Ozarks Buffalo River

Take pure, clear, flowing water: send it down a meandering course for more than a hundred miles, pour it over rapids, strain it through gravel bars, drift it through long pools, let it caress tree-covered banks. Then dot a valley bottom with open grassy meadows with grazing elk, punctuate the shores with tall multicolored bluffs, and fill the countryside with steep, wooded hills. Now interject an occasional turtle sunning on a log, watch a snake slide in the water as it explores the depths of the river, be startled by a bass breaking the water surface, and observe a heron stalking the river’s edge. Accent the experience with birds warbling in the trees and insects buzzing close above the water. Finally, place yourself in a canoe drifting down the river surrounded by the peaceful and inspiring mood of these natural elements. Now you have witnessed only one of the many faces of Buffalo National River.

Its ancient current gives life to more than 300 species of fish, insects, freshwater mussels, and aquatic plants. In addition, on land there are many more natural wonders to behold: caves with hidden formations and underground waterways, tall cliffs creating long waterfalls, and old pioneer farmsteads providing forage for wildlife such as elk, deer, and turkey.

With the coming of spring, animal movement is at its highest. Fish actively migrate up the river corridor into tributaries, and songbirds arrive from far off places, filling the forest canopy with movement and song. Wildlife observers have recorded 55 species of mammals, 250 species of birds, and 59 species of fish, along with a multitude of reptiles, amphibians, insects, and other invertebrates.

The vegetative community at Buffalo National River is rich and diverse. The ridges, bluffs, hillsides, and valleys provide a variety of habitats that support over 1500 plant species. The major forest types are the Floodplain, Mixed-Hardwood, Oak-Hickory, Oak-Pine, Cedar Glade, and Beech.

The climate for the Buffalo National River typifies the Ozark region and the Mid-South. Winters can be cold with average daily temperatures between 24 and 49 degrees F. Summers can be hot with high humidity; all the better to play in the river. Temperatures range from the mid-80s to high 90s with humidity on some days in the 90% range. Spring is sometimes unsettled, with thunderstorms. Fall can present itself with a burst of color on the trees and comfortable temperatures in the 70s – 80s.

Many prehistoric and historic cultural sites are located in the park, some dating back more than 10,000 years. These sites range from terrace village sites, to bluff shelters once occupied by Archaic Indians, to cabins built by early settlers. In Boxley Valley, Ozark farmers still live in harmony with the land.

Today, no dams have yet been built on the Buffalo River. In fact, a number of people realized this and fought to keep the river untouched by dam builders. On March 1, 1972, Congress established the Buffalo National River as the country’s first national river to protect this free-flowing gem of the Ozarks.