Paddling the Buffalo National River

Floating the Buffalo National River is like taking a masterclass in Southern geography. As America’s first national river, it remains free-flowing and untamed, winding through the heart of the Ozarks.

In June, the water is a striking, clear turquoise, framed by towering limestone bluffs that reach up to 500 feet into the sky. Whether you're navigating the technical "Hailstone" run on the upper river or drifting past the iconic Big Bluff, the experience is a mix of quiet meditation and sudden, splashy excitement. It’s a place where the only "traffic" is a stray elk on the bank or a bald eagle overhead.