Buffalo National River is a National River in Arkansas. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 2 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Buffalo
We matched 2 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Buffalo. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Waterfalls (1)
Caves (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Buffalo the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 77° in summer but only 31° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:22 AM | 8:01 AM | 4:42 PM | 5:21 PM | 244° | 9h 59m |
| February | 7:00 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:18 PM | 5:53 PM | 255° | 10h 53m |
| March | 7:23 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:46 PM | 7:19 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:39 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:45 PM | 283° | 13h 06m |
| May | 6:07 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:11 PM | 294° | 14h 04m |
| June | 5:55 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:31 PM | 300° | 14h 36m |
| July | 6:07 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:29 PM | 298° | 14h 23m |
| August | 6:31 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:03 PM | 288° | 13h 32m |
| September | 6:55 AM | 7:29 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:21 PM | 274° | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:19 AM | 7:54 AM | 6:02 PM | 6:37 PM | 260° | 11h 18m |
| November | 6:49 AM | 7:26 AM | 4:28 PM | 5:05 PM | 248° | 10h 16m |
| December | 7:16 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:20 PM | 4:59 PM | 242° | 9h 44m |
Computed for the park's reference point (36.0412, -92.9076); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Buffalo, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 25° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:00 AM – 5:30 AM | 0.5 | 15° |
| March | 4:05 AM – 5:55 AM | 1.8 | 22° |
| April | 2:06 AM – 5:06 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| May | 12:12 AM – 4:22 AM | 4.2 | 25° |
| June | 10:21 PM – 4:01 AM | 5.7 | 25° |
| July | 10:15 PM – 2:35 AM | 4.3 | 25° |
| August | 9:38 PM – 12:38 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| September | 8:48 PM – 10:28 PM | 1.7 | 22° |
| October | 8:03 PM – 8:33 PM | 0.5 | 15° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
2 Estimated Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars.
Weather & best time to visit
Summer in the Ozarks can be very hot and humid. Please check the weather forecast prior to your arrival and plan accordingly. The weather the rest of the year has the potential to be wet and cool or dry and warm. Please pay special attention to river levels and the rain forecast when planning a trip on the river. River levels can rise dramatically in a short period of time so please be aware of conditions.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (63%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Buffalo National River is a long, narrow park that is crossed by three main highways. Highways 7, 43, and 62/65 are the main roads out of Harrison, Arkansas that will take you to the Buffalo River, depending on which part of the park you wish to visit. GPS systems are not reliable in this area so please call ahead for directions or pick up a map of the area beforehand.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Caving
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Food
- Dining
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Off-Trail Permitted Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horse Camping (see also camping)
- Horseback Riding
- Hunting and Gathering
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Swimming
- Freshwater Swimming
- Wildlife Watching
Nearby parks
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AR/OK
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