Steel Creek Campground packing checklist | Camp Check [Skip to content](#content) [Camp Check](/) [Map](/)[About](/about) Show more details [← Back to map](/) · [Search spots](/#all) Trip details · Steel Creek Campground # Steel Creek Campground packing checklist * Activity**Car camping** * Park**Buffalo National River, AR** * Nearest**Wildcat Canyon, 434 mi** A tent campground in a grassy valley on the upper Buffalo River, right across the water from Roark Bluff, one of the river’s best-known bluffs. It has 26 walk-in tent-only sites and a separate horse camp, with flush restrooms and water in season but no hookups or showers. Reservations required through mid-November, no cell service, a river that can rise fast after rain, and fall elk and hunting seasons are the main things to plan for. ## Trip details Elevation About 1,005 ft, on the valley floor below Roark Bluff Sites 26 walk-in tent-only sites, each with a picnic table, fire ring and lantern hook, plus a separate horse camp only for campers with stock animals. Up to 6 people per site. The ground is grassy and uneven, and no sites are ADA accessible, though the restrooms are Hookups None. No showers. Flush restrooms and water spigots in season, and a vault toilet in winter. No trailers, RVs or camper vans in the tent camp; trailers only in the horse camp Fees and reservations $20 a night, half off with a Senior or Access pass. Reservations required for all sites in season on Recreation.gov or at 1-877-444-6777, up to 6 months ahead Season Fee season with water: March 13 to November 16, 2026. The rest of the year, camping is free and first-come, first-served, with no water Getting there About 3 mi east of Ponca off Highway 74, 13 mi west of Jasper. The access road is paved and steep for about 2 mi, then gravel on the valley floor. All vehicles OK in good weather. Don’t trust GPS Firewood Dead and down wood may be used. No firewood for sale, and don’t bring wood from far away Pets On a leash no longer than 6 feet, never left alone. Allowed on the Buffalo River Trail between Ponca and Steel Creek, but not on most park trails Best season Late March to early June for floating and waterfalls, or October and November for fall color and the elk rut (our pick) ### Source * [NPS Buffalo National River: Steel Creek Campground](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/steel-creek-campground.htm) * [NPS Buffalo National River: camping](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/camping.htm) * [Recreation.gov: Steel Creek Campground](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10001451) * [NPS Buffalo National River: fees](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/fees.htm) * [NPS Buffalo National River: directions](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/directions.htm) * [NPS Buffalo National River: safety](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/safety.htm) * [NPS Buffalo National River: backcountry camping](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/backcountry-camping.htm) * [NPS Buffalo National River: Leave No Trace](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/leave-no-trace.htm) * [NPS Buffalo National River: hunting](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/hunting.htm) * [Arkansas Game and Fish: Buffalo National River WMA seasons](https://www.agfc.com/wma/buffalo-national-river-wma/) * [NPS Buffalo National River: elk](https://www.nps.gov/buff/learn/nature/elk.htm) * [NPS Buffalo National River: pets](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/pets.htm) * [NPS Buffalo National River: current conditions](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/conditions.htm) * [NPS Buffalo National River: maps](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/maps.htm) * [NPS Buffalo National River: hiking trails](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/hiking-trails.htm) * [NPS: Buffalo River Trail, Boxley to Pruitt](https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hike-the-buffalo-river-trail.htm) * [NPS: paddle Ponca to Steel Creek](https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/paddle-ponca-to-steel-creek.htm) * [USGS: Buffalo River at Ponca gage](https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/07055660/) * [National Weather Service forecast for Steel Creek](https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=36.0395&lon=-93.346) * [Arkansas Radio: burn bans and wildfire danger, Oct 24, 2026](https://arkansasradio.com/2026/10/arkansas-burn-bans-october-24-2026-53-counties-wildfire-danger/) * [Arkansas.gov: wildfire danger and burn bans](https://portal.arkansas.gov/service/wildfire-danger-burn-bans-prescribed-burns/) * [USGS elevation point query](https://apps.nationalmap.gov/epqs/) "Our pick" seasons are our own call. ## Packing list Reset Ready to go: **0%** · you have 0 of 19 ### Before you go * **Book before you leave home.** All sites are reservation only through mid-November, and there is no cell service at the campground. [Recreation.gov: Steel Creek Campground](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10001451) * **Check alerts and closures.** Look at [NPS Buffalo National River: current conditions](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/conditions.htm) the day before. As of Oct 27, 2026, no alert is listed for Steel Creek. Elsewhere in the park, South Woolum Road is closed with an alternate route, and Buffalo Point Campground goes reservation only on March 15, 2027. * **Check the weather and the river.** Storms upstream can raise the river fast. Check the [National Weather Service forecast for Steel Creek](https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=36.0395&lon=-93.346) and the [USGS: Buffalo River at Ponca gage](https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/07055660/); the park calls it unsafe above 2,070 cubic feet per second. [NPS Buffalo National River: Leave No Trace](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/leave-no-trace.htm) * **Bring paper maps.** GPS is very unreliable here. Use an Arkansas highway map or the park map. [NPS Buffalo National River: directions](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/directions.htm) * **Tell someone your plan.** Leave your plan with someone who isn’t coming, and tell them when to call for help. Don’t count on your phone. In an emergency call 911 or the park’s 24-hour dispatch at 1-888-692-1162. [NPS Buffalo National River: backcountry camping](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/backcountry-camping.htm) * **Dress for hunting season.** Hunting is allowed in most of the park outside campgrounds. Wear blaze orange on trails. [NPS Buffalo National River: hiking trails](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/hiking-trails.htm) * **Check fire danger.** Look for a new county burn ban before you light a campfire. [Arkansas.gov: wildfire danger and burn bans](https://portal.arkansas.gov/service/wildfire-danger-burn-bans-prescribed-burns/) * **Know when to leave.** Move away from the river if it is rising or a storm is building, and turn back on a hike if anyone is struggling or you won’t be back before dark. This list is a starting point, not a guarantee. Conditions change, so adjust it for your trip and your group. We earn from qualifying Amazon purchases. [Details](/about#affiliate) Check off what you already have. For anything you still need, there’s a product suggestion when we have a good match. ### Trip-specific: permits and hazards 1. **Reservations required, and no booking on arrival**All sites at Steel Creek are reservation only during the season, which the park lists as March 13 to November 16, 2026. Sites are $20 a night (half off with a Senior or Access pass), with up to 6 people per site. Book on Recreation.gov or at 1-877-444-6777, up to 6 months ahead. There is no cell service, so reserve before you drive in, then write your reservation number at the self check-in station. The horse camp (sites 27 to 39 on Recreation.gov) is only for campers with stock animals. Outside the season, camping is free and first-come, first-served, but the water and flush restrooms are shut off.Need itHave it No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park. Source: [NPS Buffalo National River: camping](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/camping.htm) · [NPS Buffalo National River: Steel Creek Campground](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/steel-creek-campground.htm) · [Recreation.gov: Steel Creek Campground](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10001451) · [NPS Buffalo National River: fees](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/fees.htm) 2. **No cell service, and GPS can’t be trusted**The park says cell service isn’t reliable unless you drive several miles toward Jasper on Highway 74 or north of Ponca on Highway 43. GPS is very unreliable in this area and has sent visitors the wrong way onto dirt roads, so use an Arkansas highway map or the park map. An emergency phone is at the visitor contact station near the old barns and horse stables. In an emergency call 911, or the park’s 24-hour dispatch at 1-888-692-1162.Need itHave it No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park. Source: [NPS Buffalo National River: Steel Creek Campground](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/steel-creek-campground.htm) · [NPS Buffalo National River: directions](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/directions.htm) · [NPS Buffalo National River: backcountry camping](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/backcountry-camping.htm) · [NPS Buffalo National River: safety](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/safety.htm) 3. **Fast-rising river and cold water**Storms miles upstream can raise the river quickly, even when it isn’t raining at camp. The park says the river can rise more than a foot an hour and over 25 feet in a single day. The Ponca gage is unsafe above 2,070 cubic feet per second. On the morning of Oct 27, 2026 it read about 10, which is too low to float; the upper river is usually floatable only in spring and early summer. Cold water and air cause hypothermia fast if you get wet, so keep dry clothes. Swim with a buddy.Need itHave it No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park. Source: [NPS Buffalo National River: backcountry camping](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/backcountry-camping.htm) · [NPS Buffalo National River: Leave No Trace](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/leave-no-trace.htm) · [NPS Buffalo National River: safety](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/safety.htm) · [USGS: Buffalo River at Ponca gage](https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/07055660/) 4. **Roark Bluff, caves and old mines**The campground sits across the river from Roark Bluff. Climbing or diving from the bluffs is dangerous and discouraged; the park says don’t dive from cliffs, because clear shallow water can look deep. Bluff rock can crumble. All caves in the park are closed due to white-nose syndrome, and old mines and wells are gated, so stay out of them.Need itHave it No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park. Source: [Recreation.gov: Steel Creek Campground](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10001451) · [NPS Buffalo National River: safety](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/safety.htm) 5. **Hunting season: wear blaze orange on trails**Hunting isn’t allowed in campgrounds and other developed zones, and hunters must stay at least 50 yards away, but it is allowed in most of the park’s backcountry. The park suggests hikers wear high-visibility orange during hunting season. State seasons here include deer archery through Feb 28, a permit elk hunt Oct 26 to 30, bear archery through Nov 30, youth deer gun hunts Nov 7 to 8, and deer gun season Nov 14 to Dec 6 and Dec 26 to 28, 2026.Need itHave it ![Hot Shot Men’s Thinsulate Cuff Knit Hat, Blaze Orange](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51uccCiO6IL._AC_SL1000_.jpg) Hot Shot Men’s Thinsulate Cuff Knit Hat, Blaze Orange $9.99 on Amazon The park suggests high-visibility orange for hikers during hunting season. A knit hat also keeps you warm on a cool fall night in camp. [Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0010FZIBA/ref=nosim?tag=giftsthatland-20) Source: [NPS Buffalo National River: hunting](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/hunting.htm) · [NPS Buffalo National River: hiking trails](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/hiking-trails.htm) · [Arkansas Game and Fish: Buffalo National River WMA seasons](https://www.agfc.com/wma/buffalo-national-river-wma/) 6. **Elk rut and black bears**October and November are the elk rut, and elk often graze in the fields at Steel Creek and in nearby Boxley Valley around dawn and dusk. Elk can weigh more than 500 pounds, and bulls have sharp antlers, so keep well back. When you stop to watch, pull completely off the road. Black bears live here too, and a mother with cubs will likely be aggressive. There are no food lockers, so store food in your car and never feed wildlife.Need itHave it No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park. Source: [NPS Buffalo National River: elk](https://www.nps.gov/buff/learn/nature/elk.htm) · [NPS Buffalo National River: safety](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/safety.htm) · [NPS Buffalo National River: Steel Creek Campground](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/steel-creek-campground.htm) 7. **Ticks, chiggers and snakes**Ticks and chiggers are worst in summer but can be out all year. The park says to stay on trails, avoid thickets and tall grass, and use insect repellent. Check for ticks each evening. Copperheads, cottonmouths and rattlesnakes live throughout the park, so watch where you put your hands and feet, especially around rocks and woodpiles.Need itHave it ![Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent 20% Pump Spray 4 oz](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61P44lekEDL._AC_SL1500_.jpg) Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent 20% Pump Spray 4 oz $10.99 on Amazon A 20% picaridin repellent the maker says works against ticks, chiggers and mosquitoes. The park says to use insect repellent. [Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015KG5NK/ref=nosim?tag=giftsthatland-20) Source: [NPS Buffalo National River: safety](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/safety.htm) 8. **Campfires and fire danger**Keep fires in the fire rings; cook stoves are allowed. You may burn dead and down wood, but don’t bring firewood from far away, because it can spread tree-killing pests. No firewood is sold here. Put fires completely out whenever you leave your site. As of Oct 24, 2026, Newton County had no burn ban but was at moderate wildfire danger after a dry fall, so check for a new ban before you go.Need itHave it No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park. Source: [NPS Buffalo National River: Steel Creek Campground](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/steel-creek-campground.htm) · [Recreation.gov: Steel Creek Campground](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10001451) · [Arkansas Radio: burn bans and wildfire danger, Oct 24, 2026](https://arkansasradio.com/2026/10/arkansas-burn-bans-october-24-2026-53-counties-wildfire-danger/) · [Arkansas.gov: wildfire danger and burn bans](https://portal.arkansas.gov/service/wildfire-danger-burn-bans-prescribed-burns/) 9. **Camp rules and pets**Quiet hours are 10 pm to 6 am, and generators may run only from 8 am to 8 pm. Stays are limited to 14 days in a row. No trailers, RVs or camper vans in the tent camp. Don’t wash anything in the river. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet and never left alone. Pets aren’t allowed on most park trails, but the Buffalo River Trail between Ponca and Steel Creek is one of the few where they are.Need itHave it No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park. Source: [NPS Buffalo National River: Steel Creek Campground](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/steel-creek-campground.htm) · [NPS Buffalo National River: pets](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/pets.htm) · [Recreation.gov: Steel Creek Campground](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10001451) 10. **Storms and changing fall weather**Outside summer, the weather here can be wet and cool or dry and warm. The forecast for the week of Oct 27, 2026 shows highs of 71 to 82°F and lows of 55 to 61°F, with rain showers likely Saturday and a chance of thunderstorms Monday night. Storms can build fast. If you can hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike, so get away from the river and open fields.Need itHave it No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park. Source: [NPS Buffalo National River: Steel Creek Campground](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/steel-creek-campground.htm) · [National Weather Service forecast for Steel Creek](https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=36.0395&lon=-93.346) · [NPS Buffalo National River: safety](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/safety.htm) ### The Ten Essentials [(NPS)](https://www.nps.gov/articles/10essentials.htm) 1. **Water: spigots through mid-November, then bring it all**Water spigots run through the campground during the season, which ends November 16, 2026. After that there is no drinking water, so bring all you need. We suggest about a gallon per person per day for drinking and cooking. On hikes from camp, carry about 1 liter per person for every 2 hours, and don’t count on filling up along the way, with the river running very low this fall.Need itHave it ![Nalgene Tritan Wide Mouth 32 oz (Gray, Black Lid)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/715SE6ZgTjL._AC_SL1500_.jpg) Nalgene Tritan Wide Mouth 32 oz (Gray, Black Lid) $16.99 on Amazon Holds about 1 liter. Fill it at the campground spigots while they are on, through mid-November. [Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002PLU912/ref=nosim?tag=giftsthatland-20) Source: [NPS Buffalo National River: camping](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/camping.htm) · [NPS Buffalo National River: Steel Creek Campground](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/steel-creek-campground.htm) · [USGS: Buffalo River at Ponca gage](https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/07055660/) 2. **Food, stored in your car**Bring all your food; there is no camp store. Steel Creek has no food lockers, so keep food and coolers in your car when you aren’t eating, use the trash cans, and never feed wildlife.Need itHave it No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park. Source: [NPS Buffalo National River: Steel Creek Campground](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/steel-creek-campground.htm) · [NPS Buffalo National River: safety](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/safety.htm) 3. **Navigation: paper map and compass**GPS is very unreliable here, and there is no cell service. Bring an Arkansas highway map or the park map to drive in, and download the park’s trail maps before you lose signal. The Buffalo River Trail starts at Steel Creek; the park says it is moderate to strenuous, and hardest between Boxley Valley and Erbie.Need itHave it ![Suunto A-10 Compass](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61SgLIozPML._AC_SL1500_.jpg) Suunto A-10 Compass $24.00 on Amazon GPS is unreliable here and there is no cell service. A simple compass and a paper park map work without a signal. [Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TRB49PK/ref=nosim?tag=giftsthatland-20) Source: [NPS Buffalo National River: directions](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/directions.htm) · [NPS Buffalo National River: maps](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/maps.htm) · [NPS: Buffalo River Trail, Boxley to Pruitt](https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hike-the-buffalo-river-trail.htm) 4. **Headlamp**Fall days are short, and you may be setting up camp or walking to the restroom in the dark. A headlamp leaves your hands free. Your phone isn’t a headlamp.Need itHave it ![Petzl Tikka Headlamp](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71sDmxdaMIL._AC_SL1500_.jpg) Petzl Tikka Headlamp $34.95 on Amazon For setting up camp after dark on a short fall day and for walks to the restroom at night. [Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FDLSGR92/ref=nosim?tag=giftsthatland-20) 5. **Sun protection**The campground is in an open, grassy valley. The park warns that sun reflecting off the river can be severe. Bring sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.Need itHave it ![Banana Boat Sport SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray, 6 oz (2 pack)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71KsaIMGD7L._SL1500_.jpg) Banana Boat Sport SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray, 6 oz (2 pack) $13.86 on Amazon The campground is an open, grassy field, and the park warns that sun reflecting off the river can be severe. [Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQXX9US/ref=nosim?tag=giftsthatland-20) Source: [NPS Buffalo National River: safety](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/safety.htm) 6. **Warm layers and rain gear**Nights are cooler than days, and rain is in this week’s forecast. The park says cold water and air cause hypothermia quickly if you get wet, so bring a fleece or insulated jacket, a rain jacket, a warm hat and a full set of dry clothes. Avoid cotton, which stays cold when wet.Need itHave it ![FROGG TOGGS Ultra-lite2 Rain Jacket (men’s)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/613vT-iXDWL._AC_SL1500_.jpg) FROGG TOGGS Ultra-lite2 Rain Jacket (men’s) $23.47 on Amazon Rain showers are in this week’s forecast, and the park says to have dry clothes because getting wet in cool weather leads to hypothermia. Wear a warm layer under it. [Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CKCZOZC/ref=nosim?tag=giftsthatland-20) ![Columbia Men’s Steens Mountain 2.0 Fleece](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71pAXIBZX4L._AC_SL1500_.jpg) Columbia Men’s Steens Mountain 2.0 Fleece $45.48 on Amazon A warm men’s fleece for cool fall evenings in camp. Wear it under the rain jacket. [Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0076R6NSI/ref=nosim?tag=giftsthatland-20) ![Columbia Women’s Benton Springs Full Zip Fleece](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71arDJlYYZL._AC_SL1500_.jpg) Columbia Women’s Benton Springs Full Zip Fleece $45.48 on Amazon A warm women’s fleece for cool fall evenings in camp. Wear it under the rain jacket. [Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003NX8C7E/ref=nosim?tag=giftsthatland-20) Source: [NPS Buffalo National River: safety](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/safety.htm) · [National Weather Service forecast for Steel Creek](https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=36.0395&lon=-93.346) 7. **First aid kit**The park says help will take time to reach you after an accident. Bring a kit with tweezers for ticks, plus blister care and bandages. In an emergency call 911, or use the emergency phone near the old barns.Need itHave it ![Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Tk3JSPj0L._AC_SL1500_.jpg) Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .5 $31.95 on Amazon For cuts, blisters and tick removal in camp or on the trail, where help can take a long time to arrive. [Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DV6PDY9R/ref=nosim?tag=giftsthatland-20) Source: [NPS Buffalo National River: safety](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/safety.htm) · [NPS Buffalo National River: Steel Creek Campground](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/steel-creek-campground.htm) 8. **Tent, fire starter and emergency shelter**Bring a tent that can handle rain on grassy, uneven ground. For hikes from camp, carry an emergency bivvy and a lighter in case someone is hurt and has to wait for help.Need itHave it ![SOL 90% Emergency Bivvy](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81xGw29aTYL._AC_SL1500_.jpg) SOL 90% Emergency Bivvy $25.49 on Amazon Light enough to carry on hikes from camp. Holds in body heat if someone is hurt and has to wait for help. [Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NC9BLQ5/ref=nosim?tag=giftsthatland-20) Source: [NPS Buffalo National River: Steel Creek Campground](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/steel-creek-campground.htm) · [NPS Buffalo National River: safety](https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/safety.htm) 9. **Knife or repair kit**For camp chores, cutting cord and quick gear fixes.Need itHave it ![Opinel No. 08 Stainless Folding Knife](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51sHi+R6qwL._AC_SL1500_.jpg) Opinel No. 08 Stainless Folding Knife $17.13 on Amazon For camp chores, cutting cord and quick gear fixes. [Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UGYWTO/ref=nosim?tag=giftsthatland-20) Prices and stock checked on Amazon on Oct 27, 2026, and may have changed. ## Photos ![The Buffalo River running over a shallow gravel shoal at the base of Roark Bluff, a tall gray limestone cliff, at Steel Creek](/photos/steel-creek-campground-1.webp) Photo: [National Park Service](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Buffalo_River_runs_along_a_shallow_shoal_at_the_base_of_Roark_Bluff_at_Steel_Creek_\(53922189-8abb-46f6-8988-d646bcbeabdf\).JPG) · [Public domain](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/) · Wikimedia Commons ![Looking down on the grassy Steel Creek valley, its gravel road and the Buffalo River, with Roark Bluff beyond, in winter](/photos/steel-creek-campground-2.webp) Photo: [National Park Service](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:View_of_Steel_Creek_area_\(e0bfb9b6-155d-4519-3e0e-724e51a94712\).jpg) · [Public domain](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/) · Wikimedia Commons Coordinates **36.0395°N 93.3460°W** Park **Buffalo National River, AR** Time now **UTC --:--:--** [](/spots/wildcat-canyon-starved-rock)[](/spots/enchanted-rock)[](/spots/elkmont-campground)[](/spots/alum-cave-trail)[](/spots/linville-falls-erwins-view)[](/spots/endless-wall-trail)[](/spots/steel-creek-campground) Use two fingers to move the map **Affiliate disclosure:** As an Amazon Associate, Camp Check earns from qualifying purchases. Amazon links are affiliate links and don't change your price. **AI disclosure:** Pages are drafted with AI help and checked by a person against the linked NPS/USFS sources and live Amazon listings. Conditions, prices and stock change, so check before you go and before you buy. **Map data:** Elevation from [Terrain Tiles on AWS](https://registry.opendata.aws/terrain-tiles/) (Mapzen/Tilezen), built from USGS 3DEP and NOAA ETOPO1 data, among others. [About](/about) · [Sitemap](/sitemap.xml)