Grinder's Ferry
St Joe, Arkansas · on Buffalo River · Buffalo National River
Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- river
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Grinder's Ferry
Grinder's Ferry is an official National Park Service river access point on the Buffalo National River at the US Highway 65 bridge, about 1.1 miles upstream from the Tyler Bend Visitor Center in north-central Arkansas. It is a well-known, easy-access gravel-bar swimming hole, popular both as a river to swim in and as a canoe and kayak launch.
The spot sits on a wide gravel bar at the Highway 65 bridge crossing of the Buffalo River, with a roughly 50-foot bluff rising from the north bank. The surrounding Ozark landscape features wooded riverbanks and rock bluffs typical of the Buffalo National River corridor.
Swimming at Grinder's Ferry
Swimmers wade and swim in a deep pool below a riffle just downstream of the bridge, with clear, gently flowing water over a smooth gravel/stone bottom. The location is described as one of the easiest river-swim stops on the Buffalo, suiting casual swimmers, families, and paddlers stopping mid-float, with a small cave at the base of the north-bank bluff noted as a distinctive feature.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located on US Highway 65 between Marshall and St. Joe, Arkansas, right at the highway bridge over the Buffalo River: from Marshall, go about 10.6 miles north on US-65 to just before the bridge; from St. Joe, go about 5.1 miles south on US-65, turning immediately after crossing the bridge.
Parking: Vehicles park directly on the large gravel bar / paved access area at the bridge; no developed lot, and driving onto the gravel bar is at the visitor's own risk since it can be soft after floods.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Confirmed drive-up access; no trail or hike is needed to reach the swimming area.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Widely called one of the easiest, most family-friendly river-swim stops on the Buffalo: shallow gravel-bar wading right off the parking area and a gentle current over smooth stones. 'With care' rather than an unqualified yes because it's an unsupervised natural river (no lifeguards), the swimming pool sits just below a riffle with real current, the gravel bar can be soft/unstable after floods, and the surrounding woods have ticks, chiggers, and snakes.
Parking
Free
Vehicles drive onto a large paved-access point that opens onto a wide gravel bar at the US-65 bridge; no striped/developed lot. It's an at-your-own-risk surface since it can turn soft after high water. No fee to park or access the river here.
Restrooms
Yes
No restroom at the Grinder's Ferry gravel bar itself. Flush restrooms and hot showers are available year-round 0.9 mi away at Tyler Bend Campground/Visitor Center.
Water clarity
Clear
Multiple first-hand accounts independently describe the water as crystal-clear and pristine, flowing over a smooth gravel and stone bottom, clear enough for snorkeling near the north-bank bluff cave. This rating rests on first-hand outfitter and visitor accounts already on file rather than broad crowd-sourced reports.
Hours
No gate or posted hours at the Grinder's Ferry access itself (open river access, day or night). Tyler Bend Visitor Center, 0.9 mi away, is open year-round.
On the water
Restrictions: NPS requires a wearable PFD (personal flotation device) in every boat on the river, and children age 12 and under must actively wear theirs while on the water. No NPS source found during this pass states a motorboat/personal-watercraft rule one way or the other, so that is left unconfirmed rather than guessed.
Grinder's Ferry is one of the Buffalo National River's official access points and doubles as a major put-in/take-out for canoe and kayak floats (it sits at NPS river mile 72.6, used as a high-water gauge reference too). Several NPS-authorized concessioners operate rentals and shuttles for this Middle District stretch.
Rentals nearby
Canoe and kayak rental with shuttle service for Buffalo National River floats
Prices: Canoe $99.50; Kayak $85.50 (per listed rate on their site, likely per-boat/per-trip)
9826 US-65, St Joe, AR 72675 - at Silver Hill, directly adjacent to Tyler Bend and under a mile from Grinder's Ferry
Raft, kayak, and canoe floating trips with shuttle; also cabins/lodging. Authorized NPS concessioner for the Middle Buffalo River, operating since 1986
9664 N Hwy 65, St. Joe, AR 72675 - a few miles north of Grinder's Ferry on Hwy 65 · Mon-Thu 9:00 AM-6:00 PM; Fri-Sun 8:00 AM-6:00 PM
Grinder's Ferry: FAQ
Does Grinder's Ferry charge a fee?
No entrance fee for Buffalo National River; this is an informal gravel-bar access point rather than a fee campground, though nearby Tyler Bend developed campsites charge nightly camping fees.
Is Grinder's Ferry kid friendly?
Widely called one of the easiest, most family-friendly river-swim stops on the Buffalo: shallow gravel-bar wading right off the parking area and a gentle current over smooth stones. 'With care' rather than an unqualified yes because it's an unsupervised natural river (no lifeguards), the swimming pool sits just below a riffle with real current, the gravel bar can be soft/unstable after floods, and the surrounding woods have ticks, chiggers, and snakes.
Do I need to hike to reach Grinder's Ferry?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Grinder's Ferry?
Vehicles drive onto a large paved-access point that opens onto a wide gravel bar at the US-65 bridge; no striped/developed lot. It's an at-your-own-risk surface since it can turn soft after high water. No fee to park or access the river here.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Grinder's Ferry?
Grinder's Ferry is one of the Buffalo National River's official access points and doubles as a major put-in/take-out for canoe and kayak floats (it sits at NPS river mile 72.6, used as a high-water gauge reference too). Several NPS-authorized concessioners operate rentals and shuttles for this Middle District stretch.
When is the best time to visit Grinder's Ferry?
Summer, when the Buffalo River runs low and calm and is described as a 'tranquil stream' ideal for swimming and floating; higher, faster water occurs in wetter seasons.
What are the rules at Grinder's Ferry?
Free primitive camping is permitted on the gravel bar itself (can get crowded on holiday weekends); NPS notes there is no ADA-accessible ramp here and cautions that driving on the gravel bar is at one's own risk.
What water body is Grinder's Ferry on?
Grinder's Ferry is on Buffalo River, a natural river verified in USGS hydrography data.
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