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Safety disclaimer: River conditions change quickly — the Buffalo can rise several feet in hours after rain. Status labels here are guidance derived from USGS readings and published NPS floating levels, not a guarantee of safety. Always check official sources before you go: NPS Buffalo National River conditions and USGS Water Data. 24-hour park dispatch: 1-888-692-1162.

Data: USGS Instantaneous Values (provisional). Photos: National Park Service — image credits. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Independent site — not affiliated with the NPS or any listed business. Disclaimers & privacy. © 2026 buffalofloatalert.com

Buffalo Float Alert — is the Buffalo River floatable today?

Canoes and kayaks floating the Buffalo River

Is the Buffalo floatable today?

Live USGS gauges matched to the National Park Service floating ranges, for 24 floats from Boxley to Buffalo City. Updated about every 15 minutes.

First time on the Buffalo? Start here →

Upper District

Yes — floatable

Good4 of 10 floats in range

Gauges as of 6:30 AM CT (20 min ago)

Middle District

No — too low

Too Low9 floats

Gauges as of 5:45 AM CT (1 h 5 min ago)

Lower District

Scrapey but doable

Low (scrapey)5 floats

Gauges as of 5:45 AM CT (1 h 5 min ago)

Photo: NPS Photo/Terra Fondriest (public domain) · credits

Paddlers on the Buffalo River among fall colors — NPS Photo · credits

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NWS forecast & alerts

No active NWS flood or severe-weather alerts for the Buffalo River counties right now (not a safety guarantee — upstream rain can raise the river fast). Weather →