Buffalo River Trip

April 12@ 8:00 am– April 13 @ 5:00 pm    Free – $11.50

This is a car camping trip on the Buffalo River.  We will paddle the upper Buffalo starting at Steel Creek and paddle to Kyle’s Landing Saturday and Sunday we will paddle from Kyle’s Landing to Erbie.  Appropriate boats are all plastic boats 15 feet or shorter.  This trip is for intermediate to advanced paddlers.  There is camping both at Steel Creek (reservable through recreation.gov) and Kyle’s landing (first come first get).  You will need to bring camping gear and food.  On Saturday we will hike to Hemmed in Hallow, which is off the river. You will want to bring hiking shoes or boots.  Saturday’s paddle will be 8 miles and Sunday’s is 6 miles.  You will need to pack lunch for both days and plenty to drink. Dress for immersion, preferably a drysuit or wet suit or change of clothes in a dry bag.

Buffalo became the Buffalo National River by Act of Congress on March 1, 1972, and was the first river ever designated as a “national river”, a designation that protects natural rivers from dams, impoundments and other obstructions that change the character of the river and disrupt the natural land and water life that flourishes there. The Upper section has all of the whitewater rapids to be found along the river but also features some very beautiful topography among which are sink holes and caves, springs and waterfalls, 500+ foot tall bluffs overlooking the river and many interesting rock formations that captivate the attention of those into rock structures and the stories they tell.  The Upper Buffalo is a great place to paddle in northern Arkansas.

The scenery coming out of the Ozarks is breath-taking. With a gradient of about 11 feet per mile the river drops at a respectable rate, creating a good current when there is adequate water to paddle. The milky green color of the water, due to naturally occurring infusions of minerals, is characteristic of several Arkansas rivers including the Buffalo. Water temperatures can be quite cold (low 40’s) in the dead of winter, and a comfortable 80+ degrees in mid-summer. While not the biggest rapids in Arkansas, the Upper Buffalo offers spectacular vistas and good, fun rapids that for novice to intermediate paddlers.

The Upper Buffalo National River is rich in ecosystem diversity. The banks are lined with dense forests of gorgeous trees that are home to many species of birds, animals and plants. Though seldom seem, there are black bears and mountain lions in this area, so be careful about how you store food and anything else with a fragrance that may smell like food to an animal. You may also see a herd of elk grazing in the pasture on the right as you enter the launch area at the Ponca low water bridge. Skunks and raccoons may be the biggest “threat” you will encounter. If you are into off-river exploration, then a short hike up to Hemmed-in-Hollow will reveal the highest waterfall in this part of the nation – a 200-foot high cascade with a plateau from which you can gaze down upon the river below. The trail can be tough on those without adequate conditioning for somewhat steep climbing, but the view is worth the effort! Be sure to bring your camera.

Trip Leader Dave Haessig 314-304-7970 dghaessig@yahoo.com

To attend this trip/event:

1. You must reserve ticket for each person attending (see tickets below).
   This provides the trip coordinator with important information for safety and communication and gives the club important information we need for reporting to ACA within 30 days of the event.
2. You must fill out an event-specific waiver. This waiver link includes options for ACA members and non-members, as well as adults and minors: https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/e/mHaqrk7yQ49aCoT26Fx38F/

To chat about this event: If you want to chat about who is going, ask questions, arrange carpools, or check last minute updates, please see the relevant post on the Club-Sanctioned Trip Into & Comments section of our forums: Club Sanctioned Trip Info & Comments – St. Louis Canoe & Kayak Club (stlcanoekayak.com)

We will also be posting on the Club Sanctioned Trips forum the names of people who have signed up for the trip.