Upper Buffalo Wilderness
Here you'll be among the headwaters of the extraordinarily pretty Buffalo National River, which flows down the center of this Wilderness through a rough forested land of steep slopes that descend into deep valleys. People once made their homes down in the valleys, but the last resident moved out in 1948. However, you'll see their old homes, stone fences surrounding pastures, antiquated farm equipment, worn-out roads, and silent cemeteries. The area offers a measure of wildness and solitude not often found in Arkansas. The interior of the Upper Buffalo is so remote the quality of its rich water supply, in runs and runnels and rivulets, is classified as excellent.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Arkansas |
| Size | 11,978 acres |
| Designated | 1975, by Congress |
| Center point | 35.87° N, 93.43° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 11) |
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.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 2 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
1 named Forest Service trail enters this wilderness, 2 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Whitaker Point | 1.8 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Arbaugh Woodland
12 mi from the center point · 75 acres
- PrescribedRx Spring Lake Recreation Area
49 mi from the center point · 48 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
- 7.2 mi
- 10 miLittle Buffalo River Bridge ↗Parthenon, AR
- 10.3 miBunch Store ↗Kingston, AR
- 10.3 miBank of Kingston ↗Kingston, AR
- 10.8 miPettigrew School ↗Pettigrew, AR
- 11 miOark School--Methodist Church ↗Oark, AR
- 11.2 miDickerson, N. E., Store ↗Oark, AR
- 12.2 miOzone School ↗Ozone, AR
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Arkansas
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Upper Buffalo Wilderness?
11,978 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Upper Buffalo Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Upper Buffalo Wilderness in?
Arkansas.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Upper Buffalo Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1975.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Upper Buffalo Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Upper Buffalo Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 35.866° N, 93.428° W. Buffalo National River is 29 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Upper Buffalo Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Rx Arbaugh Woodland at 12 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Upper Buffalo Wilderness?
Buffalo National River (29 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Upper Buffalo Wilderness?
The National Register has 15 listings within 15 miles, including Big Buffalo Valley Historic District and Little Buffalo River Bridge.
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.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- 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.