Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area

Facility · Arkansas ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

Ozark National Forest (NF) · Open Access

2,170 ft
Elevation

The main section of the Upper Buffalo Wilderness was designated in 1974 with additional acreages created by the 1984 Arkansas Wilderness Act totaling approximately 12.000 acres. This is one of the 3 wildernesses on the Buffalo Ranger District. The forest cover is mostly second and third growth oak-hickory. Some scattered stands of shortleaf pine in old fields still exist from when the Forest Service purchased the land in the 1930s and 1940s. The route to Hawksbill Crag is the only designated hiking trail located in the wilderness. The trail is developed but unmarked. A system of old lodging roads that runs throughout the area provides and informal network of trails for hiking and horseback rising. There are four developed access points to reach the Upper Buffalo Wilderness : Hawksbill Crag, Kapark Cemetery, Dahl Memorial, and Boen Gulf. Point of interest- Hawksbill Crag Rock Formation.

Getting there

See trailhead links (under "Find Area" in right column) for map, directions and latitude/longitude of each trailhead.

35.89736, -93.45723 · 35°53'50.5"N 93°27'26.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 85°F in Aug, down to 43°F in Jan.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F434857667281858578675546
Low °F252835445462666559483728
Precip in3.33.04.35.25.54.84.43.54.24.54.13.4

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 8.5 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Member photos

Common questions about Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area

Can you reserve a site at Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area?
No. Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Camping near Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area

Comments

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.