🚶 Float Guide

Buffalo River • White River • Spring River • Kings River • Crooked Creek

USGS gauge data — updated 6:03 AM CDT, May 10 — refreshes every 30 min

Buffalo National River

National Wild & Scenic River • Newton, Searcy & Marion Counties, AR

🏔 NPS Float Conditions

Upper Canyon

🪨 Too Shallow

63 CFS

2.22 ft gauge

13 mi section

🪨 Too shallow — dragging likely

▶ Put-in: Ponca Access • ■ Take-out: Kyle's Landing

📌 USGS 07055646 Buffalo River near Boxley, AR — Hwy 21 bridge at Boxley Valley

Upper Buffalo

⚠️ Marginal

185 CFS

3.84 ft gauge

7 mi section

⚠️ Marginal — possible but scrappy

▶ Put-in: Kyle's Landing • ■ Take-out: Steel Creek

📌 USGS 07055660 Buffalo River near Ponca, AR — above Kyle's Landing

Middle Buffalo

⚠️ Marginal

150 CFS

3.9 ft gauge

15 mi section

⚠️ Marginal — possible but scrappy

▶ Put-in: Pruitt • ■ Take-out: Woolum Ford

📌 USGS 07055680 Buffalo River near Pruitt, AR — Hwy 7 bridge, Newton County

Lower Middle

🛶 Good Float

398 CFS

4.09 ft gauge

17 mi section

🛶 Good float conditions

▶ Put-in: Woolum Ford • ■ Take-out: Gilbert

📌 USGS 07056000 Buffalo River near St. Joe, AR — Searcy County

Lower Buffalo

🛶 Good Float

523 CFS

4.2 ft gauge

21 mi section

🛶 Good float conditions

▶ Put-in: Gilbert • ■ Take-out: Buffalo Point

📌 USGS 07056700 Buffalo River near Harriet, AR — above Buffalo Point

Conditions key: 😊 Too Shallow ⚠ Marginal 🚶 Good Float 🌊 High & Fast 🚨 Dangerous

White River

Below Bull Shoals Dam • State Park to Cotter & beyond

🛶 Low & Clear

704 CFS

Not Generating Dam status

4:00 AM CDT As of

Good float conditions

ⓘ White River flow is controlled entirely by Bull Shoals Dam releases. Conditions can change rapidly when generation begins or ends. Always check the generation schedule before putting in — the river can rise several feet within hours of a new generation cycle.

📌 USACE Bull Shoals Dam — Lakeview, AR (primary flow source)

📌 USGS 07057370 — White River near Norfork, AR (downstream reference)

🌊 Full White River flow tracker & SWPA schedule →

Spring River

🛶 Good Float

Mammoth Spring to Hardy, AR • ~35 mi

426 CFS 2.99 ft

Good float conditions

Spring-fed — floatable most of the year. Mild rapids, excellent for beginners to intermediate paddlers.

📌 USGS 07069305 Spring River at Hardy, AR — Hwy 63 bridge, Sharp County

Kings River

🛶 Good Float

Kings River Falls to Trigger Gap • ~8 mi

201 CFS 3.84 ft

Good float conditions

Wild and scenic. Kings River Falls is a natural landmark. Scenic float through Ozark National Forest — Class I-II.

📌 USGS 07050500 Kings River near Berryville, AR — Carroll County

Crooked Creek

⚠️ Marginal

Yellville area • ~12 mi

65 CFS 9.56 ft

Marginal — possible but scrappy

Flow-dependent — best after recent rain. Clear water, gravel bars, and good fishing. Check gauge before heading out.

📌 USGS 07055607 Crooked Creek near Yellville, AR — Marion County

ⓘ River gauge data from USGS National Water Information System, updated every 15 minutes. Buffalo River float thresholds based on NPS and USGS official data. White River conditions reflect current Bull Shoals Dam USACE readings.

ⓘ Always verify conditions before launching. River levels can change rapidly, especially below dams. Float conditions are advisory only — use good judgment and wear a life jacket.

📞 Useful contacts 870-741-5443 — Buffalo National River (NPS) — Harrison, AR 870-431-5311 — Bull Shoals Dam release info (Army Corps) 866-494-1993 — SWPA White River generation schedule

Live data: USGS National Water Information System · NPS Buffalo River Paddling Guide