About Buffalo River Outfitters
Founded in 1986, Buffalo River Outfitters makes Ozark adventure vacations pleasant, easy and affordable. Our office is located in St. Joe, Arkansas, right in the heart of the Buffalo National River, making it the perfect place to serve river goers with quality equipment and expert services.
Buffalo River Outfitters provides canoes, kayaks and rafts for floating the Buffalo National River. We offer shuttle services to almost anywhere on the river and can outfit one day or multiple day float trips. No matter what route you choose, we guarantee you will experience the wonderful, natural beauty the Buffalo has to offer.
Along with our floating and shuttle services, we pride ourselves on our spacious, comfortable log cabins. Buffalo River Outfitters has space for a cozy getaway for two as well as large cabins to accommodate ten or more people. Whether for a business trip or a family vacation, we have the perfect place for you!
During your stay, check out our outfitting store/souvenir shop. The expertly trained staff on the phone, behind the counter and on the gravel bar will help you make the best of your time at the Buffalo National River.
Buffalo River Outfitters stands as a headquarters for current river levels and flow information. We can suggest the best trips for the season and conditions. Ask us about what there is to do nearby – hiking, swimming, horseback riding, sightseeing and more!
Our location is also perfect for the avid antique shopper and enthusiastic explorer of tiny towns. We even have an amazing drive-in movie theater and some one-of-a-kind restaurants just ten minutes or less from our Buffalo River Cabins.
Our staff at Buffalo River Outfitters
At Buffalo River Outfitters we value our outstanding customer service. Our staff is friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable about anything and everything related to the Buffalo River. The main goal of our staff is to help you feel safe and secure with our guides, confident of our gear, and comfortable throughout your stay.
We are an Authorized Concessioner of the National Park Service, and we take that seriously. The team at Buffalo River Outfitters want you to have a wonderful trip and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to showing you our neck of the woods!
History of the Buffalo
In 1972, Congress named The Buffalo National River as the country’s first national river. The 135 miles free-flowing river makes up the Buffalo River to which only 11% of the actual watershed is under direct National Park Service management.
The Buffalo River starts in the Boston Mountains and generally flows in an easterly direction before ending in the Ozark Mountains amongst Arkansas’ natural beauty. Along the river are multi-colored bluffs of eroded sandstone, limestone, and dolomite, with some towering to heights over 400 feet. There are also numerous caves and cliffs that you will see while floating the Buffalo, as well as sinkholes, waterfalls, springs, and rock formations. The history and geology of the Buffalo is one of a kind that our knowledgeable team at Buffalo River Outfitters knows all about!
While floating the Buffalo National River, you will find an abundance of wildlife and plant species. Hunting and fishing are allowed in the national river under state and National Park Service regulations. The river also has a diverse range of cultural resources along with historic sites. Protected sites include prehistoric village and shelter sites, historic farmsteads, and mining sites, in addition to Civilian Conservation Corps structure.
The Buffalo National River Park has a total of 94,293 acres that is divided into three management districts: the Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area, the Ponca Wilderness Area, and the Lower Buffalo Wilderness Area. The park headquarters are located in Harrison (Boone County), Arkansas, and park visitation averages more than 800,000 visitors a year.
In addition to water-based activities, the park offers visitors more than 100 miles of hiking trails and designated trails for horseback riding. Since there are few roads which parallel the river and few accessible overlooks, river and trail trips are among the best ways to experience the park. 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.