Buffalo National River
Arkansas · National River · Midwest Region
The first national river in the US, with limestone bluffs rising 440 feet above a free flowing river. Wildflowers, waterfalls, and some of the most scenic float trips in America.
- Best season
- Spring Fall
- Permit required
- Yes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Max group size
- 25 people
- Permit info verified
- April 2026
Permit Information
NPS Special Use Permit required for weddings and organized group activities. Submit NPS Form 10 930 to the Commercial Services Office (402 N. Walnut St., Suite 136, Harrison, AR 72601) and pay the $50 non refundable application fee. The park grants permits for specific locations and times, and some sites (river access points like Steel Creek, Tyler Bend, and Buffalo Point) are more commonly approved than backcountry sites. Additional cost recovery, insurance, and monitoring fees may apply for l…
Planning Your Day at Buffalo National River
One-Spot Day
Buffalo River one spot days split between the bluff top experience and the river level experience. Big Bluff via the Goat Trail is the signature bluff view but the exposed ledge is intense and not for everyone. Lost Valley and Eden Falls is the gentler choice, a 2.2 mile trail to a waterfall dropping into a cave mouth. River access points like Steel Creek, Tyler Bend, and Buffalo Point are the easiest to permit and the most guest friendly.
Ceremony + Portraits Split
The park stretches 135 miles along the river, so splitting across sections means real driving. The upper district (Ponca, Steel Creek, Lost Valley) is the most scenic and most sites cluster within 20 minutes of each other. A ceremony at Lost Valley and portraits at Big Bluff the same afternoon is realistic, same permit, same district. A split across districts is a multi day trip.
A Note on Light
The limestone bluffs face multiple directions so light planning depends on the site. Big Bluff faces east, morning light illuminates the ledge and the river below. Lost Valley is shaded and holds cool even light all day, overcast is fine. Spring wildflowers March through May, dogwoods and redbuds peak mid April. Fall color peaks late October through early November, bluff top overlooks give the widest view of the color. Spring rains produce the best waterfall flow at Eden Falls.
Ceremony Spots at Buffalo National River
- Steel Creek, Big Bluff (Goat Trail) — One of the tallest bluffs in the Ozarks, a 500 foot limestone cliff above the Buffalo River with sweeping valley views
- Lost Valley, Eden Falls Cave — A hidden valley with a waterfall flowing into a natural cave entrance, one of the most unusual short hikes in Arkansas