Arkansas Buffalo 5 Day Trip - 11/12/2020 - 11/16/2020
Submitted by Ben Quaintance
We had planned a 7-day Suwannee River trip in north Florida, but a hurricane canceled those plans. Jill Norveill suggested heading to the Arkansas Buffalo since we were all packed and ready for an extended, self supported canoe trip. Six of us, Jill Norveill, Paul Beebe, Teresa Tilton, Jeanne Sisneros, Pam Gowdy and Ben Quaintance headed to Arkansas.
The plan was to put in at Tyler Bend canoe launch, river mile 93.7, and paddle to the mouth of the Buffalo at the White river, river mile 153, over 5 days. We all met at Dirst Canoe and Cabins, south of Yellville, AR, arranged to have our individual cars shuttled from Tyler Bend to Riley’s Outfitter on the White river, and headed to the Tyler Bend canoe launch.
The weather over the 5 days was clear and cool. We did have an overnight thundershower with high winds at the Rush campground, but all was dry by morning. The river was running about a foot low so we did occasionally scrap bottom on some shoals. We got going every morning around 10:00 and were off the river between 3:30 and 4:00.
The paddling started at 1:00 Thursday with the launch at Tyler Bend.
We paddled 8 miles and camped on a gravel bar at river mile 101.7.
Friday we paddled 14.5 miles to a gravel bar at river mile 116.2
Saturday we paddled 13.3 mile to the Rush campground, river mile 129.5. At Rush we had to haul all out gear across a small creek and up a sloping ravine. In the morning we hired a fellow camper with a pick up truck to haul all our gear back to the river.
Sunday headed 15.2 miles down river to an island gravel bar at river mile 144.7
Monday we woke to ice and frost on the tent fly. We paddled 8.3 miles to the mouth of the Buffalo, river mile 153. We carefully scouted the White river crossing and then did a cross river ferry to Riley’s Outfitter, our take out.
This was a great trip. Along the way we passed Gilbert, Dillard’s Ferry, we lunched at Buffalo Point, and viewed Elephant Rock. We saw a couple river otters on the bank, one with a fish in its mouth, many Bald Eagles, and a deer fording the river.