Ken smith is the authorphotographer of the buffalo river. List of books and articles about arkansas history online. Red bluff overlook buffalo national river exploring. Towns began to spring up all over the buffalo river area.
Rafting, canoeing, or kayaking down the buffalo national river in arkansas is without a doubt the. Buffalo national river cabins and canoeing in beautiful. The buffalo river handbook, 2nd edition, is a comprehensive reference encyclopedia, a trail and float guide, and a cultural history of the area of north arkansas that encompasses the buffalo river a jewel in the crown of undammed, freeflowing rivers in arkansas and the nation. The materials on conservation concern parks and wilderness sites, especially the buffalo river, and organizations such as the ozark society. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our favorite reads in more than a dozen categories. The struggle to save the buffalo river in the arkansas ozarks brought to the fore. The 440 mi 708 km arkansas river navigation system links oklahoma and arkansas to the mississippi river. Ive seen pictures of the red bluff overlook for many years but few people attempt to provide directions to this unique spot.
A conservation crisis in the ozarks, published by the university of arkansas press, which was nominated for the national book award, and the buffalo river in black and white ozark society books, 1997. She resides in western arkansas mountain frontier but calls nwa home as well. In short, there are unlimited adventures to be had, places to camp, and sights to see right here in the heart of buffalo river country. Parkerhickman homestead buffalo river arklahoma hiker. Led by neil compton, a physician in bentonville, arkansas, a group of area. Yet even those early settlers had been preceded by the most independent of all frontiersmenthe ubiquitous fur trapper and trader. Complete travel and vacation information for buffalo national river, arkansas with maps, photos, sightseeing, hotel reservations and more. The buffalo river, located in northern arkansas, was the first national river to be designated in the united states.
History of the buffalo national river ozark mountains arkansas. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers. While zinc mining in arkansas has dried up, its history lives on in the ghost town of rush. Most of the action, when fishing, took place at the head and tail of each pool. Red bluff which isnt really all that red is an interesting spot along the buffalo national river where the river makes a dramatic horseshoe curve that allows you to look both up stream and downstream at the same time. Primarily to keep it from being dammed, the buffalo river was designated by congress as americas first national river more than. Rush is a ghost town located in the buffalo river national. He also enjoys sharing his photographs through slide show presentations to groups throughout arkansas. If so, you might just want to check out the gorgeous ozark campground.
This book contains over 400 pages of everything about the buffalo river and the park imaginable. You can also order books and maps online to prepare for your visit with us. The buffalo river is not one of arkansas major waterways. View the photographs that helped save the buffalo national river, see our newest exhibit featuring historical maps of arkansas, or check out one of our featured books on the history of arkansas all on display in the lobby level of mullins library. There is a long, rich culture of equestrian use along the buffalo river. Geologic float guide on the upper buffalo national river. The western section is from boxley valley to pruitt. Arkansas archeological survey, 1979, originally prepared in 1974 with the title archeological inventory of the buffalo national river.
The buffalo river handbook, 2nd edition, is a comprehensive reference encyclopedia, a trail and float guide, and a cultural history of the area of north arkansas that encompasses the buffalo rivera jewel in the crown of undammed, freeflowing rivers in arkansas and the nation. Celebrate arkansas heritage month with university libraries. Owen, first report of a geological reconnoissance of the northern counties of arkansas, made during the years 1857 and 1858 little rock. This post was originally published on june 16, 2011 in the blog exploring northwest arkansas.
Browse and buy a vast selection of arkansas books and collectibles on. This series contains materials relating to conservation and to the history of northwest arkansas. Updates and revisions throughout the book describe the current setting with. History of the buffalo national river ozark mountains. If you are one of those people, never fear, because this post has very little to do with float trips.
The buffalo river area also has a rich human history dating back more than 10,000 years. She loves exploring the trails around the buffalo national river and has yet to find a waterfall that wasnt her favorite. The buffalo river is the longest unimpounded river in middle tennessee in the united states, flowing 125 miles 201 km through the southern and western portions of that region. Second regional field conference southeastern arkansas valley and the ouachita and frontal ouachita mountains, arkansas. This was followed in 1992 by the battle for the buffalo river.
Because so many people valued the free flowing buffalo river, we can enjoy today. City has disappeared and the county road has been changed into a more southerly and westward direction leading into the buffalo river country thus. There are even descriptions of how to get to some of the most scenic spots that dont have developed trails to them. Led by neil compton, a physician in bentonville, arkansas, a group of area conservationists formed the ozark society to join the battle for the buffalo. Buffalo river history buffalo river national park region. Buffalo national river, arkansas travel and vacation guide. Indeed, the river has been known to rise more than 10 feet in a single day, so youre wise to camp well above the water. Rainey offers private instruction for photographers as well as guided day trips to scenic spots in the ouachita mountains surrounding mena and the buffalo river area of northern arkansas. The lower little buffalo has fewer riffles and longer, deeper pools than the upper river.
The national wild and scenic buffalo river in arkansas is one of the finest canoeing rivers in america. If youre hiking the brt, be sure to stop here for a look around. It consists of two separate sections that are referred to as the western and eastern sections. History of the buffalo river was taken in part from buffalo river handbook written by kenneth l. Beyond the upper river district, there are two other buffalo national river areas that you will want to put. It always amazed me when i met outofstate college friends that some people dont even know what float trips are. These trails range in length from less than a half mile, to more than twenty miles. Ken smiths lifelong accumulation of knowledge about the buffalo river country, including complete trail and river guides and a fascinating sourcebook for geology and history of the buffalo river area.
It is the largest tributary of the duck river and is used for canoeing, especially in its middle section. The buffalo is nestled in the arkansas ozarks, which are bounded on the north, east, and south by the missouri, mississippi, and arkansas rivers. This book interprets our natural surroundings in a way that enhances a simple. Buffalo national river in arkansas now closed to visitors.
Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were taken from the baxter county page on the website, the encyclopedia of arkansas history and culture. A visit to the national park services buffalo national river pages is also helpful in planning your float trip, including a page that offers information about float trip safety on the river. Theres no doubt that the buffalo national river is one of arkansas most treasured gems. Many prehistoric and historic cultural sites are located throughout the park. Welcome to buffalo outdoor center, where our cabin, river, trail, zip line and rv camping adventures are surrounded by arkansas finest sceneryupper buffalo national river country. Things to do near buffalo national river park on tripadvisor. Our knowledgeable staff can accommodate any questions about the buffalo national river. While the state as a whole received favorable treatment, the buffalo river country and its environs were the subject of generally negative, although truthful, coverage. Baxter county, arkansas genealogy familysearch wiki.
A history of the ozarks buffalo river national park service. The history of marion co ar chapter twentytwo old buffalo city. All in a compact size, with more than 170 photos, maps, and diagrams. Whether you are looking for a developed campground or a wilderness adventure, the upper buffalo national river offers visitors several options for equestrian camping and horseback riding. When thinking about the history described in this book, i see a fortunate. The story of americas first national river neil compton. It is filled with all kinds of information and history about the buffalo river plus a step by step break down of the river listed by mile marker. The buffalo river has witnessed peoples stories and adventures for centuries. Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or recordkeeping. Ozark campground in buffalo, arkansas rugged, rustic, old school do these words describe you. Clark, can be ordered from the park service or purchased at local stores. The river is named for the buffalo fish which was abundant when the first european settlers arrived. The lower 5 miles 217 km flow within the boundaries of an area managed by the national park service, where the stream is.
The battle for the buffalo river university of arkansas. Coordinated with national geographic maps, trails illustrated. Growing up in missouri, float trips were a very regular part of my upbringing. The society has published two of his books, the buffalo river country in 1967. Very low low moderate high flood stage stage only camping, picnic and launch sites trails concessioners. Buffalo river outfitters store float trip apparel, maps.
Arkansas heritage month at mullins library 365 mcilroy. He soon accepted a position as a mail carrier, serving a route from arkansas post to cadron on horseback. Exploring northwest arkansas this is a blog about our explorations in and around the buffalo river area in arkansas. A complete guide to floating the buffalo river, including natural history, camping and canoeing tips. Neil compton papers university of arkansas libraries. Tattered glory documentary civil war history of the arkansas river valley. This book also has plenty of illustrations to accompany the vast amount of material. Org, sierra clubs almost monthly radio exploration of state and federal environmental issues. Vance randolph, the ozark region folklorist, once met a man who claimed that if newton county, arkansas were ever smoothed out, it would be biggern the whole state of texas. Located deep in buffalo national river, youll feel right at home with the beauty of the great outdoors right at your fingertips. The buffalo is a tributary of the white river and the national river preserve is home to arkansas only elk herd. In 1972, congress named the the buffalo national river as the countrys first national river.
The river was sporty and fun to canoe during spring water levels. Buffalo river handbook university of arkansas press. Neil compton of bentonville, an ozark native, and a group of associates for the immediate purpose of saving the buffalo river from dams proposed by the u. Buffalo national river will soon become arkansas first.
The highly anticipated second edition of the buffalo river handbook, written by. The graduate of university of arkansas fort smith, carol ann earned her b. A day after arkansas governor asa hutchinson called for its closure, the buffalo national river superintendent announced the river would close to the public. Never before had anyone challenged the corpss assumption that damming a river was an improvement. The river begins as a trickle in the boston mountains above the park boundary, where it is managed by the u. Daniel wolfman, archeological assessment of the buffalo national river, arkansas archeological survey research report no. A quick reading of the arkansas segment of the book would tend to discourage all but the most determined migrant from settling in northern arkansas. The buffalo river trail also passes right through the homestead area. The buffalo national river, administered by the national park service, encompasses. After all, the countrys first national river has endless trails, beautiful campsites, and the best lazy float in the world okay so were a little biased. The buffalo river trail is a hiking and backpacking trail that follows the path of the buffalo national river in arkansas. Allowed to remain as mother nature intended, the buffalo national river in northern arkansas provides a beautiful space for hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, caving, fishing, wildlife watching and much, much more.