Lower Buffalo Take out questions?

[nate-r]

I'm planning a 10 day trip on the lower Buffalo, Tyler Bend to...??
Buffalo City seems more ideal but upstream of the confluence with the White. Norfolk is 10 miles down looks like but is more urban. We would like to leave our vehicle in Buffalo City and I'm guessing paddle upstream to the take out. Is this possible? And will our vehicle be ok sitting for 10 days at the TO?
Any one out there with some beta? First trip down!

[Cool River Runnings]

I would go down to Shipps Ferry it is only a few miles. Trying to get up the white when they are generating is bad news. Here is a link to thread with more info:

http://www.arkansascanoeclub.com/mb/vie ... rush+white

[jermdog]

You can paddle upstream at the confluence fairly easily, and if it's generating, then just stay next to the bank and pull yourself along in the eddies. It's not that bad. The shuttles will kill you if you start going farther downstream. Not that the shuttle from Tyler Bend to Buff City is short by any means.

[Richard]

The shuttle is virtually identical for Buffalo City (62), Shipps Ferry(61) and Norfork(64). All are paved roads. I have paddled to Buffalo City a couple of times but the last time I tried it there were trees along the left side as you face upstream. They forced you out of the eddies. Shipps or the access directly across from the mouth of the Buffalo would be my recommendation. As cooler weather arrives they cut back on generating and the dynamics change making Buffalo City a more doable option.

[paddledog]

Hmmmmm........paddle upstream or float downstream....Hmmmmm.....

My vote has always been for Shipps Ferry.
Buy your trout stamp and fish your way to the truck.

[BEubanks]

I've only made that trip one time, summer of 1978. We camped at confluence, got up early and fished our way down to Norfork. Cooked breakfast on a one burner stove on top of a dry box while floating down stream. Not something I'd recommend now, but sure was a pleasant breakfast that morning. Mist/fog on the river. A few other early fishermen could smell our bacon cooking before they could see us. Made for some interesting conversation between boaters.

So, in a nostalgic mood, I vote for the easy drift down to Norfork. Of course, the river was already up with generation that morning--it being July or August, so the float was easy and relatively quick.

[panicman]

i did this trip one time and we took out at buffalo city. When we got to the white they were generating full bore and luckily I had a trolling motor rig on my canoe that helped me get upstream while I paddled. If not for the help of the motor I'm not sure I could have made it even hugging river right bank.

[prophet]

extremely long story cut short-

we were trying to get up the White in motorized flatbottoms, one towing another with a motor problem. The front boat stalled out repeatedly and we drifted backwards gaining and losing the same ground over and over. Eventually somebody figured out a gas hose was under a cooler being used for a seat by the guy who would stand and pull start the motor where it would run for a minute after he sat down and pinch the hose again.

[Dave Smith]

wonder what was in that cooler.......

[Mtngal]

Idle curiousity.......how far from the dam is it to the mouth of the Buffalo?

[Richard]

31 miles

[Mtngal]

Thanks. Knew I could count on you, Richard.