Canoe, Kayak, & Float the Buffalo National River

There's plenty to love when it comes to visiting our Eureka Springs Bed and Breakfast, not least of which is the opportunity to canoe, kayak, or float down the stunning Buffalo National River. In fact, Eureka Springs' proximity to our natural surroundings and the great outdoors is one of the things we love most about living here.  Surrounding us are the incredible Ozark Mountains, which are ripe with opportunities for exploration.

Best of all, when you stay at our Eureka Springs Bed and Breakfast, you don't need to go too far to find it.  Whether you're looking for great hiking trails, lakes for boating, or places to go canoeing and kayaking, we're ready with recommendations. We're located just 2 blocks from downtown Eureka Springs, too, so it's truly the best of both worlds when you stay at the Arsenic and Old Lace Bed and Breakfast.  Book your getaway now!

Summers in Eureka Springs are definitely warm, and water is usually a prominent feature in our day-to-day.  One of our favorite things to do on a hot summer day is to canoe, kayak, or float down the Buffalo National River. The Buffalo National River flows freely for 151 beautiful miles.  It was first established as a national river in 1972 and was the country's first. It's also one of the last free and undammed rivers in the country. Along the Buffalo National River's 135 miles, you can expect to find sections of rapids, along with serene and quiet sections with beautiful pools.

The scenery along the Buffalo National River is also exceptionally beautiful. It winds its way through the Ozark Mountains and is surrounded on both sides by massive bluffs. The depth of the river depends primarily on rainfall, so it actually varies quite a bit throughout the year and can be pretty low during the summer. You'll want to check river conditions before you head down there.

There are 3 main floating stretches along the Buffalo National River to explore.  We recommend that guests start their day trips at Ponca, which is just about an hour from our Eureka Springs Bed and Breakfast and part of the Upper District.  Another popular starting point is Pruitt, especially when the river is low, and that is just a little further down the road. We recommend stopping at Hasty, which is an easy 7.5 miles on the water from the start in Ponca. There are always shuttles waiting to take you back to your starting point, too.  There aren't any rapids on this stretch of the river, either, which means you're in for a nice and relaxing day on the water.

Though the river is the main attraction at Buffalo National  River, it's not the only thing to do in the area.  There are some great hiking trails, too. The area encompasses over 95,000 acres and there is a growing network of trails throughout the area. Trails in the upper district near where you'll likely be paddling include the Lost Valley Trail, the Hemmed-In Hollow Trail, and the Buffalo River Trail, easily 3 of our favorite hikes in the region.

If you feel up for staying out late, the night sky at the Buffalo National River is unbeatable. They were recently recognized as an International Dark Sky Park (IDSP) by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), which means the park's naturally dark skies are protected from light pollution.

In total, you can expect a day trip to the Buffalo National River to take you around 4 - 5 hours.  We'll get you started with a hearty breakfast at our Inn, but you'll definitely want to plan to take a picnic lunch with you to keep you going throughout the day.  And, of course, once you're back in Eureka Springs, there are a variety of delicious restaurants waiting to serve you dinner.

There's so much to see and do in Eureka Springs, and we'd love to share it with you this summer.  Book your room at our romantic Bed and Breakfast today!