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Outdoors & Sports / Hiking / Buffalo National River Area Trails
From Easy/Moderate hikes to Strenuous overnights
Enjoy a slow, easy nature walk along a wheelchair accessible trail or back-pack
into the wilderness.
Koen Interpretive Trail - Easy/Wheelchair Accessible
This lovely short forest walk is wheelchair accessible and has benches scattered along
the trail. Trail guides at the trailhead describe over 34 different kinds of trees
and plants that can be identified along the walk.
Trail Access: Take Hwy. 7 north from Jasper,
approximately three miles, turn left at the Erbie Campground road, then one-half mile
down the dirt road, turn right. Two hundred yards down that road, take a left to the
trailhead parking area.
Erbie Trails - Easy/Moderate
Located at the old community of Erbie, the Erbie Trails provide easy to moderate
hiking and excellent opportunities to visit historic farmsteads, quiet stream
valleys, waterfalls, old farm fields, wooded mountainsides and bluff-top vistas.
There are several trails on the north side of the river which may be hiked
individually or combined into a loop of approximately 7.5. miles.
The Cecil Creek Trail travels upstream along Cecil
Creek to another trail intersection near the foundation of an old church. The faint
trail to the right, marked with blue blazes, travels for about a mile to a waterfall
area knows as Broadhollow Falls.
The trail to the left, known as the Cecil Creek Bench Trail,
climbs out of the creek valley and runs along a bench past an old cemetery and a
couple of old home sites. These trails provide a wonderful hike of great variety.
The trailhead is located adjacent to the old Erbie Church and provides picnic tables
and toilets.
The Cherry Grove Cemetery Loop, just across the river
on the south side, skirts old fields and wooded bluffs along the river to the historic
cemetery. Elk and deer frequent many of these old fields along the river in the early
morning and evening hours. This trail begins at the Parker-Hickman Farm, the oldest
existing farmstead on the Buffalo River.
Trail Access: The easiest way to access these trails is
to travel west off Hwy 7, approximately 5 miles north of Jasper, on the gravel Erbie
campground access road. Getting to the trails on the north side of the river requires
fording the Buffalo on a low-water concrete crossing. During high water periods, the
north side can be accessed from the Dogpatch-Erbie road west of Hwy 7 or the
Compton-Erbie road east off Hwy. 43 (Newton County Road 19).
Lost Valley Trail - Easy/Moderate
This 3-mile easy to moderate hike begins at the Lost Valley campground and terminates
in a cave 1 ½ miles up the valley. The trail passes a natural bridge, bluff shelter,
cliffs, waterfall, spring flowers and a hardwood forest containing American beech.
The cave itself is a tight squeeze for approximately 200 feet ending in a large room
with a 35-foot waterfall. Clark Creek, like most tributaries to the Buffalo River,
tends to dry up or go underground during the late summer and early fall of most
years. The first mile to Eden Falls is level and easy going. The trail then climbs
steeply to the mouth of the cave. A self-guided trail brochure is available at the
trailhead and information station. Three sources of light and a hard hat are required
of persons entering the cave.
Trail Access: Located 22 miles west of Harrison between
Boxley and Ponca on Hwy. 74 at the Lost Valley Campground, Buffalo National River.
Alum Cove Trail - Easy /Moderate
This 1.1 mile trail leads to an impressive natural rock bridge, 130 feet long and 12
feet thick. In wet season, waterfalls cascade behind the bridge. Hikers can walk
around, over and under the bridge, explore small caves and wade in a quiet creek. The
trail offers a unique ecosystem of wild plants and trees identified by
markers.
Trail Access: Hwy 7 south from Jasper for 15 miles,
turn west on Hwy. 16 toward the town of Deer. At about one mile, turn right on Forest
Road #1206, go three miles to a sign, turn right again, and you'll be at the beginning
of the trail.
Mill Creek Trail - Easy / Moderate
The trailhead of this 1.3 mile loop begins at the lower end of the Pruitt River
Access. The trail follows Mill Creek through forest land and by the remains of former
homesteads and a grist mill operated on Mill Creek prior to the Civil War. Follow the
trail along the creek until it emerges on the county road. Turn right and cross the
low water bridge, then turn right again to continue the trail. Shaddox Cabin pioneer
homesite lies ahead. The present house was constructed in the 1930s from logs salvaged
from a pre-Civil War cabin. From the cabin, the trail leads back down to Mill Creek.
Stepping stones help your ford the creek. In periods of high water, backtrack and
cross the creek at the low water bridge.
Trail Access: Hwy. 7 south of Harrison to the Pruitt
Access Road on the Buffalo National River.
Indian Rock House Trail at Buffalo Point - Moderate / Strenuous
The Indian Rock House Trail at Buffalo Point winds across hillsides and along a
beautiful stream to spectacular Indian Rock House Cave, a sheltered prehistoric
bluff-dwelling. The hike to Located 14 miles south of Yellville on Hwy. 14 , then east
on Hwy. 268. The trail system is approximately 7 miles and includes the "Indian
Rockhouse," river overlooks, and Coon Cave. Maps at the visitor center.
Rush Mountain Trail - Moderate / Strenuous
Located in the old mining town of Rush in the Buffalo National River Park, this Rush
Mountain Trail is a loop trail that visits a number of zinc ore mines dating from the
1880's. Many old structures and 'tailing' piles remain from the heyday of the mining
era. The trail also travels along a ridge overlooking Rush Creek, Clabber Creek and
the Buffalo River. The trail is rough and incomplete. Finished portions are marked by
blue diamonds. Maps available at visitor center.
Trail Access: Located in the old mining town of Rush,
approximately 5 ½ miles northwest of the Buffalo River ridge on Hwy. 14. A
well-marked side road turns north off 14.
Ozark Highlands Trail - Easy / Strenuous
Rated as one of the most scenic trails in the United States, the Ozark Highlands Trail
offers miles of spectacular hiking, beginning near Fort Smith and ending near
Gilbert. The Ozark Highland Trial is perfect for day hikes, weekend adventures and
extended backpacking and is accessible at many forest road and highway crossings. The
trail passes through some of the most remote areas of the Ozark National Forest and is
noted for its mountainous terrain, scenic views, lush upland hardwood forests, unique
rock outcroppings and clear mountain streams.
In the future, the trail will continue east across the White River, up the North
Fork River and on to St. Louis. When completed, it will create nearly 700 miles of
connecting trail. The trail enters Searcy County in the southwest corner, traveling
north along Falling Water and Richland Creeks before leaving the Ozark National
Forest, passing through the Buffalo River Wildlife Management Area and connecting
with the Buffalo River Trail at Woolum. It then continues down the Buffalo National
River to its end.
Once you are past the first - westernmost - six miles of the trail, camping is
allowed anywhere outside of the recreation areas; although trail etiquette encourages
camping at least 200 feet away from the trail and water sources and preferably out of
sight of the trail. If a previous campsite is available, please make camp there in
order to lessen expanding impact. White triangular paint blazes are the official
trail markers with spur and side trails marked with blue rectangular paint blazes.
Trail Access: Access points are available at Tyler
Bend Recreation Area, Richland Creek Recreation Area, and Pelsor on Hwy. 7.
Guidebooks and maps are available from outfitters and the Ozark National Forest
Service, (870) 968-2354.
Buffalo River Trail
This trail will eventually run the length of Buffalo National River. It now extends
from Ponca to Pruitt, and from Woolum to Hwy. 65.
Ponca to Steel Creek
2.3 miles. Begins on the east side of the low water bridge, just south of the
intersections of Hwy. 43 and 74 at Ponca. The path first follows a low bluff directly
above the river, then ascends to a high mountainside bench before descending past a
scenic overlook to Steel Creek Campground and a trailhead.
Ozark Campground to Pruitt
2.6 miles. This trail section passes a spring-fed pond. Wildflowers are abundant in
spring.
Tyler Bend
Over 6 miles of trails are located here. Loop trails begin at the visitor center,
campground and amphitheater. Highlights include scenic river views and a historic
homestead. Trail maps are available at the visitor center off Hwy. 65 at Silver
Hill.
Morning Star Loop Trail
.3 miles. Passes the ruins of the Morning Star Mine buildings built in 1886. Begin at
the Morning Star Trailhead. Maps available at visitor center.
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