Tennessee Land on the Buffalo River

The Buffalo River starts just south of Nashville near Columbia TN. From there the river flows past the small but beautiful town of Hampshire TN and then passes under the Natchez Trace Parkway where it turns to the North West and goes under I40 before emptying into Kentucky Lake.

If you live in Nashville, then you are probably familiar with the Harpeth and Duck rivers. Although these rivers are close to Nashville, they are heavily polluted and often crowded with weekend kayakers. A bit further you will find the majestic Buffalo River. The river is Tennessee’s longest unimpeded waterway, meaning that no dams are man made structures interrupt the flow of the water.

Facts about the Buffalo River in Tennessee

The Buffalo River is the longest un-impounded river in middle Tennessee
The Buffalo River is named after the Buffalo fish which was commonly found in the river.
The Buffalo River meanders 125 miles.
The Buffalo River contains 85 species of fish!
View the access map for the Buffalo River.

Investing in Tennessee on the Buffalo River

As nature enthusiasts and big time lovers of the Buffalo River we have made an effort to invest in land on our favorite sections of the river. The first piece of land we purchased is near the Merriwether Lewis monument off the Natchez Trace. We affectionately call this land the “river nest”.

When we bought the river near land it was neglected after decades of being unused. The land was covered in trash and required several months of work to clear and rehab the land. Shortly after this we started making plans for an off grid cabin..after all, once you invest in beautiful Tennessee land, you want to enjoy it!

Buffalo River Property Overview

We designed the cabin based on a lofted tiny home type of design. After hiring local contractors to build the structure, we then sourced rough milled hemlock for the siding and Amish milled poplar for the interior. At the end of 2019 our river nest cabin was complete! Little did we know that it would be just in time for a pandemic that would force everyone to be outside and removed from people.

One of the main reasons we bought this land was that it offers stunning views and access to the scenic Buffalo River. The location is perfect for a day trip down the Natchez Trace and then a day on the river.

As the land and cabin have developed, the river near has become a perfect retreat for seclusion and rest. The land is also unrestricted, allowing us to have maximum freedom. The river near retreat is designed for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Purchasing land on the Buffalo River

There aren’t many lots for sale along the Buffalo river in Tennessee, but if you setup property alerts using an app like Zillow or Trulia you can get emails once land is available. Make sure to set parameters such as price, minimum acres etc so that any listings you receive will be within your budget range.

In our opinion, the most scenic and beautiful sections of the buffalo river are between the Natchez Trace and Linden, TN. This stretch of ~50 miles of river is surrounded by farm land with several public access points. Further down river is also an option, but you will find quite a few more kayakers and river enthusiasts in this area.

Visiting the Buffalo River

Planning on a kayaking or fishing trip? The upper sections of the river are best to float in spring and early summer. During mid summer to first 40-50 miles of the river gets low and difficult to pass. During this time of year it is best to start near Hohenwald, TN or further down river.