My wife and I are considering a mid-June scenic float, probably Woolum to Buffalo City, 5 to 6 days. Most of our canoeing has been in Quetico and BWCA. We have several questions that we are hoping the experts can answer.
- What are the options for parking our vehicle for 5-6 days at Buffalo City? I know there is an outfitter there, and a public boat launch.
- My wife wonders about raccoons etc. getting into our food supply. Any special considerations that are needed? (In BWCA they recommend hanging food in a tree, but there are no raccoons there).
Any other tips about multi-day trips on the lower Buffalo would be welcome.
lower buffalo - parking
Re: lower buffalo - parking
This is not the Boundary Waters so there are a couple of things to keep in mind. The Buffalo is very rain dependent and water levels can play a big part in your trip. June can be everything from flood to very low. Most likely you will have decent water. The only tricky part between Woolum and Buffalo City is Clabber Shoals which is just below Rush. Depending on the water level it can be a class I+ to II+. Stay river left.
At low levels you will encounter a 1/2 mile rock garden about two miles above the White. Most likely you will not even notice it if the river is in the normal range.
Best thing about the Buffalo compared to BWCA is that there is no portaging.
10 horse power boats are allowed and the closer you get to the White the more likely you will see them.
Camp anywhere you see fit except within 1/2 mile of developed campgrounds.
Leave No Trace.
Paddling to the Buffalo City public boat launch will not be fun at best, impossible at worst. It is worth it to get out at Riley's.
Check with Riley's about leaving a car at Buffalo City. http://www.rileysstation.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Raccoons are a problem. Just make sure your stuff is in a container that a bear, lion or 5 year old cannot tear into and you should be OK. They will not harm you but they are clever and fearless bandits. The raccoon pictured stole my duffel bag from under my cot and drug it about 30 feet before I awoke and realized what was happening. I then attached the bag to my cot. The raccoon came back and that's when I took the picture. One made a new door in my tent to get some GORP that had not been put away. BTW, they do not like M&Ms.
http://www.nps.gov/buff/index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
[attachment=0]Buffalo River 2011-02-11.xls[/attachment]
At low levels you will encounter a 1/2 mile rock garden about two miles above the White. Most likely you will not even notice it if the river is in the normal range.
Best thing about the Buffalo compared to BWCA is that there is no portaging.
10 horse power boats are allowed and the closer you get to the White the more likely you will see them.
Camp anywhere you see fit except within 1/2 mile of developed campgrounds.
Leave No Trace.
Paddling to the Buffalo City public boat launch will not be fun at best, impossible at worst. It is worth it to get out at Riley's.
Check with Riley's about leaving a car at Buffalo City. http://www.rileysstation.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Raccoons are a problem. Just make sure your stuff is in a container that a bear, lion or 5 year old cannot tear into and you should be OK. They will not harm you but they are clever and fearless bandits. The raccoon pictured stole my duffel bag from under my cot and drug it about 30 feet before I awoke and realized what was happening. I then attached the bag to my cot. The raccoon came back and that's when I took the picture. One made a new door in my tent to get some GORP that had not been put away. BTW, they do not like M&Ms.
http://www.nps.gov/buff/index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
[attachment=0]Buffalo River 2011-02-11.xls[/attachment]
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Re: lower buffalo - parking
Richard - thanks for the helpful information! Exactly what we needed to know.
Those raccoons are really clever and persistent. Someday I want to get a motion activated camera to see how many animal visitors our campsites get at night.
Those raccoons are really clever and persistent. Someday I want to get a motion activated camera to see how many animal visitors our campsites get at night.
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