Buffalo Point Campground

No separate swimming fee found. Campground fees: drive-in sites $30/night, walk-in tent sites $20/night, group sites $50/night, day-use pavilions $50/day (per nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/buffalo-point-campground.htm). Loop B offers no-fee primitive winter camping.

NPS describes the beach as a 'deep pool' (no shallow wading edge documented), and park-wide safety pages warn of strong currents after rainfall, submerged rocks, and rapid-onset hypothermia in cold water even in summer. There is no lifeguard. The park runs a free 'Swim Safe - Borrow a Life Jacket' loaner program, and NPS requires life jackets for children 12 and under on the river - families with young kids should use them here too and supervise closely given the reported depth.

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Day-use parking for the swimming beach is at Buffalo Point Campground, at the access point between Loops A and B. No separate day-use/swimming fee was found; fees on the NPS campground page apply only to overnight camping ($30 drive-in, $20 walk-in tent, $50 group) and pavilion reservations ($50/day). NPS notes access roads into the Lower District can be rocky and may require a high-clearance vehicle, and GPS is unreliable in the area.

Buffalo Point sits in the Lower District, which NPS describes as offering year-round paddling (least rainfall-dependent section of the river). Wild Bill's Outfitter, one of the authorized concessioners, explicitly rents Jon boats alongside canoes/kayaks/rafts for this stretch, indicating small motorized craft are used here.

Standard Buffalo National River safety guidance applies (life jackets recommended, no specific swim-area rules found). Caves throughout the park are closed due to white-nose syndrome; historic mine shafts are gated. No swimming-specific regulations (hours, lifeguard, alcohol) were found in sourced pages.