Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

I am wanting to camp and paddle on the buffalo for Labor Day Weekend... I realize there is no water in the upper buffalo, so that leaves me with the lower portion, if it is even floatable... I am not familiar with this part of the buffalo at all. I was hoping you guys and gals could offer up some advise on where to float and camp this time of the year.... Any help would be appreciated.

James

I've searched, but it's been difficult to find internet information on the lower Buffalo. As a general rule, you can usually float below Gilbert during the summer time, regardless of rain. You will drag in places, but you won't be stranded. The folks at the Gilbert General Store are very helpful and can give you an idea of the river levels there.

My bare minimum for camp floating above Gilbert is 3.75 ft on the Pruitt gauge (you will drag at this level in a tandem canoe with gear). The level is 4" below that as I write this, so I would qualify that as being impassible. This gauge, and the one at St. Joe, are new and do not correlate with what is recommended in the "A Canoeing and Kayaking Guide to the Ozarks" bible that a lot of us use.

If anyone has a recommended level guide (that is updated to the new gauges) for St. Joe, I'd love to bookmark it. :)

try this one...
http://www.harrisonarkansas.org/riverlevels.htm

ty

Pruitt has changed since that one. It has been posted on the net, and this board... dunno where. Look back around May and June. I have a little piece of paper the rangers gave me.

Pruitt levels
too low below 3.8
up to 4.7 is low but.....
up to 6.6 is ample
up to 8 is experienced
over 8 is flood

keep in mind the rangers will close if it is above 7 and rising with water upstream... not a concern this weekend I think??

Floating from Hwy. 65 down used to be quite doable down to Two foot without dragging! It's been a couple a three years since I've done it though. Level at St. Joe is still Three plus.

we did Baker Ford to Grinders Ferry this past weekend at about 3.7. Low but still doable.

river levels might be getting a bump too

Thanks everyone for the input!

Thanks for the reminder of the ever present raiders of the night there Richard.

Coon proof camping is an essential on that river if you want your food for your group for a couple of days instead of the coons.

I'll give this a shot! Its a Word doc and the NPS swears to me it is accurate including the new Pruitt readings. I went over each and every gauge with them on the phone.

If you can get it downloaded you can save it for future reference.

Thanks for the chart, GutIt. That was exactly what I've been looking for.

You are most welcome S&E!

Can't wait to see those Psychedelic boats you guys have!