Off to the Buffalo River

The Buffalo River is by far the best camping river we have ever paddled on. It flows freely through public land in the Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas for over 135 miles before converging with the White River. Along its course it flows by numerous 300' limestone bluffs and large gravel beaches, perfect for primitive camping.

Tomorrow we are leaving home headed to the Buffalo River.We hope to put on the river on Tuesday afternoon for a 10-day camping trip. We had originally planned to leave yesterday and put on today, but were thwarted by high water levels due to monsoon-like spring rains and storms. Barring further rain, water levels should be perfect when we put-in on Tuesday. We are hoping the heavy rains will stay away for the duration of our trip. As you can see in this hydrograph, water levels can and do reach flood stage very quickly after a heavy rain event. Anything above 8.5' at this station is rated for "Experienced Floaters Only" Above 12.5' the National Park Service "closes" the river. The long term forecast doesn't look too bad. Wish us luck and bon voyage.

I won't be able to update this journal again until we get off the river about Apr 24.