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Buffalo River (Arkansas), Ponca (07055660)

State	Arkansas	Latest	Good (213 cfs)
River	Buffalo River	Rating	Observed	Estimated
Updated	2026-06-17 4:15 (34 minutes ago)	Flood - The river is flooding. Obstacles can be treacherous or deadly. The river should be avoided at this stage for casual trips and definitely for the inexperienced. Trips should be attempted only with protective gear and equipment.Flood	(none)	1470
Discharge	213 cfs (median: 36 cfs)	High - The river is high and potentially dangerous, especially for the young and / or inexperienced. Normal stream obstacles are sometimes difficult to navigate. Extended distances can be attempted, but canoe travel may not be advisable.High	(none)	588
Height	4.21 feet	Good - Conditions are ideal for a canoe or kayak. Boats typically will drag on fewer than one-quarter of riffles, if at all, and portages are unnecessary or rare. Normal float lengths can be attempted without a problem.Good	120	243
Trend	Steady (falling over 24 hours)	Low - River is low but can still be floated. Some riffles are okay but most come with significant dragging and might need a portage. Float lengths should be reduced to accommodate low flow, dragging, and portages.Low	70	59
USGS	USGS Site ( Duck Duck Go Maps)	Poor - River is too low to float comfortably. Most or all riffles will drag or must be portaged and some obstacles (such as slick shelf rock) cause undue problems. Avoid the river at this stage for casual paddling trips.Poor	(none)	12

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Trips for Buffalo River (Arkansas), Ponca (07055660)

	Date	Start	End	Distance	Condition	Discharge	Height	Fishing	Details
	2024-05-09	Ponca	Kyles	Total trip distance: 10.6 miles10.6	Good	589	3.99	None	None Edmond, Brian Van Someren, Tom Although the water was a bit cloudy, the level and riffles were perfect with several of them rising into perfect haystacks. This was not technically challenging at all but it could be intimidating for someone who wasn't ready for it. Ponca was really chaotic and busy but we didn't encounter a lot of people on the trip, most of those being the same groups we kept leapfrogging. We found two waterfall creeks besides Hemmed In Hollow (in photos). This was a very long day. I returned home via Arkansas backroad highways leading up to Shell Knob via MO 39. USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 589 Height: 3.99 Source: Edmond
	2016-03-15	Ponca	Kyles	Total trip distance: 10.6 miles10.6	Good	449	3.31	None	None Amburn, Andrea Arnold, Al Edmond, Brian Eth, Joe Van Someren, Tom The water level was nearly perfect for this trip. There were a few places where kayaks dragged the gravel or some rocks but the current was swift nearly the entire time and most riffles were easily navigated. USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 449 Height: 3.31 Source: Edmond
	2022-06-02	Boxley	Kyles (A)	Total trip distance: 138.8 miles13.6	Good	367	3.46	None	None Turner, Skip Day 1 of 9. Canoe camped at river mile 35.5. Boxley to Ponca easy Class I & II, numerous tree hazards and blind corners. USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 367 Height: 3.46 Source: Turner
	2013-05-11	Ponca	Kyles (B)	Total trip distance: 23.8 miles9.0	Good	195	2.52	Fair	SMB RB LSF GSF Fillmore, Brian Fillmore, Rebecca No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 195 Height: 2.52 Source: Fillmore
	2024-04-01	Ponca	Kyles	Total trip distance: 10.6 miles10.6	Good	190	2.91	None	None Peterson, Jackie Turner, Skip No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 190 Height: 2.91 Source: Turner
	2013-05-12	Kyles (B)	Erbie (A)	Total trip distance: 23.8 miles9.0	Good	164	2.41	Fair	SMB RB LSF GSF Fillmore, Brian Fillmore, Rebecca No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 164 Height: 2.41 Source: Fillmore
	2022-06-03	Kyles (A)	Hasty (A)	Total trip distance: 138.8 miles21.3	Good	164	2.82	None	None Turner, Skip Day 2 of 9. Camped at river mile 56. USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 164 Height: 2.82 Source: Turner
	2017-02-19	Ponca	Kyles	Total trip distance: 10.6 miles10.6	Good	148	2.58	None	None Acharya, Sreekanth Amburn, Andrea Amburn, Matt Arnold, Al Van Someren, Cynthia Van Someren, Tom Williams, Sarah Water level was okay, not great, but still worthy of a marginally 'Good' rating. Our boats ran into may many hidden rocks, and the less experienced kayaker got stuck on low gravel bars a few times. But the current was still moving along sufficiently. We got in the water at 11:40 and arrived at Kyle's at 5:30. A flat tire on the kayak trailer, along with a couple spills by Cynthia and Andrea in the canoe, prevented us from being able to hike in to Hemmed-In Hollow. USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 148 Height: 2.58 Source: Van Someren
	2019-03-22	Ponca	Kyles	Total trip distance: 10.6 miles10.6	Good	144	3.14	None	None Arnold, Al Bartlett, Renee Bullard, Loring Jones, Marianne Siegfried, Beth Turk, Scott Van Someren, Tom Williams, Sarah The weather today was excellent for a day on the Buffalo. The water level could have been higher to make this a perfect trip, but there was still enough flow to give it a 'Good' rating. Lots of half hidden rocks for the less experienced kayaker (as well as experienced floater) to get stuck on. Late in the day we had to help do a minor rescue of a father-daughter who capsized their canoe .3 of a mile upstream from Kyle's (they were two cold soaked and shivering floaters). We got in the water at 10:40 and arrived at Kyle's at just after 18:00, which included a hike in to Hemmed-In Hollow. USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 144 Height: 3.14 Source: Van Someren
	2013-05-13	Erbie (A)	Pruitt	Total trip distance: 23.8 miles5.8	Good	143	2.33	Fair	SMB RB LSF GSF Fillmore, Brian Fillmore, Rebecca No notes for this trip USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 143 Height: 2.33 Source: Fillmore
	2022-06-04	Hasty (A)	Woolum (A)	Total trip distance: 138.8 miles21.5	Good	112	2.58	None	None Turner, Skip Day 3 of 9. Camped at river mile 76.2. USGS Gauge Data: Ponca (07055660) Discharge: 112 Height: 2.58 Source: Turner

A total of 11 rows are displayed.

Trip Summary for Buffalo River (Arkansas), Ponca (07055660)

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