Buffalo National River to reopen for day use May 15

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Buffalo National River is reopening for some uses next week after the national park was closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The National Park Service on Tuesday announced that the park will begin to reopen May 15 for recreational day use of trails and the Buffalo River. The park has been closed since early April because of the virus.

The park service said day access will resume for private and commercial floating on the river, all trails within park boundaries except for the Lost Valley Trail and limited restroom facilities. The park’s campgrounds remain closed.

The park is reopening as Arkansas lifts some of its restrictions because of the virus. Barbershops and hair salons were allowed to reopen Wednesday, two days after restrictions on gyms were lifted.