The Longest Float Trip In Arkansas Will Bring Your Summer Tubing Dreams To Life
We’ve already given some day trip inspiration for your summer vacation, from water wonderlands to unique natural wonders. Short excursions are fun, especially for our tiny Arkansans, but there’s an epic adventure that can easily take up a couple of weeks to make your summer complete. Take a couple of point-to-point floats for a family weekend or tackle the whole river!
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The Buffalo National River is the most iconic piece of Arkansas nature. It's more than just a pretty place to look at though, this river is a gateway to endless adventures.
It's easy to see why the beloved Buffalo became the first designated national river in 1972. The Buffalo is also one of the few free-flowing rivers left in the country, which means it's a prime river for paddlers and floaters. A good place to begin our floating journey is at the far west side of the river, around the Buffalo Outdoor Center.
Address: 4699 AR-43, Ponca, AR 72670
The river can be divided into three portions; the upper, middle, and lower Buffalo. Each has its own flair but all have an unrivaled beauty.
The entire river is nearly 150 miles long, so there's plenty of options for multi-day float trips. The Ponca to Pruitt in the Upper Buffalo is one of the most popular. Just this one point-to-point float takes a weekend to complete or longer if you want to explore shore side.
The Middle Buffalo flows from Pruitt to about Gilbert. This is where you'll find some of the most beautiful campsites and famous bluff formations.
Pictured is the Skull Bluff, part of the "Nars" in the Middle Buffalo. This section is about 50 miles long and has plenty of trip options. Float for two days from Pruitt to Mt. Hersey, take a swimming day at Woolum, or set up camp at the Tyler Bend Campground. The river in this section is pretty mild with only class I and II rapids to keep up the flow.
The Lower Buffalo is the most calm of the sections which makes it perfect for new paddlers.
The Lower portion is just under 50 miles and runs from Gilbert to Buffalo City, where it joins the White River. This slower paced flow is great for swimming or a lazy float. You'll find the ghost town of Rush along this portion as well!
So no matter if you're taking a solo kayak to reconnect with nature...
View this handy map to see every put-in point along the river as well as designated campgrounds. You can also visit the Buffalo Outdoor Center website to see itinerary inspiration for your upcoming float!
What’s your favorite portion of the Buffalo? Share with us in the comments below! You can also add your float photos in our Facebook group, Arkansas Nature Lovers. You should join for your chance to be featured and to discover why there’s nothing better than Arkansas’ stunning nature.
The Buffalo is home to more than just floats! Stay at the state’s most beautiful campground and explore the rest of this national treasure.
Arkansas native, Carol Ann Carson, has written for OnlyInYourState for three years now. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. The graduate of University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Carol Ann earned her B.A. in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. in Library Science. She loves exploring the trails around the Buffalo National River and has yet to find a waterfall that wasn't her favorite.
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