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Hobbs – Van Winkle, Sinking Stream, Multi-Use Diversity Trails 2011-03-26

By Shelley Smart, on January 27, 2012

[This post was originally published on March 31, 2011 on "A Hiking We Will Go."]

This past weekend, we opted for some easier hikes. With cold gray skies overhead and the looming threat of rain, I didn’t want to get too far from my blanket. I had wanted to check out the Historic Van Winkle Trail at Hobbs State Park, near Rogers, Arkansas, since I had watched a segment about the trail on AETN’s Exploring Arkansas. The trail is very easy and is more interesting for its historical information than for its hiking challenge.

Stuart’s comment was “that was a trail for little girls.” However, after the marathon backpacking challenge from a few weeks ago, that was the perfect level for me.

The trail is a half mile long and goes through the historic home and mill sites of the Peter Van Winkle family during and after the Civil War. The buildings are gone, with only the foundations remaining, but there are several interpretive signs along the trail that give the history of the area and provide pictures.

It’s hard to believe the area was an industrial hub in the 1800’s, providing much of the timber and milling services for the northwest Arkansas area.

The pictures below show what remains of the spring house and the raised garden. There is also a stream, which I believe is Little Clifty Creek.

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Buffalo River Trail: Ponca to Kyle’s Landing

By Shelley Smart, on January 24, 2012

[This post was originally published on March 15, 2011 on "A Hiking We Will Go."]

The Buffalo River Trail (BRT) in the Buffalo National River is a 36.5-mile trail that goes from Boxley to Pruitt. The Buffalo National River was established as a National Park in 1972 and is administered by the National Park Service.

We decided to hike the BRT from Ponca to Kyle’s Landing, about 10 miles. Camping is allowed in the wilderness, so we broke the hike up and camped one night in the back-country. Dogs are not allowed on the trails, so Buster and Katie had to sit this one out.

We drove up on a Friday afternoon and camped the first night in the Steel Creek campground. Initially, we were going to stay at Lost Valley, but the campsites were so close together and the bathrooms were locked. We decided to check out Steel Creek.

Getting down to the Steel Creek required traveling down a steep gravel road, but at the bottom we were awed by the sight of the bluffs along the river. The campsites were more open and widely spaced. Although the campground was still winterized, there were vault bathrooms and water spigots available.

The park caretaker, Jeff, stopped by and told us there was no longer a phone at the site, but he was in a cabin at the end of the road if there were any problems. There was definitely no cell phone signal.

The campground was a little busy, with the start of spring break. It was not quite the escape to nature I had envisioned, but it wasn’t too bad.

We set up our campsite and had some hot chocolate while the sun went down and planned out our next steps. We tucked into our sleeping bags and listened to the revelry of the campers (and the late arrivals … I’m glad we were not having to set up our tent in the dark!).

The first night it was COLD. I mean … really cold.

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Mount Nebo Waterfall Photos 2011-12-21

By Mike Newman, on January 15, 2012

I had a cool visit to Mt. Nebo State Park with my son and his girlfriend a few weeks ago. I posted here the cell phone video I took of the waterfall. (When flowing, it is located on the Gum Springs Trail, just a little bit below the rim level at the mountain’s south end.)

Here are some photos I took of the waterfall.

Waterfall at Mount Nebo State Park, Dardanelle, Arkansas

Underneath the Mount Nebo Waterfall

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Bearings: 2012-01-12

By Mike Newman, on January 12, 2012

There is controversy over plans to clear 62 square miles of trees and underbrush in the Ozark National Forest.
A ballot measure that would have reduced the Arkansas conservation tax was rejected by the Attorney General.
The Forest Service will be conducting prescribed burns in the Ozark and Ouachita Forests in the next few months.
Arkansas State Parks would like you to check out their Heart Healthy Programs.
The joys of running trails at Greenleaf State Park.
Time to watch for eagles.
Meet the 26 no-longer-national parks.
And the Lorax would like you to visit the forest.

Alternate video link.

[Updated 2012-01-17.]

Beaver Lake: Dogwood Overlook Trail

By Shelley Smart, on January 9, 2012

[This post was originally published on April 2, 2011 on "A Hiking We Will Go."]

The Dogwood Overlook Trail is at the Dam Site Lake Park on Beaver Lake, close to Eureka Springs in northwest Arkansas. The hiking trail is only two miles long, but it is a steep two miles and a little more difficult than the length would indicate.

We headed out with the dogs today to check it out. It was a perfect spring day, with blue skies and just a few clouds here and there. Because it was such a short hike, I opted to go without my backpack, thinking we would not be out very long.

The trailhead is at the overlook by Beaver Dam. There is a long flight of stairs going straight up. Buster was headed up the stairs full steam while Katie was resistant to climbing any of the stairs. I handed Katie off to Stuart, and Buster and I started up.

About a third of the way up the stairs, Buster decided that the stairs were not that interesting, so he jumped off to find a different route. Unfortunately, the stairs are there because there isn’t a way up without them. So I dropped the leash and headed back down the stairs, calling him back down the hill.

We got to the bottom of the stairs and started back up again. This time he made it about two-thirds of the way before he decided to jump off the stairs and find another way. I was really glad we were able to call to him and get him back on the stairs this time.

After leaving the stairs, the trail heads up slightly to a nice bench and an overlook. We were a couple of weeks early for the dogwood blooms, but the view was nice. We carried on and came to the quarry where the stone for the dam was taken.

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