Buffalo National River

America's first national river, a clear, undammed waterway through the Ozarks whose bluffs, waterfalls and Hawksbill Crag make it a canoeing and hiking hotspot.

Buffalo National River flows through the Ozark Mountains of northwestern Arkansas. In 1972 it became the first "national river" in the United States, with the National Park Service protecting about 217 km of undammed river. The water is crystal clear, lined by limestone and sandstone bluffs over 100 m high, and its side canyons hide waterfalls, caves and natural bridges, making it one of the most popular canoeing and hiking destinations in the central U.S. Seasons: March–May brings plenty of rain, making the upper river floatable and the waterfalls their most impressive; June–September the upper river is often too low to float, so head to the middle and lower sections, where you can also swim; the forests turn color from late October to early November; winter is quiet and good for hiking to see frozen waterfalls and elk. The river has three districts: the upper district, centered on Ponca, is the highlight, home to Lost Valley, Hemmed-In Hollow Falls, the Big Bluff Goat Trail, the elk of Boxley Valley, and nearby Hawksbill Crag and Glory Hole Falls in the Ozark National Forest; the middle district, centered on the Tyler Bend Visitor Center, has gentle water ideal for family floats; the lower district has Buffalo Point campground and the Rush mining ghost town, and supports multi-day float trips. Getting there: the nearest airports are Northwest Arkansas National Airport (Bentonville, about 2 hours' drive) or Springfield and Branson in Missouri; there is no public transportation in the park, so you'll need a car, and many roads are steep gravel. Lodging options include cabins and campgrounds in Ponca, Jasper and Harrison; reserve campsites in advance. Outfitters in Ponca and elsewhere rent boats and run shuttles; check water levels before you go. Cell service is poor in the mountains, so download offline maps. Plan on 2–4 days.

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