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Buffalo River, TN

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Murphy Bridge to Topsy Bridge (Upper Buffalo River)

Class I(II)
25 Miles

Buffalo River


Buffalo River
Photo by Tim Hobbs

Gauge Information

Buffalo River
low
155
10/7 21:15

Min Sug. Level:  700 cfs Max Sug. Level:  1200 cfs

River Description

The upper Buffalo River is a quiet class I-II. There are several trips available with many alternate putins. Nearly any bridge is used as putins, with several different takeouts along the way. There are also a couple campgrounds available for camping. The best rapids on the river, a short class II, lies about one mile above Topsy Bridge.


StreamTeam Status: unverified
Last Updated: 2005-05-15 00:22:06

Search Results

Photos/Videos 1- of 10

Buffalo River


Buffalo River  Buffalo River Tn
(61.34KB .jpeg)

Low water


Low water  buffalo TN
(1.41MB .jpeg)

Metal ford put in/take out


Metal ford put in/take out  buffalo TN
(1.11MB .jpeg)

Beginning of the left channel


Beginning of the left channel  buffalo TN
(1.33MB .jpeg)

Nice class 2 rapid


Nice class 2 rapid  buffalo TN
(1.42MB .jpeg)

Left channel of Metal ford rapid


Left channel of Metal ford rapid  buffalo TN
(1.35MB .jpeg)

Shoal on the Buffalo


Shoal on the Buffalo  Buffalo River TN
(331.92KB .jpeg)

Logjam on the Buffalo


Logjam on the Buffalo 
(332.69KB .jpeg)

Ben and Andrew -Buffalo Rapids


Ben and Andrew -Buffalo Rapids  Buffalo River TN
(326.41KB .jpeg)

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Gauge

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Buffalo R nr Flat Woods [ TN ]

Current Conditions

Stage Flow Updated
2.45 155 10/7 21:15

Station Graphs


Linked Reaches

Search Results

Level Legend: Running Below Minimum Recommended Flow Above Maximum Recommended Flow Unknown
Descriptions of reaches with River Name in bold have been verified by a regional StreamTeam member.

State River Name/Section Class Level Rel. Level Updated
TN Buffalo River— Murphy Bridge to Topsy Bridge I(II) 155 cfs   low 10/7 21:15

Station Description

AW Gauge ID:1809
USGS Station:03604000
HUC:06040004
Latitude:35.4958
Longitude:-87.8328
Class:2

WXPort

News





icon of message No guide books for this stream. If you know of a book that describes this stream please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run.

User Comments

2008-09-02 05:11:13 (35 days ago)
A friend and his co-paddler picked up somebody who got seperated from their boat. Cost him about $250 fine for no 3rd PFD. The TWRA are patrolling many streams in Tenn. Edit
2008-05-12 02:23:17 (148 days ago)
Derrick SmithDetails
Where in the world is Bell Bridge? Is it where TN Hwy 13 (Waynesboro Hwy) crosses over the river perhaps? I could find every other reference point except this one. Also, it appears to me that Grinders Creek enters the Buffalo River just barely before N. Riverside but you say to try and avoid this less than a mile long section anyway?
2008-04-29 08:03:45 (161 days ago)
Floated this river last year and was very impressed and cant wait to get back. Very pretty river and also has some nice riffles and Class 1's. Watch for snakes! Edit
2008-04-20 08:49:22 (170 days ago)
The pictures of dumb bunnies WITH NO P.F.D. should be deleted!! Edit
2007-05-13 11:21:53 (513 days ago)
Barry JoyceDetails
I have canoed the Buffalo probably 60 times over the last 30 years. Always amazing to see other's opinions. Here is the scoop. No doubt the Buffalo is a beautiful river. I love it indeed. Please protect it if you go, it has suffered with much camper and floater pollution for a long time, pollution in the form of cans, trash, etc... Please help keep it clean. I have not floated the Harpeth, the Duck, other western Middle Tn streams, but best I can tell from crossing them, they don't compare to the Scenic beauty of the Buffalo. I understand the Buffalo of Ark was named such because it resembled the Buffalo of Tn so much. Water quality, fair, some sediment, fishing is really good, I have had only fair success, but not much of a real fisherman, the smallmouth fishing is rated very good. Float difficulty: This is a class 1 float - from Metal Ford (Natchez trace Pkwy ) to Flatwoods bridge - the most floated portions. Couple of rapids approach class 2 in good water. But be aware ! stumps, downed trees, logjams, etc abound and in my opinion, bring the difficulty up to solid class 2, and is borderline for beginners. As a practical matter, the river is full of beginners flipping, pinning canoes, etc....I'm just telling you that compared to a class II whitewater river, this is actually harder with all the strainers, etc But worth the float if you get a chance Quick section summary:.... Metal Ford to Grinders creek - best for mild whitewater, couple of ez class II - rapids, fun and short float, scenery nice..... Grinders to N Riverside - watch out for logjam area - floated it twice and had to portage both times, probably 15 yrs between those floats, this is not one of the better floats, I recommend you avoid this very flat and less scenic (roadside much of the way) ...... N. Riverside to Bell Bridge- Most scenic float - very long float - several good shoals, have floated in 1 day many times, but allow for a long day..and hard for first timers to go this far in 1 day...... Bell to slink shoals - scenic, lots of stumps, etc. waterside waterfall, nice cave, lots of pools....... Slink Shoals to Flatwoods..-not recommended....take out at Slink Shoals ! very flat section, floated only once, can't recall much...
2006-08-28 22:50:36 (770 days ago) philippe damiano
I have canoed the Buffalo probably 60 times over the last 30 years. Always amazing to see other's opinions. Here is the scoop. No doubt the Buffalo is a beautiful river. I love it indeed. Please protect it if you go, it has suffered with much camper and floater pollution for a long time, pollution in the form of cans, trash, etc... Please help keep it clean. I have not floated the Harpeth, the Duck, other western Middle Tn streams, but best I can tell from crossing them, they don't compare to the Scenic beauty of the Buffalo. I understand the Buffalo of Ark was named such because it resembled the Buffalo of Tn so much. Water quality, fair, some sediment, fishing is really good, I have had only fair success, but not much of a real fisherman, the smallmouth fishing is rated very good. Float difficulty: This is a class 1 float - from Metal Ford (Natchez trace Pkwy ) to Flatwoods bridge - the most floated portions. Couple of rapids approach class 2 in good water. But be aware ! stumps, downed trees, logjams, etc abound and in my opinion, bring the difficulty up to solid class 2, and is borderline for beginners. As a practical matter, the river is full of beginners flipping, pinning canoes, etc....I'm just telling you that compared to a class II whitewater river, this is actually harder with all the strainers, etc But worth the float if you get a chance Quick section summary Metal Ford to Grinders creek - best for mild whitewater, couple of class II - rapids, fun and short float, scenery nice<br /><br /> <br /><br /> Grinders to N Riverside - watch out for logjam area - floated it twice and had to portage both times, probably 15 yrs between those floats, this is not one of the better floats, I recommend you avoid this very flat and less scenic (roadside much of the way) <br /><br /> <br /><br /> N. Riverside to Bell Bridge- Most scenic float - very long - couple of mild rapids<br /><br /> <br /><br /> Bell to slink shoals - scenic, lots of stumps, etc. waterside waterfall, nice cave, lots of pools...<br /><br /> <br /><br /> Slink Shoals to Flatwoods...take out at Slink Shoals ! very flat section, floated only once, can't recall much...<br /><br /> <br /><br /> Edit
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