Buffalo National River

Was driving over a bridge and saw this area and had to stop - Now I MUST come back and visit. Camping along the river while kayaking will be amazing. Can't wait - Just Beautiful!!!

Kayaking the Buffalo River was hands-down one of the best outdoor experiences we’ve had. The mix of peaceful paddling, bursts of excitement, and natural beauty makes this stretch of river something truly special. The scenery is incredible from the moment you launch: towering bluffs, dense forests, and the kind of calm that makes you slow down and take it all in. The river has a great balance of mellow and thrilling. There are long, gentle stretches where you can float lazily and just soak up the views, but also some sections with fast-moving current that give you a little adrenaline kick. We hit a few of those swifter spots, and they were so much fun to navigate, nothing too dangerous, but enough to keep things exciting. One of the absolute highlights of our trip was stumbling upon a hidden waterfall tucked along the river. You can hear it before you see it, and once you do, it feels like you’ve found a secret tucked away from the world. We pulled over, climbed up a short trail, and were rewarded with a cool cascade surrounded by greenery. It’s the perfect place to take a break, explore a bit on foot, and even take a dip if it’s hot, which it definitely was when we went. The water was crisp and refreshing, and honestly, it was hard to leave. There were a few very shallow spots where the water wasn’t deep enough to paddle through, so we had to hop out and drag our kayaks. It wasn’t a big deal, part of the adventure, and gave us a chance to wade through the cool water barefoot. It added to the fun and variety of the journey.

**I did read to be careful on the rocks as they can be soft when driving on. There was a suv stuck when we pulled in that took a while to be pulled out. Then I'm not sure why but a small car tried driving close and got stuck as well. They had to call the park rangers to be pulled out. Be warned you may get your car stuck. Just park and walk a few more feet.** Came across this while visiting my mother. Was a great place to take the dogs swimming with us! Other people had dogs so we stayed more to the left of the "main" spot. Water was warm and different depths. You can camp and have fires as well. Will definitely go again before heading home!

One of my favorite places to unwind and commune with nature! Even when the water is low, still fun to play in the river 😁 & watch all the fish, turtles, snakes, eagles, otters, frogs, deer, etc. Leave No Trace

Our very first time out here and kayaking. We had way more fun than we expected! I’m not a very outside sporty person, but this was definitely worth the sunburn and soreness!!🤍

Usually we float in June from Tyler Bend 2 Gilbert. However this year we floated from Grinders Ferry to Gilbert in the middle of August. The river was slow and low, but we had the best time.

Tyler Bend Campground was pretty decent. Accessible water from the Campground. No electric hookups. Some areas of the Campground require you to walk/drive a little for showers but overall a decent place to camp. The river water is fast moving so always be aware when near the water.

Perfect place for kayaking. Don’t forget to bring your 4x4 or AWD. Roads are unpaved !