Gravel Bar Camping

[budman]

Going to take a 3 day 2 night trip between Gilbert and Dillards June  22-24, with the wife, and plan on camping along the river. I have floated this section but never camped along the river. Plan on doing 5-6 miles the first day, not starting till noon, 10 or so the next and finishing on the third day.  We plan on doing some fishing and just taking it easy so don't plan on doing a lot of miles each day. Looking for some advice for good places to camp. Looking on Google maps and don't see many nice gravel bars, but the view shows the river really high and muddy. I have Kenneth Smith's book, Buffalo river hand book and it have very detailed mile markers of the bluffs and creeks along the river but not gravel bars. I know they can change over time but wonder if I can get some advice on good safe places to camp.

[Gavin]

Try Google Earth and use the historical views...Might give you a better idea regarding camp spots, but the river is different every time you visit. You should be fine as long as the water is not too high...Quick float out then. Good luck.

 

[Al Agnew]

What Gavin said...I just looked on the history feature on Google Earth, and at normal water flows there are gravel bars everywhere on that stretch.  If the river isn't high you should have no trouble finding camping bars.

 

[budman]

Thanks for that. I had only looked at the current picture they have up.

[tjm]

I'll just mention that water is still pretty high (flooding and flash flooding) here and we still have rain in the forecast. I have not seen a gravel bar on the local creek for  weeks. I'm a bit west and bit north of there, couple hours altogether,  but the storms that hit me also hit that drainage as a rule. Three weeks might still be seeing high conditions, just food for thought.

[budman]

I will be watching the river levels and the weather forecast. A month ago we were talking about this week or in a couple of weeks. After all the recent rains we started looking at the 22-24. Even if we are able to go I will make sure we pick a safe place with an escape route if the river comes up. I was in Ponca and then near Norfork on the White the last week of April and watched the white rise 13 feet in 24 hours. All because of the Buffalo flowing over 50,000 CFS. Wouldn't want to be on the river when that happens. I have floated after a big flood and have seen trash hanging 30 feet up in the trees.

[darbwa]

I have been looking at the same stuff as I will be hitting the river on the 23rd for 4 days starting at Rush (never done the lower wilderness before).  Looks like the water levels are dropping fast.  You will not have any problems with gravel bars on the stretch you are floating.  I can't imagine that we will have to worry too much about sudden river rises by next week.  However, it is always smart to be ready for anything!  Have a great time!

[tjm]

Here the highest gravel bars have been dry for a just a few days, with no rain in over a week, still about double the flow I like this time of year. Like I said different drainage but get the same rains.