Floating Ponca to Kyle’s Landing on the Buffalo River

Float season is fully underway in the Natural State. If you’re a paddler and haven’t been on at least one float yet, you have really missed out. The Caddo and Mulberry have been awesome. I’ve done those while the Buffalo has been closed. But great news – the Buffalo opens back up this weekend!!! So it’s time to start planning those float trips on the Buffalo. And this time of year, floating Ponca to Kyle’s Landing on the Buffalo River should be at the top of your list. Some will say that float season is year-round. I’ve always chosen to hike in the winter and float in the Spring and Summer. But I’m getting more interested in Fall/Winter floating. The water is often better. And frankly, I start to miss my kayak.

Regardless of when you prefer to float, if you want to float the Upper Buffalo, you have to go when the river says you can. And that window usually closes by mid June. Between schedule conflicts, weather, and timing with the water level, I’ve only managed floating Ponca to Kyle’s Landing on the Buffalo River once. But it immediately became one of my favorite runs in the whole state. Now it’s one of my top priorities in April and May.

Directions

The put-in point is at the low water bridge in Ponca. For the self-shuttlers, you can leave your vehicle there. But on a busy day, you better get there early to get a spot. For anyone needing shuttle service, there are outfitters in Ponca that can take your vehicle to Kyle’s Landing for you.

The take-out point is at Kyle’s Landing campground. Getting there requires a steep descent for several miles down a gravel road into the river valley. Keep that in mind if you plan to self-shuttle and drop a vehicle there. Here is a Google map with directions for the put-in and take-out points:

What to Expect

It really depends on the water level. If it’s too low (it usually is by mid-June), you will drag a lot and it’s not going to be fun. In fact, the water level gets so low at times that it’s not even floatable. It’s more like a hike where you carry your kayak/canoe. On the other hand, if the water is too high (rare for this section), the river is too dangerous for the casual paddler. But when the water level is just right, this is one of the best floats you’ll find in Arkansas. I don’t know the exact range for the water levels, but I floated it at around 3 feet, and it was amazing.

So what makes floating Ponca to Kyle’s Landing on the Buffalo so great? It’s a combination of two things. One is the quality and amount of fast-moving water and rapids. The other thing is the scenic beauty of this area. There is no other stretch of river anywhere in the state that can match the combination of these two things. Maybe one or the other, but not both. In fact, you’re not likely to find a better combo anywhere in between the Rocky and Smokey mountains.

Emerald Water and Class II Rapids

When the water level is ideal, and if there hasn’t been a recent flood to muddy it up, the water is a beautiful emerald green. It is a fast-moving current that produces one set of rapids after another. Nothing too crazy – it’s all class I and class II. But they are fast! Combine the swift current with some large boulders and a few tricky curves and you’ll get some tipped canoes. It was perfect for my angler kayak (no skirt). The only problem I had was taking on some water on a couple of deep-welled rapids. But they were super fun.

There are not many pools of slow-moving water on this stretch of the river. And the few pools that are there are very short. The current never really stops, it just slows down a little here and there. So there isn’t much paddling needed, other than steering your vessel. These are my favorite kind of floats! Floating Ponca to Kyle’s Landing on the Buffalo River is a little over 10 miles. It can easily be done in 4-6 hours. I did it in about 4 hours, and I even stopped a couple of times to see waterfalls, along with a couple of other breaks. So it could be done in less time if you hurry through it. But I don’t recommend that. It’s so nice I didn’t want the float to end.

Scenic Beauty

The thing that really sets this float apart is the scenic beauty. This section of the river has the highest bluffs found on the Buffalo. From the river, you can see Big Bluff and even make out parts of the popular Goat Trail. And about halfway through, you’ll find the bluffs of Hemmed-In Hollow waterfall. These are the highest falls between the Rockies and Appalachians. It’s a tough hike from the regular trailhead. But from the river, it’s a short easy hike. I didn’t realize this at the time I was there. So I’ll be making this hike the next time for sure. There are also several other unnamed falls and tons of bluffs along the way that can be seen from the river.

I made a highlight video of this float and tried to capture most of the rapids and some of the bluffs. You can check that out below and get a good look at this float. Sorry it’s a little long – I just couldn’t decide which clips to cut out!

Plan Your Trip

As I mentioned, floating Ponca to Kyle’s Landing is 100% dependent on the water level. The best thing to do for any float, but especially this one, is to check the river level at American Whitewater. If the section is in green on their site, you’re good to go. If you’re still not sure, call one of the outfitters in Ponca to get real-time info on the river conditions. If you are renting a kayak or canoe, it’s best to call the outfitter ahead of time anyway to reserve. Cell service around Ponca is hit and miss – mostly miss – so handle your business before you descend into Boxley Valley.

If you are new to floating and not sure what to bring, check our gear list from our Paddling page. Like most rivers in Arkansas, the Buffalo is rocky. So take river shoes. No glass bottles of any kind are allowed (duh!). Dogs are allowed on the river, but I’m hearing that loud music might be banned now. Remember to take a trash bag from the outfitter, and remember to leave no trace. This river gets a lot of visitors, so please please, help take care of it. See you on the river soon!