Buffalo River level for a raft?

[Michele Jackson]

What's a reasonable minimum required level to float a 14 ft raft down the sections around Caver, Woolum, Tyler Bend?

Thanks!
Michele

[Mike B]

Michelle,

I'd say the minimum is about 4 to 4.5 on the HWY 65 gauge. That is right around the point where the recomendations change from ample water to low but floatable. There will be several spots that you will have to pick your path carefully and may have to get out and push a little.

At 5 to 5.5 there is plenty of water and enough current in most of the pools to make it pretty easy going. The floods really seem to move the gravel around a lot so it can also change from season to season.

We did Tyler Bend to Gilbert Friday at 5.5 in a 9 foot raft and didn't have any trouble. It was really shallow right at Tyler Bend do to gravel shifts from the spring floods.

[painterbob]

we rent them at all levels! in that section ... just add 2 1/2 more hours without wind at your back!!

[Dave Smith]

Yeah he said what I was thinking....we've only taken our Puma on the upper sections Ponca/Erbie once and even at a good level it was more work that we wanted.....slow!

No biggie either way it just depends on your motivation.

[Tim Eubanks]

We rowed the Puma a few weeks ago at 5.7ish on the 65 guage. No problems, enough water easily. Those pools below Woolum look alot like lakes to me. don't be in a hurry.