Upper Buffalo River
(Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area to Carver)
The upper river is the largest of all districts. It contains two wilderness areas and some of the most rugged terrain and scenic views in the park. This section of the park offers the most river accesses and the most challenging sections of river to float. In spring, it contains the most heavily used section of river, and in the fall it contains the most heavily used trails. The majority of hiking trails are located within the upper district. Lost Valley offers a memorable hike along Clark Creek and is a notable attraction on the upper river. Equally interesting is the Erbie Historic District, which contains many historic sites and the park's oldest structure, the Parker- Hickman Farmstead, built around 1840. For information on canoeing opportunities, trails, and historic sites, the Pruitt Ranger Station is open on a limited basis in the spring and seven days per week between Memorial Day and Labor Day. You can also contact the National Park Service located in Harrison, Arkansas.
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Access Points And Campgrounds
The upper or western end of the park includes 9 access points and 5 campgrounds. Fees for sites in these developed campgrounds are $12.00 per site per night with 6 people permitted on each site. Fees charged during season when water is available. No fees charged during winter when water systems are shutdown. Boxley Bridge – located on the upper end of the river along Arkansas Highway 21. Boxley provides access to the Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area, a joint area with the Ozark National Forest and the National Riverway. Provides river access Ponca – Location of Beaver Jim Villines Boyhood Home. Ponca retains one of the old ‘low water’ bridges over the Buffalo. All boaters must portage over this barrier. Provides river access Steel Creek – is located on the upstream side of the Ponca Wilderness Area. Provides river access Kyles Landing – is located on the downstream side and across the river from the Ponca Wilderness area. Provides river access Erbie - Provides river access Ozark - Provides river access Pruitt Landing – is located just downstream from Pruitt Ranger Station. Provides river access Hasty – located off of Arkansas Highway 123, just south of the Hasty community. Provides river access Carver – located on Hwy 123 between Hasty and Piercetown (Arkansas Hwy 74). Provides river access |
Steel Creek Campground is about 3 miles east of Ponca Arkansas off of Highway 74. The tent campground has 26 campsites and the horse campground has 14 sites. Campgrounds open year round. The restroom and water system in the tent campground will be closed for the winter mid-November to mid-March.The vault toilet in the tent campground will be open but with very limited servicing. Water and flush toilets at the Steel Creek launch will remain open through the winter. Trash pick up provided. No RVs allowed. GPS Coordinates: 36.0407758, -93.3440483
Kyles Landing Campground is about half way between Ponca and Jasper Arkansas off of Highway 74. The entrance road into Kyles is gravel, very rough and high clearance vehicle is recommended. Campground open year round. Trash pick-up provided. Water system and restroom will be closed mid-November to mid-March. The vault toilet will be open, with limited or no servicing. No RVs allowed. No fees charged when water is off. GPS Coordinates: 36.0557563, -93.2812997 Erbie Campground is located 7 miles down a gravel road off of Hwy 7 north of Jasper, AR. Campground has 14 drive-in campsites and 2 walk-in campsites, each with a picnic table, fire ring and lantern hook. The drive-in sites are suitable for RV or tent camping but the campground has no hookups, no running water, and no dump station. There is a vault toilet. This is a Pack In/Pack Out facility with no trash service provided. Five group sites are available. Group sites #1 and #5 are first-come, first served, while sites 2, 3, and 4 can be reserved by calling the Tyler Bend Visitor Center at (870) 439-2502. No fees are charged. GPS Coordinates: 36.0734394, -93.2177326 Ozark Campgroundis located 3 miles down a graded gravel road off of Highway 7 north of Jasper, Arkansas. Campground open year round. Campground has 31 campsites, each with a picnic table, fire ring and lantern hook. Restrooms have flush toilets, but water system will be shutdown mid-November to mid-March. Vault toilet will be available throughout the winter. RV's allowed, but the campground has no hookups and no dump station. Trash pick up is provided. GPS Coordinates:36.0621317,-93.1597244 Carver Campground is located near the bridge crossing the Buffalo River along Hwy 123. The campground has 8 campsites, a vault toilet, water, and access to the river. Open year round. This is a pack in/pack out facility with no trash service provided. GPS Coordinates: 35.98518232 -93.03818673 |
List of Approved NPS Concessionaires for the Upper Buffalo River