Buffalo National River
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The Buffalo River, located in northern Arkansas, is the United States' first National River. The entire Buffalo River is slightly over 150 miles in length, of which the lower 135 miles sit within the boundaries of the area managed by the National Park Service where it is designated the Buffalo National River. The Buffalo originates in the highest part of Boston Mountains of the Ozarks, flows out onto the Springfield Plateau near the historic community of Erbie, and finally crosses the Salem Plateau just before joining the White River. The park is home to the state's only elk herd. The upper section of the river in the Ozark National Forest is managed by the U.S. Forest Service as a National Scenic River and a National Wild River.
The Buffalo National River was created by an Act of Congress on March 1, 1972, finally putting to rest the recurring plans of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct one or more dams on the river. The designation as a National River protects natural rivers from industrial uses, dams, empoundments and other obstructions that change the character of the river and disrupt the natural land and water life that flourishes there. Beginning as a trickle a little more than 15 miles above the park boundary in Newton County, Arkansas, the Buffalo River starts as the Main Prong Big Buffalo Creek. Advanced canoeists and kayakers refer to this section as the Hailstone. On topographic maps, the Buffalo River is shown to form at the confluence of Reeves Fork and Big Buffalo Creek just northeast of Fallsville. The river then flows north through Boxley to Ponca, where it begins a west-to-east trek across northern Arkansas to its confluence with the White River on the Marion-Baxter County Line just south of Bull Shoals Lake (approximately 14 mi (23 km) southeast of Yellville).
Along the upper river, the gradient is steep and the water is fast, leveling and slowing as the river runs its course. The upper section of the river has most of the whitewater rapids to be found along the river, and features some very beautiful topography, among which are sink holes and caves, springs and waterfalls, over 500 foot tall sandstone and limestone bluffs overlooking the river, and many interesting rock formations. At one point, a half-mile hike off the river up a narrow, boxed canyon leads to a 209-foot waterfall, Hemmed-in-Hollow falls, the highest of its kind between the Southern Appalachians and the Rockies. The river's ancient current also gives life to well over 300 species of fish, insects, freshwater mussels, and aquatic plants.
The Buffalo National River is a popular camping, canoeing and fishing destination. Visitors may bring their own canoes or rent from several independent concessioners. Camping is generally allowed throughout the park with the following exceptions: the Hemmed-in-Hollow area, on Big Bluff, in historical structures, on private property within the park, or within 100 feet of any trail or watercourse. Camping is however permitted on gravel/sand bars along the river. In addition, the National Park Service has a number of "developed" campgrounds along the river. These fee-based sites have parking areas, water, toilets, picnic tables and pay phones.
The National Park Service headquarters for the Buffalo National River is located in Harrison, Arkansas.
