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See all 4 routes on Buffalo River

Arkansas | Ozark Highlands

Buffalo River

Tyler Bend to Gilbert

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Today

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Today's conditions

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Quick facts

On-water distance About 5.4 to 5.5 mi Tyler Bend to Gilbert
Difficulty hard NPS calls Tyler Bend to Gilbert the most popular middle-district float and describes Tyler Bend to Grinder's Ferry as mostly flat, but American Whitewater rates the full Tyler Bend-to-Gilbert reach I-II. The route is marked whitewater so casual discovery does not hide the swiftwater and high-stage hazards.
Shuttle Car shuttle Stage the take-out at Gilbert, then drive back to Tyler Bend. Grinder's Ferry is an optional short take-out about a mile downstream of Tyler Bend, but this route assumes the full middle-district day to Gilbert. Check NPS access status, parking, and posted launch restrictions before leaving vehicles.
Permits None noted No route-specific private paddling permit is known for a normal Buffalo National River day trip. Follow NPS river rules, carry required PFDs, obey access and parking signs, and check park alerts, weather, and river level before launching.
Camping Day trip Treat this as a day trip. NPS allows backcountry camping on the Buffalo under park rules, but this short middle-district reach is normally planned as a daylight float with vehicles staged at established accesses.
Season Mar-Nov NPS says the Buffalo is largely rainfall dependent and that paddling seasons move downstream as dry weather arrives. The middle district usually holds water longer than the upper district, but same-day level and trend still matter.

Plan

Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.

Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.

Access plan

Access, shuttle, and map

Launch at Tyler Bend and take out at Gilbert for the popular 5.5-mile middle Buffalo float. Use the St. Joe USGS gauge as a conservative low-water check, and skip the route when water is rising fast or already in high/flood-stage bands for casual groups.

Directions Apple Maps OpenStreetMap
Start

Put-in

Tyler Bend river access Open map

NPS says Tyler Bend has two launch areas. The upper launch may be reserved for concession operations during busy-season hours, and the lower launch is loading/unloading only with parking up at the picnic area.

Finish

Take-out

Gilbert river access Open map

Gilbert is a rural river access on a gravel bar. Inspect the take-out before launching and avoid blocking local traffic, outfitter operations, or posted areas.

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Access caveats

  • NPS says Tyler Bend has two launch areas. The upper launch may be reserved for concession operations during busy-season hours, and the lower launch is loading/unloading only with parking up at the picnic area.
  • Gilbert is a rural river access on a gravel bar. Inspect the take-out before launching and avoid blocking local traffic, outfitter operations, or posted areas.
  • NPS says access roads may be unpaved, rocky, or unreliable for GPS navigation, and no road follows the river. Carry a real map and do not assume cell service.
  • This route uses a community-calibrated minimum-only threshold from MOHERP, supported by NPS route/access evidence and AW reach matching. It is not a full ideal-range recommendation.

Watch for

  • Swift Class I-II current, wave trains, sharp bends, and pushier water when the St. Joe gauge is high or rising.
  • Strainers, sweepers, fresh flood wood, undercut banks, and blind side channels after Ozark storms.
  • Low water below about 120 cfs at St. Joe, when dragging and shortened plans become likely.
  • High water around and above 2,000 cfs at St. Joe; MOHERP labels this potentially dangerous for young or inexperienced paddlers, and flood-stage water should be avoided for casual trips.
  • Crowded peak-season access, tubing traffic near Tyler Bend / Grinder's Ferry, limited cell coverage, cold-water swims, and late-day darkness if the group lingers on gravel bars.

Route gallery

See this route on the water

Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.

An aerial view shows the Buffalo River winding past Gilbert with wooded hills and gravel bars nearby.
Buffalo River at Gilbert Photo by NPS via Wikimedia Commons
NPS asset: public domain

Sources

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Why this score Today's data confidence is checking

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Why
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Outlook Tomorrow and weekend

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Data behind the score Gauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge site Buffalo River near St. Joe, AR
Discharge Checking
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Ideal range Needs paddler reports
Known low-water floor 120 cfs
High threshold Not calibrated yet
Data confidence behind the range Local route guidance
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Main source behind this score Rivers.MOHERP Buffalo River St. Joe gauge bands and same-route trip evidence
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Notes What to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Official route shape Tyler Bend to Gilbert, about 5.4 to 5.5 miles

    NPS describes Tyler Bend to Gilbert as the most popular Middle District float and says it can take about 3 to 4 hours at moderate river levels.

    Source

  • Access and mileage Tyler Bend to Grinder's Ferry 1.1 miles; Tyler Bend to Gilbert 5.4 miles

    NPS lists Tyler Bend, Grinder's Ferry, and Gilbert in the Buffalo River mileage chart, with Grinder's Ferry as the short optional access and Gilbert as the full-day take-out.

    Source

  • Direct live gauge USGS 07056000

    USGS Buffalo River near St. Joe showed same-day May 31, 2026 data during review, including 3,020 cfs and 7.75 ft at 18:45 CDT.

    Source

  • Low-water floor 120 cfs minimum-only

    Rivers.MOHERP lists the St. Joe gauge Low band beginning at 120 cfs and records Tyler Bend-to-Gilbert as good at 2,470 cfs / 7.41 ft, plus nearby middle-Buffalo good-condition trips down to 778 cfs. Paddle Today uses only the 120 cfs floor and does not infer an ideal range.

    Source

  • High-water caveat 2,000 cfs high; 4,313 cfs flood marker in MOHERP bands

    MOHERP labels 2,000 cfs and higher as high water for the St. Joe gauge and describes high/flood conditions as potentially dangerous for young or inexperienced paddlers. The app preserves this as a hard caveat, not a two-sided scoring model.

    Source

  • Route character Class I-II middle Buffalo reach

    American Whitewater lists Tyler Bend to Gilbert as a 5.3-mile I-II reach on the Buffalo River near St. Joe gauge, with Grinder's Ferry as an access point about 1.4 miles downstream.

    Source

  • Access coordinates Tyler Bend 35.986715, -92.763903; Gilbert 35.987738, -92.715563

    NPS Getting Around lists Tyler Bend campground coordinates and a Gilbert trail/access coordinate. Use these as practical access-area anchors and make a same-day visual landing check.

    Source

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Keep exploring

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Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.

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Quick answers

Buffalo River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Buffalo River?

Paddle Today watches Buffalo River near St. Joe, AR and uses 120 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.

Where does this Buffalo River route start and end?

This route starts at Tyler Bend river access and ends at Gilbert river access, about About 5.4 to 5.5 mi on the water.

Is this Buffalo River route good for beginners?

This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.

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