Ozark Highland Trail This is probably the finest hiking trail in Arkansas. It has been rated as one of the top-10 trails in the United States. It has everything: Wonderful vistas; terrific stream side walks; lots of deep green pools to swim in; bluffs and rocks and boulders galore; forests that go on forever; and literally hundreds and hundreds of waterfalls. The list goes on and on. It’s 165 miles from end to end, with 27 additional miles of connecting spurs and loops, so it makes for a great long-distance backpacking trail. The trail passes through 17 campgrounds and other trail heads, and crosses some 50+ forest roads and highways-all of these access points make it the perfect day hiking trail too-just decide how far you want to hike and you’ll find several sections between these points that fit your bill.
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Lake Weddington Trail This trail through the heart of the Ozarks leads past Twin Knobs, a unique rock formation, and terminates on the banks of the Illinois River. Camping is permitted along the trail. To return, it is necessary to retrace the same route. This trail is often used for overnight hiking trips.
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Sylamore Creek Trail This is one of the most scenic backpacking trails in the state. It follows North Sylamore Creek the whole way-a crystal clear, spring-fed, beautiful stretch of water-and winds around past painted limestone bluffs, and big trees. There is something very special about this trail.
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Shores Lake/White Rock Loop Shores Lake and White Rock are two of the most popular recreation areas in the Ozark National Forest, located northeast of Ft. Smith. This loop trail runs from Shores Lake past several nice waterfalls, up to the spectacular White Rock Mountain, then returns to the lake down through the Salt Fork drainage. This is the perfect weekend hike, especially if you are lucky enough to get a cabin at White Rock.
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Redding/Spy Rock Loop This is one of four loop trails that connect with the Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT). It passes several nice waterfalls, and has a spur that goes on out to a wonderful view area called Spy Rock.
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Pedestal Rocks/Kings Bluff Loops There are actually two loops here, and both of them visit some spectacular and unique sandstone bluff formations, and have terrific special scenic spots. You will be awed by Kings Bluff, and the waterfall there. And won’t believe how the wind and water have shaped Pedestal Rocks. All of this is located in the Pedestal Rocks Scenic Area, located near Ben Hur, just off of Hwy. 16 in the Ozark National Forest.
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Hawksbill Crag Trail Hawksbill Crag is one of the most recognizable spots in Arkansas. It’s an amazing rock outcrop that sticks out from the top of a tall bluff, and is usually photographed with hikers on it. It is located in the 14,200 acre Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area of the Ozark National Forest, near the Buffalo River.
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White Rock Rim Loop This is easily one of the most scenic hikes in Arkansas-ALL of it a definite special scenic spot (SSS)!!!!!! The trail follows along the top of the bluffline up on White Rock Mountain. Along the trail you will find a great spot to watch the sunrise, and what is considered to be the best sunset in the entire state. The views are spectacular all year.
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Kings Bluff Loop Trail This trail travels through a forest of large hardwoods and visits the awe-inspiring King’s Bluff. This is a beautiful area; the bluff and the views into the surrounding valley are simply fantastic. The creek which helped expose this majestic sandstone bluff spills over the edge, forming one of the highest waterfalls in this part of the Ozarks.
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Glory Hole This is another neat little spot that many have visited, but most couldn’t find until now. The trail is an old road that drops down the hill to this most unique spot. A creek has actually drilled a large hole through the roof of a big overhanging bluff, and the creek pours right down through the roof. It’s a pretty remarkable thing to see when the water is running well!!
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Mirror Lake Loop Be prepared to get wet on this one. Waterfalls, rock formations, a creek crossing, a ghostly old grist mill, and more are what await you on this hike.
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Alum Cove Trail This wonderful little trail visits one of the largest natural rock bridges in this part of the country. It loops around past a nice bluffline too. There is some tall timber, and lots of flowers, including a rare variety of Shooting Star. This trail is located in the Ozark National Forest. There is a picnic area here, but no camping is allowed.
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Koen Interpretive Trail If you are looking for a nice leisurely stroll through a variety of tree species, this is the trail for you. There are at least 34 different kinds of trees and other plants identified along this short loop.
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CONTACT: Buffalo Ranger District
PHONE: 870-446-5122
RATING: Easy, Great first hike for very young children
Old River Trail The Old River Trail follows a historic farm road through the bottomlands of the Buffalo River. Along the way it visits many old farmsteads and other historical features.
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Buffalo River Trail (Woolum to Hwy. 65) This is another sleeper trail-it has some tremendous scenery, but because access to the upper end of the trail is limited, it won’t get a great deal of use. It begins in the Richland Creek Valley, just across the Buffalo River from Woolum, runs across the tops of many bluffs that overlook the river, goes through Tyler Bend Park, and comes out onto the Hwy. 65 bridge over the Buffalo.
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Pea Ridge Trail This loop trail is historical sure, but also interesting and scenic. It is pretty easy to hike, as it follows many old roads through open fields. There are lots of deer around.
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Tyler Bend Trails System Tyler Bend is one of the main visitor facilities on the Buffalo River. There is a nice Visitor Center and museum there, as well as campgrounds, picnic areas, and canoe access. Tyler Bend is located off of Hwy 65 between St. Joe and Marshall, just south of the Hwy 65 bridge across the Buffalo. There are three trail parking areas-one off to the left as you begin the drive down the hill to the Visitor Center, the Visitor Center itself, and just beyond the Visitor Center on the right, at the Amphitheater. There are four trails in the park, and all of them connect with the Buffalo River Trail, and to each other. You can make several different lengths of loop hikes by connecting these trails.
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Rush Mountain Trail Rush is an old mining town, a ghost town if you will, that was first opened up in the 1880’s when zinc ore was discovered. The community that was built up around the mines endured until the 1960’s. Some of the buildings still exist today, and two different trails visit the area. The Rush Mountain Trail, is a longer trail that goes past many of the old mines, loops around and goes up and over Rush Mountain. All of this area is now part of Buffalo National River. A word of caution: Do not enter any of the mines. Many of them are very unstable.
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Gilbert Railroad Trail Gilbert is a sleepy old town right down on the Buffalo River. If you pay much attention to the weather reports in the winter, you probably know that this is one of the coldest spots in the state! The trail travels on an old railroad grade and is level the entire way. The trail runs above the river for 1.5 miles.
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Indian Rockhouse Loop Buffalo Point is the most developed public area within Buffalo National River. Besides a Visitor Center, there are several campgrounds, cabins, a restaurant, picnic areas, river access, and a number of hiking trails. Most of these trails just connect facilities, but one, the Indian Rockhouse Trail, is a wonderful three-mile loop into a scenic area, and visits one of the largest bluff overhangs in the Ozarks.
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Lost Valley Trail This little area is one of the special places in the world. Calling it an SSS (special scenic spot) is an understatement! This popular trail is short, and for the most part, very easy to hike. Although the last section of trail does get pretty steep as it climbs up to a cave so be sure to bring a flashlight (one for each) if you wish to go into the cave.
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Old Erbie Area Loop This little loop is an easy and scenic stroll. It is about half road walking and half trail. It begins at the Cecil Cove Trailhead. There is a lot of history to this area with a chance to see a lot of elk, large bluffs, Spanish moss, twisted cedar trees and many other wonderful sites.
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Hideout Hollow Trail This is a wonderful little trail that takes you into a large bluff and waterfall area. It is often overlooked by hikers, since it is one of the lesser-known trails in the Buffalo National River trails system-you won’t see many other folks here. The hike is pretty easy, with only a few ups and downs. There are lots of bluffs in this area and a waterfall as well.
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Headwaters Creek Trail This self-guided interpretive trail begins and ends at the Elk Horn Tavern, made famous during the Civil War. Both the natural and historical features of the park are discussed in the available booklet.
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Ponds Trail There is a small picnic area that is located on the road from Hwy 7 (2 miles on gravel) to Erbie that is called Cedar Grove Picnic Area. There is a nice overlook of the Buffalo River there. Also the Buffalo River Trail comes right through it. And there are a couple of short trails that lead off to two ponds-South Pond and North Pond. These are very short trails, and one of them is wheelchair accessible.
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Lake Norfork Trail The Lake Norfork Trail will eventually be 84 miles long. This 5.2-mile stretch, which begins at the dam and runs along the lake shore, was built in 1993. Another 4 miles will be built in 1994. Since things will be changing so rapidly, be sure to check with the Corps of Engineers office in Mountain Home for the latest information.
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Lost Bridge Loop This loop trail is one of the shorter backpacking trails in the state, and it has some great views of Beaver Lake, several bluffs, and visits a historical homestead site. It is located in Lost Bridge Park.
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Robinson Point Trail This National Recreation Trail, just outside of Mountain Home, winds around the shores of Lake Norfork, and has a spectacular view of the lake from high atop a terrific bluff area. It also visits some stands of very old, twisted cedar trees that have a great deal of character. And in the springtime, there are lots and lots of wildflowers scattered all along the trail.
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Dogwood Nature Trail This trail winds through the woods just above Bull Shoals Lake, and ends at a spectacular set of bluffs that disappear deep into the waters. It is located at Lakeview Park, just outside the community of Lakeview, near Bull Shoals Dam. There is a brochure about the trail available at the entrance station.
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Sugar Loaf Mountain Loop ****NOTE- We have had reports that the trail at Sugar Loaf Mountain is in need of great repair. We will keep you posted as further information is available.****
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Bench Rock Nature Trail This short loop trail is located on the north side of Beaver Lake, near the community of Gateway, in the Indian Creek Recreation Area. It loop around a nice bluffline, and has some great views across the lake.
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Big Trees Loop Here is a neat trail that was built by a single volunteer, and it winds through some very large pine trees along the banks of Norfork Lake.
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Natural Sidewalk Nature Trail About half the length of this 2,400 foot trail lies along a shelf cut by nature in a limestone bluff rising from the waters of the lake. The trail leads you along the shoreline under the overhanging bluffs. Here you will find scenic beauty and interesting geologic formations. A number of the gnarled cedars are several hundred years old. There is a beautiful scenic overlook on top of the bluff.
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Mossy Bluff/Buckeye Trail Downstream from the dam, this trail meanders along a bluff overlooking the Little Red River and fish hatchery. The trail is mostly level, except at each end, where mossy bluffs are crossed by flights of stairs. The trail provides excellent views from an overlook shelter of the Greers Ferry dam and lake, in addition to the river valley. The Buckeye Trail was constructed in conjunction with the Mossy Bluff Trail to provide a quality trail experience for persons who are not physically able to negotiate the more difficult areas. Displays are provided alongside these trails for interpretation of interesting natural features.
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Fishtrap Trail This trail extends a short distance uphill to a level bench on the hillside leading to a long overhanging bluff. The bluff is typical of the many such shelters of prehistoric bluff-dwelling Indian tribes.
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Butterfield Loop Trail This is the longest of several trails at Devil’s Den State Park. Camping is permitted at the 3 primitive campsites along the way. Part of this loop follows picturesque Blackburn Creek, and part of it overlooks the Lee Creek Valley. There are numerous geological formations to explore, including the wonderful Quail Valley area.
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CONTACT: Devil’s Den State Park
PHONE: 501-761-3325
RATING: Moderate
ALLOWED: Camping and Dogs. Bicycles and Horses are allowed on part of trail
MILES: 14.5
VISIT THEIR WEBSITE:
Pigeon Roost Trail There are actually two loops on this trail, and they make up a figure eight sort of pattern. Overnight camping is allowed on the longer loop-there are 5 small primitive sites available.
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Woolly Hollow Loop This is a fairly easy-to-hike trail that loops around Lake Bennett at this State Park. It visits a number of hillside glades. There are some nice campsites in the park, as well as a Visitor Center, covered pavilion, swimming beach, and showers.
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Huckleberry Trail Beginning at the bathhouse in the campground and looping around Lake Bennett, the trail climbs the ridge, offering scenic views of the lake. Crossing the lake’s earthen dam, the trail winds through a hardwood forest back to the main area of the park.
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War Eagle Trail This short, easy trail runs alongside beautiful War Eagle River, and visits a cave (bring your flashlight) and towering bluffs in the Withrow Springs State Park.
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Bluebird Trail Not a traditional trail, this collection of bluebird houses through the campground is a flurry of activity each spring and summer as the eastern bluebirds use these homes to raise their young. Walking the grassy lawn area from house to house and enjoying the nesting and feeding behaviors of these bluebirds is very rewarding.
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Big Bluff Trail The trail traverses the wooded hills below Bull Shoals Dam. Overlooking the White River, the trail offers examples of plant succession and wildlife native to the area. A portion of the trail is located near a bluff, so be careful to stay on the trail at all times.
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Devil’s Den Self-Guided Trail The Devil’s Den Trail, one of the most popular trails within the park, features two fracture caves: the Devils Den and the Devil’s Icebox. Gravity flow springs, peculiar erosional remnants of sandstone strata, wet weather waterfalls, and lush Ozark plant and animal life are just a few of the sights you can expect as you wind through the rugged Boston Mountain terrain. A flashlight is necessary to explore the caves. Extreme caution should be used while walking in the cave area due to open crevasses! Trailheads are located behind the visitor center and by the Highway 170 bridge at Lee Creek. Parking is available at both locations.
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Battlefield Trail Located on the eastern side of the Prairie Grove Battlefield where two Union charges and two Confederate counterattacks occurred. There are twelve wayside exhibit panels with the quotes from participants and witnesses to the battle with daily guided tours along part of the trail.
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Lakeside Trail This scenic trail has an abundance of wildlife and is located along a cove on Bull Shoals Lake. It affords good viewing of spring and fall colors.
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Memorial Wildflower Area This memorial wildflower garden loop trail meanders through three acres of wildflowers that change each week through the season. Wildlife, including birds and butterflies, can be seen throughout the trail at feeders and rest areas. The area is under constant development and memorial contributions may be made at any time.
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Woody Plant Trail This short, self-guided trail begins near either bathhouse in Camping Area E and meanders through the woods surrounding the campgrounds. To help visitors learn more about the diversified plant life found in this part of the Ozarks, plants along the trail have been numbered to correspond with an identification sheet which is available at the visitor center.
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Hidden Hollow Wildflower Trail This short trail traverses a fragile woodland wildflower area. To get to the trailhead, you must cross a wooded area with no clearly marked trail, look for the sign approximately 50 feet into the wooded area.
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Two Turtles Trail at Lake Fayetteville This is an urban trail that goes all the way around Lake Fayetteville, deep in the woods much of the time. It passes through a couple of picnic areas, past the future sight of the Northwest Arkansas Botanical Gardens, and runs along the top of the long earthen dam. One of the access points is located at Veterans Park just across the road from the busy Northwest Arkasnas Mall (down Zion road a block). This trail gets a lot of mountain bike traffic, and the lake get a lot of fishing traffic - a great place to fish or hike right in town!
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Round Top Mountain Trail This is a neat trail located just south of Jasper that encircles Round Top Mountain, passing tall bluffs with great views of the sourrounding countryside. The trail goes to the site of a WWII bomber crash, and a lot of the plane's parts are still visible, including one of the engines. Easy access off of Hwy. 7.
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Lake Leatherwood Trail Here is another great trail that circles a lake, and goes across the top of a neat stone dam that was built in the 1930's. It is a backcountry trail, although it is located entirely on city property, one of the largest city parks in the United States. Someday the trail may connect with the city of Eureka Springs proper. It gets heavy mountain bike use, but the bikers do their part to keep the trail maintained. This lake park is one of the best kept secrets in the Ozarks. Great fishing too.
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