Buffalo River in Arkansas info needed

Had a couples canoe/camping trip on the buffaloe springtime a number of years ago. Water was high and fast sunk three times in first mile, lost camping stuff, got very cold. Otherwise we really enjoyed it. Suggest you get grandparents to sit that weekend

you should find cocomo over on the OT and get him engaged in this thread. He goes a good bit and could give some tips.

1.) Buffalo Outdoor Center could be your one-stop shop. They'll provide cabins, trip recos, and take care of canoe rentals (and even vary trip depending on water level).

2.) Paddling is entirely dependent on water level. Individual trips might be death traps or involve a ton of portaging. The Buffalo is a moody river. I hiked in November and could walk a bunch of the river, hiked again in January and the same area was a torrent.

Use the White River as a backup - It's certainly more kid friendly but too cold to swim. Use White Buffalo Resort for that.

3.) Hikes....with 3yr old. If you're not in a rush and don't mind carrying the little one.
-Best for Little Kids: Lost Valley. Closed until late Feb for major improvements, but should be perfect afterwards.
-Centerpoint to the River and Back. Wide trail, long downhill to the river. But you gotta climb back, and it'll be tough on the 3yr old.
-Compton to Hemmed in Hollow. Great trail, but trickly climb down for little kids and a challenging climb back up.
-Hemmed in Hollow from River - If you can paddle to Horseshoe Bend, park your canoe and make the <1 mile flat hike to Hemmed in Hollow falls. Then walk back.

Hit up Blanchard Springs Caverns either way.

I have canoed the Buffalo (and into the White) a couple of times but it has been many years. Doing it with 3 kids those ages sounds like a real chore. One thing I remember is that the White is very cold, dangerously so. And when I was on it, it was a bigger river with swift current. If one of those kids ends up in the water there it is going to be a bad deal. Even with a PFD.

As others have mentioned you need to make sure the river is not a high and fast or it will be miserable for all involved.