I grew up in a very poor family and we didn’t take vacations. At age 15, my first real vacation was to the parks in New Mexico and Arizona. From then on I was hooked on the National Parks. When my husband and I retired and moved to Arkansas we wanted to be engaged in supporting that state’s national parks. For several years we have been volunteering at Buffalo National River (America’s first designated national river). We owe it to future generations to make sure our national parks remain public for all to enjoy. Here I am with a visitor at Boxley Valley along the Buffalo. Each year thousands of people visit this valley to hear elk bugling, tour the historic Boxley Mill and enjoy the fall foliage.
Sincerely,
Buffalo National River
The Buffalo is America's first national river and one of the last undammed rivers in the contiguous United States. Its 135 miles flow freely through beautiful Ozark forests and bluffs of limestone and sandstone, offering challenging whitewater conditions in the upper section and calmer Class I rapids in the middle and lower sections. There are not many roads or established overlooks in the park; the best way to experience the beauty of the water is to be out on it, navigating the cliffs, springs, waterfalls and multicolored rock. Just be alert and prepared for fast-changing conditions.
State(s): Arkansas
Established: 1972
“we owe it to future generations to make sure our public lands/national parks are there for their enjoyment. ”
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Greetings from Buffalo National River
I grew up a pastor’s kid and I had four siblings. As you might expect, we did not have a lot of money to take vacations. However, we could afford to camp in the natural beauty of the National Parks. That is exactly what we did. Some of my best…
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Greetings from Buffalo National River
Our extended family took a 9 1/2 hour road trip to the Buffalo River this summer. It was the first time we had traveled together like this. Our oldest member is 68 and our youngest member is 5. We stayed in log cabins built by the CCC in the 1930s.…
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