MIddle Buffalo River
(Mt. Hersey to South Maumee)
Sections of river in the middle district of the Buffalo National River offer quiet, gentle floats through a pastoral setting. Some of the best opportunities to get away from crowds and enjoy the river's tranquility can be found in this district. A good place to orient yourself with the river and to obtain information about all areas in the park is at the park's main visitor center at Tyler Bend. The facility offers an exhibit area and an auditorium where a variety of programs may be seen. The visitor center is open year-round. The Collier Homestead is an historic site at Tyler Bend which is presently under restoration. An accessible trail to the homestead and a nearby overlook is also presently under construction. A trailhead to Buffalo National River Trail is located at the Collier trailhead parking area. This trail joins with the Ozark Highlands Trail at Woolum, 15 miles upstream from Tyler Bend.
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Access Points And Campgrounds
The middle area of the river has 7 access points and includes one developed campground at Tyler Bend. Campground is open year round. Fees at Tyler Bend are $16 per night per site with 6 people permitted per site. Primitive camping at Mt. Hersey is available year round. Vault toilet will be open with limited or no servicing. No trash services will be provided. No fees charged. Mount Hersey – is accessible from unimproved roads. From this access point, ‘Tha Nars’ (Narrows) and Skull Bluff are reached downstream. Provides river access. Woolum - Provides river access. Tyler Bend Visitor Center – is the primary public contact area. It’s just off of U.S. 65. There is a full service visitor center, picnic area, campground and ranger station. Provides river access. Additionally, the ‘Colliers Homestead’ preserves a record of life in the mountains Grinders Ferry – is located at the Highway 65 Bridge over the Buffalo River. Provides river access. Gilbert – is at the end of Arkansas Highway 333 a short 4 miles (6.4 km) off U.S. 65. Provides river access. Maumee North – is on the north side of the river and west of Maumee South. It is accessed by an unimproved road. Provides river access Maumee South – is on the south side of the river and is accessed from an unimproved road beyond the end of the pavement on County Road 49. |
Tyler Bend campground is 2 miles off Highway 65 about 6 miles south of St. Joe, Arkansas. 10 walk in and 28 drive in sites are available on a first come first served basis. The campground provides flush toilet restrooms, one with hot showers. Water spickets are located throughout the campground. A dump station and tank filler is located near the park entrance at Highway 65 but there are no RV hookups in the campground.
Individual sites are $16 per night with 6 people permitted per site. Group sites may be reserved in advance for groups of 10 (minimum) to 25 (maximum) at $3 per person per night. Reservations may be made online at www.recreation.govor by phone at 1-877-444-6777. The day use pavilion may also be reserved in advance for $50 per day. Group, walk-in, and pavilion restrooms will be closed and winterized mid-November to mid-March. Visitors are still welcome to use the picnic area, but group sites and walk-in tent sites will be closed. The drive-in campsites and restroom will remain open throughout the winter. Since the water system will be on, fees will be charged for camping during the winter season. Woolum camping area is open year round. Woolum is located 7 miles southwest of St. Joe on paved and gravel roads. Vault toilet will be open with limited or no servicing. No fees charged. Horse camping is permitted. This is a pack in/pack out facility with no trash service provided. GPS Coordinates:35.9721127, -92.8819327 Grinders Ferry, Shine Eye, and Gilbert gravel bars are open for camping and vault toilets will be open year round with limited or no servicing. No trash services will be provided. No fees charged. South Maumee is open for camping all year. South Maumee is located 7 miles off Hwy 27 north of the community of Morning Star on paved and gravel roads. Campground has 5 campsites, each with a picnic table, fire ring and lantern hook. Vault toilet will be open with limited or no servicing. No trash services will be provided. No fees charged. GPS Coordinates: 36.0394107, -92.6299021 |
List of Approved NPS Concessionaires for the Middle Buffalo River
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Buffalo River Float Service
11637 Hwy. 14 S Yellville, AR 72687 870-449-2042 877-350-6592 [email protected] |