Arkansas Buffalo River is one of the best easy backpacking weekends from Memphis or Nashville. Under a four-hour drive, bluff views, clear water, and a loop that fits in Friday afternoon through Sunday evening.
The route
Start at the Pruitt Ranger Station. Park in the designated overnight lot. Head east on the Buffalo River Trail toward Hemmed-In Hollow. 10 miles day one. Camp at the Hemmed-In Hollow backpacker campsite.
Day two, continue the loop south and east, cross the river at the Goat Trail junction, 12 miles to the Steel Creek campground. Stay there.
Day three, 10 miles back to Pruitt via the upper trail. Views the whole way.
The pack list
- 45L pack (mine is an Osprey Exos)
- Two-person tent solo (so I could spread out), Copper Spur
- 20-degree down bag, inflatable pad
- Jetboil and fuel, titanium pot, spoon
- Two backpacker meals per day plus bars and one bonus meal
- Sawyer filter and a 2L dirty bag
- Rain shell, light fleece, sleep clothes
- Two pairs of merino socks, one spare pair
- First aid essentials, small repair kit
What I skipped
Stove windscreen (Jetboil doesn't need one). Extra sleep clothes (merino dries fast, just wear one set and rinse). A second pot. Fresh food that won't last 72 hours without a cooler.
Water strategy
The river is your water source. Don't trust the side creeks in high season: they can be cloudy or dry. I filtered at each camp and in the morning before leaving.
When to go
March through early May is ideal. Summer means ticks and humidity. Fall is beautiful but drier, which makes the side creeks unreliable. Winter is doable but you'll want a 15-degree bag minimum and an extra insulating layer.
We have the Nashville store 30 minutes from the highway if you forget something. Ask for me.
