Buffalo National River Wilderness
Canoeists paddling the Buffalo find themselves on what may be one of the most scenic rivers in the eastern United States. From its headwaters in the Boston Mountains to its confluence with the White River...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
| State | Arkansas |
| Size | 34,933 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1978, by Congress |
| Center point | 36.1178, -92.4814 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 12) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 6 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- WildfireAr State Assist Advance
6 mi from the center point · 150 acres
- WildfireAr State Assist Gilbert
16 mi from the center point · 75 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 0 miCold Springs School ↗Big Flat, AR
- 1.2 mi
- 4.6 miLittle Buffalo River Bridge ↗Parthenon, AR
- 5.1 miBig Flat School Gymnasium ↗Big Flat, AR
- 5.2 miShady Grove Delmar Church and School ↗Delmar, AR
- 5.2 miDermott Commercial Historic District ↗Dermott, AR
- 5.2 miJasper Commercial Historic District ↗Jasper, AR
- 5.3 miBuford School Building ↗Buford, AR
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Buffalo National River Wilderness?
34,933 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Buffalo National River Wilderness?
The National Park Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Buffalo National River Wilderness in?
Arkansas.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Buffalo National River Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1978.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Buffalo National River Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Rush Campground, 0 miles out. 6 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Buffalo National River Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 36.118, -92.481. Buffalo National River is 20 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Buffalo National River Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Ar State Assist Advance at 6 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Buffalo National River Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 12 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Which national parks are near Buffalo National River Wilderness?
Buffalo National River (20 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Buffalo National River Wilderness?
99 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Cold Springs School and Big Buffalo Valley Historic District.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.