Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

I'm working on planning a trip down the Buffalo this season. Hopefully my work schedule with cooperate. I've been on most of the backpacking trails and know my favorite areas, but I'm wondering what areas I should plan to spend extra time on from the river. What is your favorite section of the Buffalo and why?

Most folks love the entire river, but I bet almost all would agree the Ponca Wilderness area is the best of the best. Tallest bluff, tallest waterfall, incredible camping, it truly is world-class. Also every feeder creek is worth hiking.

I am not the expert on the Buffalo that Richard and Roger are but that Ponca to Pruitt run comes to mind as really nice.

Like other posters have mentioned, hard to find a section that does not have special qualities.

there isn't any un favorite it's all good!... 50 % use ponca to Pruitt " the white water". then as the water level falls off, Pruitt to carver is the summer time beer floaters. carver to woolum is the least paddled section, and best fishing. and family floating Tyler to rush . last but least the wilderness section the top canoe camping section . the park service said just over a million and a half visitors for the 2010 season...

The upper is the most scenic. I really, really, really want to float the lower section to the White river. I have floated the rest just not that section.

Ponca to Kyles if done right will take you two full days...

I don't think there is any "right" or "wrong" way to paddle the Buffalo. If you enjoy spending time in your boat on the river and you want to paddle 10-15 miles per day that's great. If you want to spend 5 days paddling 10-15 miles exploring everything along the way, that's great too. It's all good; just depends on what you prefer.

The Ponca to Kyles section has some of the most rugged scenery, and usually some of the greatest traffic. Depending on how you feel about crowds, I would consider either a weekday float or a less used section. The lower Buffalo Wilderness section is one of the least floated areas. It does not have quite the number of tall bluffs, but still is quite rugged. It offers some of the best solitude and wilderness experience on the river. I have floated nearly the whole river from Dixon ford to the White, and the lower 25 miles are my favorite. My family has had many good trips on that section. Walter