The Buffalo National River in Arkansas is America’s first national river and is one of the few undammed rivers in the lower 48 states. Managed by the National Park Service, Buffalo River float trips are a popular summer activity for paddlers in the summer. Over Memorial Day weekend a few years back, I pulled together some kayaking friends for a Buffalo River kayaking trip. Planning this multi-day Buffalo River float trip was half the fun. Using a Trails Illustrated Map, I charted a 50-mile plan to float the Buffalo River over a 3-day float trip.

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Buffalo River Float Trip Itinerary

After studying the maps, reading other trip reports, and consulting with my travel partners, we settled on the following three-day itinerary for this Arkansas float trip. Typically, planning to canoe or kayak for about 15 miles is reasonable. However, this was a spring trip so we had high, fast water, which meant we ended up finishing pretty early on the third day. Keep the season in mind when you are planning any river trips! You may also want shorter distances to allow more time for hiking on shore or just relaxing at camp. As it was, this Buffalo River canoeing itinerary left plenty of time for Happy Hour each day when we reached camp!

• Day 0: Overnight camping at Tyler Bend group campground
• Day 1: Woolum to Shine Eye Campground (17 miles)
• Day 2: Shine Eye to Spring Creek (20 miles)
• Day 3: Spring Creek to Rush Landing (13 miles)

A 50-mile river trip means a 50-mile car shuttle, so getting our cars in place took several hours. There are shuttle services that will help you with this, but we had four cars in our group, so we decided to save some money and shuttle our own cars. First, we dropped off the boats at the Woolum launch and then drove all the cars to our take-out point at Rush Landing. We then returned to the launch in one car, which had to be picked up after the float trip concluded. If you choose one of the Buffalo River Outfitters, they will do everything from shuttling your car to providing gear and food for your Arkansas float trip.

Because kayaks are easier to transport when empty, we also had to pack up our boats at the launch. There were definitely some camping items that didn’t make the cut! While weight isn’t quite the issue it is for backpacking, there still isn’t much space in a kayak, especially for a three-night trip!

New to paddling? Read 7 Tips for a Better Kayaking/Canoeing Experience!

Buffalo River Camping

If you are planning a Buffalo River float trip, plan on primitive camping. This means you pull over on the river and find a spot to camp; there are no established sites or campgrounds. You need to be self-sufficient and carry or treat your water, be prepared to go potty outdoors, and follow Leave No Trace principles at all times. The river is heavily used, so it’s incredibly important to leave it in good condition, better than you found it, if possible. The beauty of a little extra effort is having an island all to yourself, quiet camping conditions, and excellent stargazing!

Day 1: On our first night, we camped at the beach near Shine Eye Campground. There is an established campground (and outhouse!) at Shine Eye, so we could walk to the campground from our beach. This would be our most civilized camp of the trip.  The next two nights were more primitive and secluded.

Day 2: We paddled Spring Creek, which was primitive camping on our own sandbar. It really is as simple as spotting a beach that looks nice, then claiming it as your own for the night! If you haven’t camped on a sandbar or beach, I highly recommend it!

This trip wasn’t entirely primitive, making it a great choice for a first-time multi-day canoeing trip. There are established campgrounds at some points along the river, and a visitor center at one of the most scenic spots along the Buffalo River. And best of all, no portages! If you are thinking about a big trip like a Boundary Waters Canoe Expedition, the Buffalo River is a great “warm-up or practice” trip!

What to Pack for Multi-Day Float Trips

A multi-day canoeing trip isn’t so different from backpacking, except you won’t be as concerned with weight, especially since we didn’t have any portages on this trip. My backpacking gear list is a good place to start, as anything you take backpacking can be used on a float trip, as long as you can keep it dry! When choosing clothes for your float trip, these whitewater rafting clothes will also work. And, if you have outdoorsy friends, you can often consolidate gear and share stoves, water treatment, etc. Here’s a basic list of what to pack for a backcountry paddling trip:

• Obviously, you will need your paddling gear: boat, paddle, PFD (life jacket)
• On deck, I like to have a bilge pump, sponge, map, and compass as well as a whistle on my PFD
• A waterproof case is also nice to have on deck for your phone, compass, keys, etc.
• Dry bags are key to a comfortable float trip; the medium size is best for stuffing them into kayak storage areas. If you are canoeing, larger dry bags are better! Anything you want to stay dry goes in a dry bag, including your clothing, food, sleeping bag, and tent.
• I like a lightweight tent with a rainfly and mesh top. If no rain is forecast, I like the extra airflow and the ability to stargaze from my sleeping bag!
• For summer trips in the South, I use a nice lightweight sleeping bag to wrap up in. Mine is rated down to about 40 degrees, which is perfect for summer camping.
• A sleeping pad is always nice and I usually have two: a Therma-a-Rest closed-cell foam pad for insulation, and a self-inflating pad for extra cushioning.
• I know they say “cotton kills,” but when camping in the warmer months, nothing feels better than a clean cotton t-shirt and shorts for sleeping. I save the quick-dry clothes for the daytime!
• Of course, you’ll need a camp kitchen if you want to eat! On a short trip, a few freeze-dried meals and a JetBoil stove are totally adequate. Read about my favorite backcountry meals!

Buffalo River Outfitters

Whether you are just floating the Buffalo River as a day trip or plan an overnight excursion, there are plenty of outfitters who will take care of all the details for you. Obviously, my paddling friends are pretty self-sufficient, so we did not use any outfitters, as it was a fairly easy drive down from Chicago. The National Park Service has a list of approved Canoe, Kayak, Tube, and Raft Rentals & Shuttle Services.

Arkansas Float Trip Precautions

For our Memorial Day float trip, the sections just above our launch were closed due to high water. There had actually been a fatality just a few days before, so it’s important to stay up to date on water levels. If needed, stop in at the ranger station and discuss your plans with them; they will most likely have some feedback for you and can relay any warnings to you along the way, whether it’s river conditions, fire dangers, or any recent wildlife issues.

Hotels Near Buffalo River Arkansas

You may want to book a hotel room for the night before or the night after your Buffalo River Trip. There are several hotels in Harrison, Arkansas, and lots of mom-and-pop places renting cabins along the river. Harrison is about 45 minutes from the Woolum put-in where our trip started. If you want a bigger town with more things to see, there are tons of hotels in Branson, Missouri, which is about 90 minutes from the Woolum launch.