Get Outside in Arkansas | Buffalo River

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Arkansas, people! ARKANSAS! Being an outdoorsy gal in Kansas City has been a left me craving some next level outdoor shenanigans so I cannot believe it took me this long to get to the Buffalo River. And it is only 4 hours away! This guide includes camping, cabins, airbnbs, hiking, swimming, canoes, kayaking and resources to make it easy peasy to get out, about and around.

My hope is that this little guide will be a resource so getting outside isn’t so hard! I am sharing what I learned while researching our adventure and on our fit-it-all-in discovery trip. Add recommendations, questions and always reach out if you want support in getting outside. It can be intimidating but just takes one trip to find your comfort zone!

Camping

Living in Portland for 5 years gave me A LOT of camping experience and comfort with sleeping outdoors. I made a commitment at the beginning of summer to sleep outside once every three weeks and I am so happy I did. If you have questions about sleeping, cooking, supplies, general concerns - please do not hesitate to reach. It is a real dream when you become familiar and comfortable.

Kyle’s Landing: Right between Ponca and Jasper (about 10-15 minutes each way) this is on the north side of what I refer to as the Newton County Loop. We stayed here after looking at Steel Creek.

Absolutely loved Kyle’s Landing. All spots are great but we were specifically into #19. It seems that half the campsites have walkdown access to the River and the others have a lot of access as well. We were there in early September and the river was perfect for swimming and playing on kayaks/paddle boards. We were under a great canope of trees. Great hiking trail right off the campground: Kyles to Erbie (Part of the 37 mile BNR).

There are bathrooms but no showers (not issue for us rinsing off in the river.) Each campsite has a picnic table and fire pit.
4WD is highly recommended to get down to the campsite, and back up. It is a rough 5-10 minute downhill road.
33 sites and is open year round on a first come, first served basis. All sites are $20 per night.



Steel Creek Campground: We planned to stay here because it has great proximity to Goat Bluff, Lost Valley and it is just 3 miles East of Ponca. When we got down we were not stoked on the river access later to find out there is a cool swimming hole we were not aware of. We still would have made our way through other site to get there but the swimming hole pictures look fantastic! Campsites are in an open field against the tree-line that leads to the River.

There are bathrooms but no showers (not issue for us rinsing off in the river.) Each campsite has a picnic table and fire pit.
26 sites and is open year round on a first come, first served basis. All sites are $20 per night.

Ponca Campground (Currently closed due to Pandemic): This campsites and Steel Creek were the popular ones I had heard of when researching and asking around about the Buffalo River Area.

Other campsites I know less about: Ozark Campground, Erbie Campground, Carver Campground, Tyler Bend (where we launched Kayaks from Buffalo River Outfitter), Gilbert Campground, Woolum.

Cabins/AirBNB

We absolutely love sleeping outside but it is not for everybody, respect! I did a little research to pull together some adorable spots to stay with the luxury of walls, showers and plumbing and still have great outdoor access.

Appreciate you using the links in this post cause ya girl gets a little Airbnb lovin kickbacks

Hideaway near Buffalo River: Y’all, this spot is cuuuuute! A cozy, secluded cabin in a breathtaking setting with fab amenities. Wake up to the sunrise views and hot tub under the stars. Minutes from river access in Ponca for floating the Buffalo River. Also close to scenic hiking trails such as Goat Bluff, Hawksbill Crag and Lost Valley, and more! (I have tried all of these hikes so look at the deets below!) You can grill out, stay in a cozy up by the fire place with a movie or sip wine on the beautiful deck. https://www.airbnb.com/associates/122780?s=67&c=.pi115.pk0_9&a4ptk=22605_0_9_122780&af=115

Cutest Yurt w Panoramic Views: Argued one of the best places to stay in the area, the Dogwood is a state-of-the-art home with outstanding, wide-open views of the Ozark Mountains. Guests describe the property as serene and peaceful - an ideal place to unplug. Wildlife is everywhere, great views of the night sky and fire pit for the win! https://www.airbnb.com/associates/122765?s=67&c=.pi115.pk0_9&a4ptk=22605_0_9_122765&af=115

Mountain Top Escape for Larger Groups: Whether it is for a party of two or a large group, you will discover the perfect hideaway that makes you feel right at home! Incredible views, hot tub, fire pit, pool table and more. The location is convenient yet private with easy access to hiking, kayaking and canoes! https://www.airbnb.com/associates/117209?s=67&c=.pi115.pk0_9&a4ptk=22605_0_9_117209&af=115

Luxury “Treehouse” spots with beautiful views!
Right near Jasper, AR! With great access to hikes, water and Jasper, This cabin combines luxury with rustic elegance. It is the ultimate spot to have an unforgettable family vacation. With beautiful decor, incredible views and other luxurious amenities your stay will be unforgettable! https://www.airbnb.com/associates/122796?s=67&c=.pi115.pk0_9&a4ptk=22605_0_9_122796&af=115

Stunning Ranch/Lodge on Gorgeous property (up to 16 people)
Your very own secluded mountain top. Located on 550 acres of gorgeous Arkansas mountaintop you are certain to find the peace and seclusion you seek. With plenty of room for guests, and a huge wrap around covered porch you can enjoy from sun up to sundown. https://www.airbnb.com/associates/122792?s=67&c=.pi115.pk0_9&a4ptk=22605_0_9_122792&af=115

Hiking

Y’all, hiking is a workout, meditation and outdoors all in one. It is amazing what moving through trees can do for the soul. If you are looking for a little exercise, Arkanasas has some elevation gain I like to refer to as Mother Nature’s stair master. Most importantly, the views are next level!

Goat Bluff: By far my favorite hike on the trip! from Centerpoint trail head you will hike downhill about 3 miles to an incredible Goat Bluff and next level views. This 5.9 mile heavily trafficked (we hiked on a Monday and only saw a few people) out and back trail located near Ponca, Arkansas features a river and is rated as difficult but I’d give it a moderate to difficult. The uphill on the way back is about a 900ft incline.

Whitaker’s Peak/Hawksbill Crag: Probably one of the most famous view points in Arkansas, this 1.5 mile downhill hike has great view after view and picturesque moments. Uphill on the way back isn’t too shabby if you didn’t hike Goat Bluff right before (my rookie move)

Lost Valley: Might be the most trafficked hike in the Newton County Area due to its accessibility. I think itll be even better in the spring when the waterfalls are flowing and fingers crossed the cave is reopened (closed currently due to Covid). 2.1 mile out and back rated as moderate (without hiking up to the cave I would say easy).

Alum Cover: Half mile in and another half mile out, Alum cove has a cool natural bridge, natural arch and caves to adventure around.

Hemmed in Hollow: We skipped this one because a. we were tired from 16 miles of hiking and b. we were not confident the waterfall was running. This is a highly recommended hike so don’t overlook it! Hemmed in Hollow Trail is a 5.5 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Compton, Arkansas that features a waterfall and is rated as difficult.

Canoe/Kayak:

Kayaking the Buffalo River was AMAZING! absolutely beautiful and a great way to relax our last full day in Arkansas. The water is clear so it feels good to swim, float and sit on the site for a picnic. Depending on the water levels you can kayak, canoe or float anywhere on the Buffalo River. When water levels get low you will need to look at the Lower Buffalo Rive area.

Buffalo River Outfitters: (Lower River): In St Joe, AR. One day and multi-day rentals of canoes and kayaks. They offer canoe and trail shuttle services which is a dream. Our car was waiting for us where we got out of the water so we could head right back to the camp site, skipping the shuttle. Buffalo River Outfitters maintains eleven beautiful log cabins, tucked away just minutes from the river.

Buffalo River Canoes http: In Ponca, AR. They have been outfitting the Upper Buffalo River for 33 years. Small, family owned business that was so helpful when we dropped in for some supplies. They offer canoes, kayaks, and rafting on the Buffalo National River when levels are high enough (not while we were there in early Sept. They provide vehicle shuttles for floaters and hikers. They also have cabins with hot tubs, a treehouse yurt, a bunkhouse, and primitive campsites. http://www.floatthebuffalo.com/

Swimming:

The clear cool water of the Buffalo River is absolutely incredible to swim, paddle or just chill in. We got in the water every day and would have been in it even more if we had the time. This is a great way to relax outside one day on your trip.

Kyle’s Landing: We camped here, great spot to swim and play with Kayaks and Paddle Boards. The river is lined with beautiful bluffs as high as 440 feet. You do not have to camp here to have fun! Right between Ponca and Jasper (about 10-15 minutes each way) this is on the north side of what I refer to as the Newton County Loop.

Steel Creek: Highly recommended swimming hole that is easily accessible just two miles east of Ponca, Arkansas, off of Highway 74. There are several swimming holes right off the the campsite and additional downstream. Deep swimming hole and again with the super high bluffs.

Lower Buffalo River: Lastly, I do not have exact direction but I believe it would be easy to find spots we saw along our Kayaking trip. And hour from Ponca and 40 minutes from Jasper, we saw a lot of spots where people drove to swim. In the spring the river may be too wild but in the fall this area was amazeballs. I believe the best spot was off Shine Eye Campground. I would absolutely head back to this area to swim.

Best resources

We began our search through friends/family and have expanded.

Jasper Newtown Scenic Tours Guide & Map: We purchased this for $3 in Ponca. Also, the woman, whose name I didn’t get, working at the canoe shop was a wealth of knowledge. Don’t be afraid to ask around!

Buffalo National River Partners Map: Free in Ponca and I am sure other locations. This nice map gives you a bigger look of the area and roads.

Buffalo River Hiking Trails by Tim Ernst: This was a dream for hiking. Helped pick where we were going, guide us and let us know what to look for.

I hope this guide helps you get outside and adventure. What we like to eat and what we pack coming soon! Please comment with questions and recommendations!