Claim Your Listing About This Campground National Park Service Buffalo National River Suggest an Edit Access Drive-In Park next to your site Walk-In Park in a lot, walk to your site. Youll be distracted and may not notice until youre practically on top of it. Own or manage this property? Mostly easy going, but we had a spill in one rapids, and twice had to help other groups that hit trouble in rapids. With average river conditions, you can generally factor a speed of about 2 mph, which equals around 4 to 6 hours of paddling time for the typical 8- to 10-mile float trip. . What to Expect It really depends on the water level. Floating the Buffalo River from Ponca to Kyle's Landing Our Kyles Landing outpost is located at the corner of Kyles Landing Rd. Amazing float great little hike from the river to Hemmed in Hollow and back. If you need directions or recommendations while youre in the area, our knowledgeable staff is happy to point the way! Paddling is for rapid position and stability. At least one wearable PFD must be onboard any vessel for each person. At least one wearable PFD must be onboard any vessel for each person. Generally considered an easy route. It is well worth the cost to rent kayaks and pay for the shuttle. Pretty scenery and great location. Things To Do Paddling River Accesses & Mileage River Accesses & Mileage Last updated: May 2, 2022 Was this page helpful? Buffalo River Trail from Kyles Landing Campground - AllTrails Steel Creek is very beautiful. The bluffs arent the only scenic wonder, though. Arkansas State Law prohibits all glass on or near Arkansas waterways; all beverages must be placed in a FLOATABLE container, floatable Can Cooler. Mile 2-2.5: Roark Bluff (it stretches quite some distance), Mile 7: Pull-Off for Hemmed-in-Hollow Hike. Shelley is also the author of the blog (A Hiking We Will Go). Lost Valley Trail: 2487 Reviews, Map - Arkansas | AllTrails For your convenience, we shuttle your vehicle to a pre-set take-out access while you enjoy your float trip. Due to the pandemic and overall grade and width of Kyles Landing Road, we do not shuttle customers in vans or buses. At the base of Welch Bluff is the Crow Hole, a shaded swimming area with a primitive campground. Find us with Google mapsNorth 36.030863 degreesWest -93.25249 degrees. PFDs are also required to be worn at all time by all persons under age 12. When its too low, youll end up dragging your canoe or kayak in a dozen sections since its too shallow. The Buffalo National River was established as a National Park in 1972 and is administered by the National Park Service. There is no restroom available. Steel Creek is one of the most scenic public access points on the Buffalo National River. The Hemmed-in Hollow Trail intersects with many of the other trail systems in the Ponca Wilderness, creating multiple spur trails for the more adventurous hiker. Getting down to the Steel Creek required traveling down a steep gravel road, but at the bottom we were awed by the sight of the bluffs along the river. The trail opens up along the way, giving visitors outstanding scenic views of the Buffalo River and the Ozark Mountains that surround it. I stopped long enough to get one more picture of the terrain we were traveling down. Its been 15 years since weve floated and we had no problems at all. The trail was awesome! On our way down to the campground we talked with a guy with a road crew. Got me pretty wet! Just to warn y'all, there is no cell phone service at this campground. Bluff views are amazing and almost constant. It is a total wilderness experience. The Buffalo River Trail (BRT) begins near Whiteley Cemetery in Boxley Valley and winds along the bluffs, gravel bars, and banks that cradle the river. Get to know this 16.1-km point-to-point trail near Jasper, Arkansas. We decided to hike from Ponca to Kyles Landing. We parked at this camp area and backpacked upstream. (For those who actually live next to mountains, this is an exaggeration, but for an Oklahoma girl, these are mountains.). For what its worth, I hiked in basic sandals you wont need hiking boots. Learn how your comment data is processed. If the weather and water are right, maybe paddling is your preference. I wolfed down the grub and went straight to sleep. Most outfitters will (for an extra fee), valet your car from the Ponca/Steel Creek put-in to the Kyles Landing take-out, which is the easiest way to make the one-way trip. Its hard to capture it in the picture, but I gave it my best shot. All material on Arklahoma Hiker, except for that appearing on Mara Kuhn and Charlie Williams posts, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License. Based on the cards in my hand, we chose to rent a canoe instead of a tandem kayak in hopes of dripping less water on our bodies while paddling. If youre wanting even better rapids that are still safe I recommend the Mulberry River out towards Ozark AR. | Terms and Conditions. We took a break next to a small stream so I could shed some layers and catch my breath before we tackled another challenging hillside. Countries; Regions . All content 2023, Buffalo River Canoes. On March 15 my friend, Jonah and I took a couple kayaks down to the Buffalo National River to float the iconic Ponca to Kyle's Landing section of the river w. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. We really enjoyed camping here. Full Day Adventure: Upper District - U.S. National Park Service The Ponca Access on the Buffalo National River is an area that is teeming with life above and below the waters surface, making this a must-see stop on your summer bucket list! I took the 1 mile round trip to Hemmed in Hollow trail for lunch. A quick flip that dumped us into the chilly water. When I turned down the 3 mile road going to Kyle's. Plan your paddling trip for a weekday instead of a Saturday or Sunday. This is how locals and websites promote the trip, but in reality youll be paddling even though youre heading downriver (so keep that in mind). Download a Kyles's to Pruitt Trail Map. This is a narrow trail that traverses steep, uneven, and rocky terrain. The Steel Creek access has so much to offer, making it one of our most highly recommended stops for folks passing through Arkansas. Easy river access as well as being close to some of the most beautiful hiking imaginable make this a great camping spot. This ones worth the effort. Pruitt: 511CFS. From this spot, the trail heads up some more believe it or not. About two miles in, we came to the bluffs at Steel creek. This time, we were more mentally prepared for both the climb up and the climb back down, so it was not as bad (at least for me, but I did not have the 40-pound backpack). This makes this area perfect for an easy access summer picnic! Otherwise sit back and enjoy the ride. Fabulous fun day on the river. Kyles Landing is scenic, but is one of the more difficult swimming holes to access. Buffalo River at Ponca, AR - USGS Water Data for the Nation If I can successfully protect myself from the Sun. The park hosts were wonderful and had great recommendations. When the road forks, stay left to go on Kyle's Landing Rd. Needless to say, we got caught unprepared and spent the night on a gravel bar. Buffalo National River. I hope she knew what she was getting into! Water level was 2.7 low but floatable. | Terms and Conditions, March through June is the typical time frame for floating the Upper Buffalo National River, although we are sometimes blessed with rainfall that keeps the river floatable into July. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The trail started to climb a bit more, and we were getting our first clue that this would be more of a hike than we were used to. Customize your Multi day trip: Not seeing what you want? We walked to the trailhead along the highway for about a quarter of a mile. Customers may cancel a boat reservation(s) 72 hours or more in advance of your date of arrival without penalty, less the non-refundable deposit of $15 per boat/per day. The "Goat Trail" to Big Bluff is narrow and dangerous; visitors should proceed with extreme caution when hiking this section of trail. In a few spots, there were gorgeous blue-green pools that would be ideal for a swim on a warm, sunny day. Upon your arrival, you are surrounded by gorgeous towering bluff lines in nearly every direction. Click here for all the details. Pros: This is a beautiful place with many walk in primitive campsites. Also, our shuttle drivers are carefully selectedall have been vetted by our insurance and have clean driving records, and are versed in BRC policies regarding property that is placed in our care. Nice bathrooms. Beautiful country with some decent rapids. Big Bluff is around 500 ft up, I believe. If you can, go on a weekday. Most of them youll get through in a breeze. We then move cars in the order in which the keys have been handed to us (basically, a first-come/first-serve process). Along the way we ran into a couple hiking the opposite way. The Boxley Trailhead is located on the southern end of Boxley Valley on Hwy. If water levels are appropriate, Steel Creek to Kyles Landing is a spectacular, 8-mile stretch of river that traverses the Ponca Wilderness. Honestly, this hike is one of the best in the entire region. The BRT passes scenic overlooks, old home sites, and wild areas, giving visitors a firsthand look at what best characterizes the Buffalo River. Click here for more information. Finally at about 4 oclock, we passed a level spot that looked like it would make a good campsite, but there was no water anywhere around. Buffalo River Trail - Kyles to Ponca - Right Kind Of Lost Reviewed May 13, 2008 The Buffalo River is a must see for anyone who enjoys spectacular beauty. For 153 miles, the Buffalo River flows past bluffs and woods and waterfalls, creating a scenic journey throughout a large stretch of Northwest Arkansas. Shuttle time between Kyles Landing and Erbie is approximately 1 hour, mostly on gravel roads. If it's too low (it usually is by mid-June), you will drag a lot and it's not going to be fun. If a boat reservation is made within 72 hours of your scheduled launch date, full payment is required. Warm days in winter also make for good paddling days, and you will most likely have the river to yourself.Btw, the Arkansas Canoe Club offers classes on paddling for kayaks, canoes and standup paddle boards. This suited me just fine: as far as I was concerned, an eight-mile trip was still adequate for the experience and a variety of scenery. There arent very many pictures of the ascent because I was just trying to make it to the top of the next hill. This was definitely above and beyond what his job duties were but seems characteristic of how most Buffalo River Park Service employees act. The river will be here when you recover. This beautiful swimming hole offers long pools of water surrounded by bluffline. Buffalo River Trail-Ponca to Kyle's Landing - A hiking we will go Paddle Kyles Landing to Erbie - U.S. National Park Service We hope to see you soon! The Buffalo River Trail (BRT) in the Buffalo National River is a 36.5-mile trail that goes from Boxley to Pruitt. Theres a tree down 2nd curve in on the left. Throughout the journey, youll come across several Class I and II whitewater rapids. Each swimming hole listed offers cool clear water with world-class scenery and is just a short drive from our store in Ponca, Arkansas. The nearest take-out is at Erbie, approximately 5.7 miles downriver. They were easy to work with, easy to find, and had equipment in great shape. Your email address will not be published. There are some more pretty days coming up, so another trek is on the horizon! Water level dictates our launch site, which is either the access at Ponca, Steel Creek, or Pruitt. Listed below are our top five favorite swimming holes on the Upper Buffalo National River. Briar Bluff is a unique and beautiful bluff that towers over this this swimming hole, with a deep alcove on the face of the bluff that makes for a great spot to relax next to the water. They layout was nice and the other campsites were spread apart so we weren't sleeping right next to each other. The hike up to Hemmed in Hallow falls pretty easy, 1 mile round trip (about an hour). Water flow will push you into the tree. Buffalo Outdoor Center Seehttps://www.nps.gov/buff/canoe-rentals.htm for more information. We ended up removing the bags, loading the bike in his truck, then he took me and my Harley to the top in his truck when I was ready to leave. Steel Creek is a little over a mile from the Ponca Access, but in some ways feels worlds apart. 21. Before that, the water level was too low and we wouldnt be able to paddle anyway. Dont Underestimate the Buffalo River in Arkansas, 8 Awesome Buffalo River Cabins Perfect for Your Trip. Current Floating Conditions; Very Low Low Moderate High: Flood Stage Stage Only: Camping, Picnic Launch Sites Trails Concessioners No An official form of the United States government. Did Ponca to Kyles Landing on the upper Buffalo, 10.6 miles. We rented from BOC and started on May 30th about 9:45. The best times to visit this trail are March through June. You can beach the kayaks and hike to the falls from the river. For well information this can be a district-assigned local number. Right around the put-in, 220-foot-tall Roark Bluff stand next to the river, towering over you so you have to crane your neck to see all the way up. Steel Creek forms the southwest boundary of the Ponca Wilderness area, which is where the rest of the trail goes through. Medication, extra food drinks, etc. I felt like I was careening wildly down the hillside and at any point I would just begin to roll all the way to the bottom. The spur trails connect the Centerpoint trail with the Chimney Rock Trail, Sneeds Creek Trail, Big Bluff Trail, Compton Loop Trail, and Hemmed-in Hollow Trail. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. more, There are more places to choose from in the, buffalo national river kyle`s landing campground hotel ponca, Frequently Asked Questions about Buffalo National River Kyle's Landing Campground. They have a swimming hole to the right of the river access. Seeing it all requires days of dedication, either hiking or paddling (and several nights camping). The gem of the hike is Hemmed-in Hollow Falls. We crossed over the river at the Ponca low-water bridge and hiked up along a bluff line. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If that happens, just head to the left bank ASAP and walk the 40-50 yards back to the trailhead; its easier than turning around and paddling upstream. I was thrilled when the resident Volunteer Park Attendant named Bob said he'd like to help me. So after four hours, we were almost back to where we started from in the morning. This ended up backfiring as youll find out below but at least I had good intentions. He was riding a small enduro style motorcycle which is made to go off-road and he told me that he had laid his motorcycle down twice on the gravel road. I was moving at a slower pace than Stuart and trying to take more pictures to share. Nice flow of the river. The cliffs and colors were amazing. Description 61K views 5 years ago Canoeing the Buffalo River, Arkansas. Love the River and the area. Before it was completely dark, Stuart had made the best shells and cheese in the history of the universe. Maybe the really bad road is the one that goes to the Boy Scout camp. Cell service is non-existent along the Upper Buffalo River so you cant plan as you go. The road to Kyle's Landing closes about 1.2 miles from the trailhead periodically and this will add extra mileage to your hike, including a steep finale. The Trailhead is located at Kyles Landing Campground. Stop by to see us before or after your swim! Ponca to Kyles Landing is scenic, has descent level 2 rapids after a good rain, but still safe if you wanna take an inexperienced person with you! Find us on FacebookShare your photos and memories or just say hello! No reservations or backcountry permits required for this hike. . info@floatthebuffalo.com, or give us a call at 1-870-446-2644. If you are expecting a true primitive camping experience, do not come, This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. PFDs are also required to be worn at all time by all persons under age 13. The campsites were more open and widely spaced. ). The campsites are really close together so it's the luck of the draw on who you are by. Depending upon the month, launch times may vary somewhat. You can keep tabs on the river conditions via the National Park Service website, which is updated whenever the river isfloatable, even if that occurs in the winter. At Kyle's landing I went to the river just a little outside the camp and put my hammock up for the night right by the water. Quite possibly the best gem in the Natural State, the Buffalo National River is the perfect place for a floating trip or three. Wellits because most of the people here are not properly paying for their campsite. What a National Treasure. Rocks are super slimy and slick making walking/ portaging difficult. In early spring, abundant greenery lined the shore. What age minimum is recommended for floating the river. By the time we. I was exhausted and hungry. There are many ways to spend a day in the Upper District of Buffalo National River. Here, keep an eye on the left bank for Gray Rock Shoal and some fast-flowing water (sometimes known as Hells Half Acre) thats been known to trip up a fair amount of paddlers. The cascade, thin as it is, also seems to dance like a ribbon every time a breeze comes through. The scenery part was the only truth. Site type A list of primary and secondary site types . Do I need an advance reservation for canoeing? (Ponca to Kyle's Landing) Almost yours: 2 weeks, on us 100+ live channels are waiting for you with zero hidden fees The float from Pruitt to Hasty is a popular alternative when conditions upriver are too low for paddling. Great read. Try this multi day trip downriver and enjoy the scenery and some of the outstanding smallmouth, catfish, and perch fishing the Buffalo River has to offer. We've traveled many worse roads in Arkansas in our Honda Civic. 5.0. We do offer 17 foot canoes for your overnight adventures! All rights reserved. This post may contain affiliate links. In a little town called Ponca, theres a mighty big river. This location is tucked away from the campground activity, usually making this a little more private from the rest. The Hemmedin Hollow Trail begins in the heart of the Ponca Wilderness at the Compton Trailhead and winds down the mountain side descending nearly 1,400 ft. to the sandstone bluffs along the Buffalo River. The second outfitter was more flexible after stressing that it was, indeed, cold and the water would be, too. This section of the Buffalo River is not recommended for beginners. Loved the loft upstairs and the view. On my late April departure date, youd think Id be golden but Mother Nature threw us a curveball. There were several nice overlooks of the river and interesting rock formations. Buzzard Bluff, a monolithic giant, towers in the distance as your first mile marker. The county road that leads you to this swimming hole is called Newton County 2300 Rd., directly off of Arkansas Highway 74. Riding a large bagger that was loaded with camping gear, I honestly don't know how I managed to make it down to the campground without wiping out. Thank you for making our stay wonderful! We suggest a person be at least age six and able to swim, although there is no official age limit on the river. We highly recommend high clearance vehicles with four-wheel drive, although we do see vehicles of all types make this venture. We had read of the very bad road, and that kept us away for years, but found that it was just fine.