The Highlands Chapter will host the Ozark Society’s Spring Outing by inviting all Ozark Society members, hikers, floaters, and lovers of the Buffalo River to the chapter’s 6th Annual Buffalo River Classic on Saturday, March 21, 2015. You should pre-register for each event by March 18 – see link below for information.
There will be three simultaneous events at this one-day recreational outing: a long “marathon” hike, several shorter “regular” day-hikes, and a canoe-kayak float. Participants in all three events will converge at the Ozark Campground Pavilion on the Buffalo River near Jasper AR for a cookout/potluck at 4:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to the cookout whether or not they participate in the hikes or the float. And, everyone is welcome to participate in this event whether an Ozark Society member or not.
Camping and Overnighting: Although this is a one-day Saturday event, participants driving from distant chapters may want to overnight in the Jasper AR/Buffalo River area. FYI, distances to Ozark Campground from the six OS chapters are: 45 mi from Gilbert AR, 80 mi from Fayetteville AR, 97 mi from Bentonville AR, 146 mi from Little Rock AR, 277 mi from Cape Girardeau MO, and 350 mi from Shreveport LA. The Ozark Campground has a number of campsites. See the National Park Service website at: http://www.recreation.gov/ for facilities at the Ozark Pavilion Campground and other sites in the Buffalo National River Park. There are also a number of commercial campsites, cabins, and motels in the nearby Jasper AR area (6 mi south), or in Harrison AR (16 mi north).
Directions to Ozark Campground from the South: From Jasper AR, follow AR Hwy 7 north 4 miles until you see a NPS brown sign with “Ozark” on it. Turn left (west) and follow the gravel road for 1.5 miles to the Ozark Campground.
Directions to Ozark Campground from the North: From Harrison AR, follow AR Hwy 7 south 15 miles (or, 1.7 mi past the BR Bridge at Pruitt) until you see a NPS brown sign with “Ozark” on it. Turn right (west) and follow the gravel road for 1.5 miles to the Ozark Campground.