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Map of Buffalo National River in Arkansas. The river is represented in blue and the surrounding park areas are shades of green. The river and park curve like a shallow S on its side across the bottom half of the map.

Extended Description

This description will move along the Buffalo River from west to east before describing the features in the surrounding areas and ending with a transcription of the key.

Buffalo National River

The Whitaker Point (Hawksbill Crag) US Forest Service, which has hiking, enters the park through the Upper Buffalo Wilderness at the western foot of the first arch. The river passes the following sites along the upswing of the first curve: Boxley Bridge, which has river access and hiking; Lost Valley with hiking and drinking water; Ponca with river access and hiking; Steel Creek Ranger Station with river access, an information station, a horse camp, drinking water, hiking, and primitive campsite; Cedar Point with hiking; Kyles Landing with river access, drinking water, hiking, and primitive campsites; Compton with hiking; and Erble Horse Camp, which is at the top of the first curve.

The far side of the curve continues with Erble, which has river access, hiking, and primitive campsites; Ozark with river access, drinking water, hiking, and primitive campsite; Upper Pruitt with drinking water; Pruitt Landing with river access and hiking; Hasty with river access; and Carver with river access, drinking water, and primitive campsites.

The curve flattens a bit here as it stretches across the middle of the map past these sites: Mt. Hershey with river access; Woolum with river access, a horse camp, hiking, and primitive campsites; Baker Ford with river access; Collier Homestead with an interpretive trail; Tyler Bend Visitor Center with river access, drinking water, hiking, campgrounds, and an information station; Grinders Ferry, also marked Highway 65 Bridge, with river access; and Gilbert with river access.

The final upswing includes North Maumee with river access; South Maumee with river access, hiking, and primitive campsites; Spring Creek with river access, hiking, and primitive campgrounds; Dillards Ferry, also marked Highway 14 Bridge, with river access and hiking; Buffalo Point Ranger Station with Restaurants and cabins nearby; Buffalo Point with river access, drinking water, campgrounds, and an interpretive trail; Rush with an interpretive trail; and Rush Landing with river access, drinking water, and campgrounds.

The Buffalo River enters Lower Buffalo Wilderness after Buffalo Point. The river snakes down and across the flaring area of the wilderness and climbs up the east side of it toward Buffalo City and the confluence of the Buffalo and White rivers. Just west of this, Hathaway has a horse camp.

Surrounding Areas

Now moving around the park, the Ozark National Forest runs across the left half of the bottom edge of the map. The town of Harrison with Park Headquarters is north of Pruitt Landing. Interstate 65 angles southeast from Harrison to cross the bridge at Grinder’s Ferry.

The park curves up over the Gene Rush Wildlife Management Area (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission) between Carver and Woolum. Leatherwood Wilderness in another section of Ozark National Forest are along the right edge of the map.

Legend

A scale in the top left corner measures 1 and 5 kilometers and 1 and 5 miles.

Below the legend reads as follows:

White dashed line for Unpaved road,

Dark green for Wilderness area, and

Lighter green for Buffalo National River Authorized Area.

Directly below, text states, “Private property exists within the authorized area. Please respect owners’ rights.” And continues, with the word “Warning” in all red caps followed by “Locally heavy rains cause rivers and streams to rise rapidly. Pick campsites that allow an escape route. Do not dive or jump into the river. Swim only in clear, calm water and check below the surface for submerged objects.”

To the right of the legend, a column of symbols represent Drinking water, Hiking, Interpretive trail, Information station, Horse Camp, Campground, Primitive campsite, and Historic sites.