastern Missouri will be running this weekend with only a slight amount of rain. It will almost certainly be running this weekend thru Monday and possibly later depending on total amounts of rainfall. Check out the message board at the MWA website if you're interested in the Saint Francis.

[Richard]

The Buffalo's incomparable specialty is gravel bar canoe camping. Better white water can be found elsewhere. But you won't find a better place to river camp this time of year.