The majority are first-come, first-served and some are free to stay at. Steel Creek Campground is managed by the National Park Service. They camp in their Aliner often and love road trips and hiking. She loves sharing her adventures both big & small. ), understanding campfire rules and always fully extinguishing your fires, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors. As long as youre cautious, youll be totally fine! It's difficult coming down and even harder coming back up. You will need an AllTrails Pro membership to download maps, which is $30 a year and so worth it! Awesome trail. Big Bluff Goat Trail at the Buffalo National River Consequently, plan extra time on the hike out as it's all uphill. Check out our blog for more close by . highly encourage everyone to see this. After some of our close friends explored the state earlier this year, we realized how gorgeous it was and made it a top priority for the fall on our way back to Texas.We kicked off our time in the state mountain biking and exploring Bentonville before heading down to the Buffalo National River area for some hiking. There are two campgrounds relatively close to the Centerpoint Trailhead. We arrived at the Centerpoint Trailhead bright and early on a Monday morning in November. The sheer face of a cliff is certainly not where you want to be during a thunderstorm, so we and some fellow hikers found shelter in a hollowed-out part of the cliff nearby, hoping to wait it out. This is a popular hike and can be pretty busy on the weekends. Since this is a little over 6-mile hike, that makes it a more pleasant experience. The trail becomes a bit more choose your own adventure in some areas, where you can climb up some rocks to continue on the trail, or stick to the more traditional trail. The Buffalo National River is located in Northern Arkansas, right by the Ozark National Forest.The area is most famous for the river, which winds 135 miles through the area, and is one of the few remaining undammed rivers in the lower 48, as well as the first designated National River in the United States. a snack to enjoy at the end of the trail. Inside them are nice spots for some shade. If you were to visit her, she'd try to feed you cornbread. This website contains affiliate links from websites such as MileValue.com, Amazon.com, Booking.com, and Rentalcars.com. The man explained that everyone came from the other side walking a lot but that in 10 minutes we would be there. We will only ever recommend products we truly love, actually use during our adventures, and think you can benefit from too! The first summer visit we made here, Matt and I got up early, picked up my parents and set off for a day trip. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 8 min to complete. We left our little hikers at home for this one as its definitely more of a challenge and a bit treacherous at spots. 43 from the Fire Tower Road intersection. We hear that the trail takes about 3-4 hours for most people to complete this hike, but plan extra time if you want to stop for snacks or if you like to take your time hiking.If youre visiting the Buffalo National River, we couldnt recommend this trail more! The trail in doesn't really feel like it is as steep as it is hiking back out. My husband and I hiked the Compton trail down and then took the old river trail and came out at Centerpoint. A lot of parking at trailhead and it was muddy when I went but over all was good (12/18/2022). It is not advisable to bring children, liquor, or reckless behavior on this hike. This trail will take you all the way to Hemmed-in-Hollow Falls if you want to lump those two sites into one day.TRAILHEAD LOCATION: The hike to Big Bluff starts at the Centerpoint Trailhead which is located near Possum Trot right off of Highway 43.TRAIL DIFFICULTY: This trail is decently steep and once you get to Big Bluff it becomes just a narrow, rocky ledge. Spring is just magic. Hello from the Florida Keys! While youll rarely see a wild goat on Big Bluff these days, a few feral goats do still roam the upper Buffalo River wilderness. Again, avoid is a strong word. It is not very steep. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! We absolutely loved it! Big Bluff and The Goat Trail - Ponca, AR - stepoutside.org Although there are several ways to . Its an out and back hike, so you will return the same way as you came.One important thing we wanted to mention about this trail is its name. Its great to see something you can do with the whole family too even if your mum was scared stiff! It gets its name from the feral descendants of domesticated goats (brought here by pioneers) who either escaped captivity or were turned loose in the wilderness and eventually became wild. Big Bluff is part of the Buffalo River Trail, so don't think the trail will simply end. If that parking lot fills up, there is another parking lot across the road that seems to be privately owned and they charge a fee to park there.We started our hike at sunrise on a Monday and were the first car in the parking lot. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Round trip 6.5 miles is a good morning hike, and I like the option to add on. The parking lot for the Centerpoint Trailhead fills up quickly. She's a road trip aficionado, an avid hiker, lover of learning + culture and an all-around wanderess. Not super wet until you hit the couple of runoff areas. You can find more info about where dogs are allowed at the Buffalo National River here. One should not jump off of cliffs. Avoid the stress of forgetting camping and hiking essentials with our handy guide. Goat Trail to Big Bluff Trail Stats The Goat Trail to Big Bluff is 5.9 miles roundtrip and has an elevation change of 1,076 feet. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Hotels near Fort Smith Municipal Airport (FSM), Motels near Fort Smith Municipal Airport (FSM), Things to do near Big Bluff & The Goat Trail, Wilderness Rider Buffalo Ranch & Adventure Park, Budapest Small-Group Day Trip from Vienna, Half Day Zanzibar Mnemba Atoll Marine Reserve Snorkeling Tour, Small-Group Dallas and Fort Worth City Sightseeing Tour, Venice City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Tour, 3 Days Desert Tour from Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga, Make Your Own Pizza in Rome - Pizza Making with a local Chef, Amber Cove & Taino Bay Shore Excursion, Private Charter on Blue Sky Catamaran, *NEW* BUFFALO RIVER VALLEY VIEWS-5MIN FROM PONCA! It is important to note that Goat Trail is not a place for those afraid of heights. However, if you can overcome your fear of heights the trail provides some of the best views of the river and of the Ozark Mountains. This hiking seems fun in Arkansas. event : evt, She is a writer, a mom, and a graduate student. Hiked on February 6 2023. on: function(evt, cb) { Id love to visit this place twice so itll be hard to choose even when to go once. It sounds a little scary trying to navigate the small ledge near the end of the hike, but definitely an adventure and if it gives great views, then definitely worth it. })(); The Happiness Function is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs, which are affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and other affiliate sites. Pets are not permitted on trails in the Ponca Wilderness of Buffalo National River. Youll know when you get to Big Bluff because the views of the Buffalo are epic! It is open year-round. Had we visited a week or two sooner, we can only imagine how even more gorgeous it wouldve been! You can do it! Parking lot is pretty decent, not to busy, saw about 3-4 different groups. It poured the entirety of the hike back to our car, ironically ceasing only once we arrived at the parking area. The Goat Trail to Big Bluff is 5.9 miles roundtrip and has an elevation change of 1,076 feet. Is Goat Trail over the Buffalo National River the most dangerous hike in the United States? Take caution if crossing it. Same trail in same trial out. This creek level is OK. Feel free to splash around in water levels two or three times this highjust know that flash flooding is a real problem in the springtime, and water levels can rise suddenly. Luckily, we started early, but definitely be cautious of the heat + humidity that hits the Ozarks in the summer. Dangerous Hike?! | Goat Trail to Big Bluff - YouTube Amazing trial, its a little rough going down to the spot, all downhill just watch your step! living on the road in ourself-converted sprinter van! I didnt know such a trail existed in this part of the country. Youll probably want bug spray in the summer. Follow along on her adventures - big and small - across this beautiful world. big bluff goat trail deaths - madinahmining.com You will have a BLAST hiking in the Ozarks. Its very steep, and very dangerous. My mom has a serious fear of heights, but Im so super proud of her because she made it to the amazing overview you see below! I didnt feel the hill out was as bad as it was made out to be either. The spur trails connect the Centerpoint trail with the Chimney Rock Trail, Sneeds Creek Trail, Big Bluff Trail, Compton Loop Trail, and Hemmed-in Hollow Trail. Buzzards frequent this area and youllfind feathersalong the trail. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. callback: cb We'll be sharing monthly travel tips and our favorite places to help you plan the best road trips, hiking, and camping! The most popular hiking destination from Centerpoint is Big Bluff, which features a panoramic vista of the Buffalo River and surrounding wilderness. Please do go and enjoy the view. Head down the gravel path, which turns into an old homestead road covered in leaf litter. Seriously, watch that water coming down out of the mountains. The trail is virtually all downhill on the way to the Bluff and Goat Trail. Big Bluff Goat Trail | northern Arkansas | - YouTube Welcome back! This post contains affiliate links, which means well receive a commission if you purchase through our links at no extra cost to you. Just avoid the risky behaviors that could endanger your life, health, and safety. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. Contact Us, 8 am 6 pm | Mar Oct Thanks for your support! Such a cool trail! What gorgeous views! Small gravel parking lot. Although there are several ways to reach Goat Trail, which follows along the edge of Big Bluff, Centerpoint Trail is arguably the most popular route. I searched the Big Bluff Goat Trail in Google and it took me to a place where many people were bathing in the river but zero signs of a hike. The round trip was about 6 miles ( some easy, some over and around rocks and boulders and some only a couple feet wide between the cliff wall and a couple hundred feet drop off the edge). In summer, its hard to get this view through all of the leaves. Awesome. The views are definitely worth the hike. The Goat trail EASILY provides one of the BEST scenic views of the Buffalo River. However, the Goat Trail runs along this cliff face at around 340 feet above the river. The side trail that leads to an outcropping on the bluff is called the Goat Trail and is about 350 ft. tall. Stay warm up there! I have added this place in my bucket list. Super pretty and worth it. This looks like a great hike to do, but Im really not great with heights so Im not sure how Id feel about some of the narrow ledges and paths. Hike to Big Bluff - National Park Service When we set out in the morning, there was rain in the forecast. Then, hike the Centerpoint to Big Bluff (Goat Trail) in Arkansas! What a beautiful hike!! From here, its about a 1/4-mile hike out to the start of Big Bluff. The trail is downhill all the way to Big Bluff, so the hike back to the parking lot is all uphill. It is also not a place for older kids or adults, for that matter, with a penchant for risk taking or horseplay. One is that the weather is much milder, meaning youll sweat less and be able to squeeze more into one day while staying somewhat comfortable. Head down the gravel path, which turns into an old homestead road covered in leaf litter. There are over 6,000 cenotes on the Yucatn Penin, One of our favorite ways to experience a new place, Things to do in Hot Springs National Park, What to bring to hike the Goat Trail to Big Bluff, Things to know before hiking the Goat Trail to Big Bluff, Our Experience Hiking the Goat Trail to Big Bluff, Where to stay to hike the Goat Trail to Big Bluff, Other spots to check out in the Buffalo National River.