The Pulaski Chapter of the Ozark Society meets on the first Tuesday of every month, except July, September, and December in Room 62 at Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Dr. in Little Rock, at the corner of I-430 and Cantrell Rd. Our social time begins at 6:30 pm and the meetings begin at 7:00 pm

Please go to our Ozark Society, Pulaski Chapter Facebook page for updates on guest speakers and a link for the meetings or to learn the details of our September potluck and December holiday gathering. We do not hold a meeting in July.

We have monthly outings throughout the year, so please check out our Facebook page, or the schedule of events in the Outings and Activities Calendar on this website. All are welcome to participate in our outings and activities whether an Ozark Society member or not!

We also have a monthly email newsletter, Paddle Trails, that we send to members. Please join us in a meeting for a lively topic on the environment in Arkansas. You can contact the Chapter Chair Ann Owen at pulaskichair1@ozarksociety.net.

Paddle Trails Newsletter

Chapter Outings Request Form

Chapter Facebook Page

Outings and Activities

Current Month

March

tue31mar5:30 PMtue7:00 PMBuffalo River Management Plan Virtual Public MeetingDeadline for Comments is April 10.5:30 PM - 7:00 PM(GMT-05:00)

Event Details

Buffalo River Management Plan

The Buffalo National River officials are soliciting public comments through April 10 on the development of a new River Management Plan to update the one last adopted in 1983. They have issued a very informative newsletter (BUFF_RMP_Final Newsletter_508.pdf ) and topic questions to facilitate input from you! At the end of the newsletter is the draft of the letter that Ozark Society President Brian Thompson, along with David Peterson and Tom McClure, will be sending for our organization.

Janet Nye said recently that, “Alan and I went to the open house in Marshall to talk with Park staff about this plan. They were very informative and eager to visit with us for as long as we wanted. They stressed that they want to hear what we think. They want our ideas as well. On page 2 of this update are the management strategies-they want to hear from us about these things. Respond to their thoughts, but also include creative ideas you may have. On pages 3-7 are ‘improvements’ to river access in many of the much-loved-to-death areas. Please review and comment. On page 8 think about the ‘You’re invited to Participate’ section. Their questions may help you to get started with your comments.”

The NPS will host a Virtual Public Meeting on March 31 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm on Microsoft Teams.

Please join park staff and planners to learn about Buffalo National River’s River Management Plan. Park staff and planners will present information describing proposed management strategies and activities followed by a question-and-answer session. This event will include an online Powerpoint presentation describing proposed River Management Plan strategies and actions. The presentation portion will be recorded and made available at a later date. Buffalo National River staff will be present to answer your questions.

Join Teams Meeting using this URL/Webinar link:
https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_Y2NhMGIzMWYtN2ZmOC00OGQ2LTk5NzgtNmRlOGU3YWU4MzE0%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%220693b5ba-4b18-4d7b-9341-f32f400a5494%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22adc9151a-3d73-4ca8-a384-661e770b8dcc%22%7d

Time

March 31, 2026 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM(GMT-05:00)

Calendar GoogleCal

April

wed01apr10:00 AMwed11:30 AMRocky Valley Trail Hike10:00 AM - 11:30 AM(GMT-05:00)

wed01apr3:00 PMwed4:30 PMWild Women Wednesday Hike3:00 PM - 4:30 PM(GMT-05:00)

tue07apr7:00 PMtue9:00 PMPulaski Chapter Monthly Meeting7:00 PM - 9:00 PM(GMT-05:00) 600 Pleasant Valley Drive

wed08apr3:00 PMwed4:30 PMWild Women Wednesday Hike3:00 PM - 4:30 PM(GMT-05:00)

fri10aprAll Daysun12Becoming an Outdoors Woman WeekendGovernor Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center in Pine Bluff(All Day)(GMT-05:00)

sat11apr10:00 AMsat4:00 PMSteve Heye Memorial Hike10:00 AM - 4:00 PM(GMT-05:00)

Event Details

Date of Outing
	04/11/2026
Begin Time
	10:00 am
End Time
	04:00 pm
Your Name
	Richard Owings
Your Phone
	501-247-7368
Your Email
	rowings@mac.com
Name of Outing
	Steve Heye Memorial Hike
Location of Outing
	Hare Mountain
Type of Activity
	Hiking
Distance
	4 miles
Elevation Difference
	830 ft
Rating
	intermediate
Features
	Ozark Highland Trail. Camping.
Leader(s)
	Linda Fordyce, Richard Owings
Carpooling?
	no
Starting location of outing
	Morgan Fields trail head for Ozark Highland Trail
Driving distance to starting location
	95 miles
What to wear
	boots, hiking gear
What to bring
	hiking gear
Additional information
	Linda and John Fordyce hiked with Steve and Meribeth Heye back when Maribeth was able to hike, over 10 years ago. Steve died last fall and asked that his ashes be placed in the Ozark Mountains. Meribeth is not able to do this because of physical limitations. Linda Fordyce agreed to do this, and invited Richard to join her, along with several other people. Anyone is welcome to join and certainly people in the Ozark Society who hiked and paddled with Steve are welcome We have planned an expedition on April 11 (with backup rain day April 18 since it’s April in Arkansas) to Hare Mountain, which is the High Point of the Ozark Highlands Trail. We’re planning on driving I 40 to Arkansas 23 (the pig trail) and then going east on 215 to Redding and then going north on Morgan Mountain Road to Morgan Fields, where we can park cars and get on the Ozark Highland Trail . It’s 2 miles from there to a primitive campground on Hare Mountain. Linda and Richard plan to backpack to the campground Friday, April 10. On Saturday we’ll hike back to the Morgan Fields trailhead to meet up with day hikers at 10am. About noonish we will do a ceremony and leave Steve’s ashes. People who just want a day hike can park at Morgan Fields and hike to Hare Mountain and back on Saturday. There are reports of landslides on Morgan Mountain Road, but I verified it is open to Morgan Fields. There are controlled burns but active ones are east of Morgan Fields. The area we are hiking was burned recently.
Toilets on site?
	no
After activity socializing?
	yes
Cost
	$0.00

Time

April 11, 2026 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM(GMT-05:00)

Calendar GoogleCal

wed15apr3:00 PMwed4:30 PMWild Women Wednesday Hike3:00 PM - 4:30 PM(GMT-05:00)

wed22apr8:30 AMwed12:30 PMCAW Immersive Forest-to-Faucet Tour8:30 AM - 12:30 PM(GMT-05:00)

wed22apr3:00 PMwed4:30 PMWild Women Wednesday Hike3:00 PM - 4:30 PM(GMT-05:00)

sat25apr8:45 AMsat1:30 PMCove Creek Natural Trail & Ozark Foothills African-American History Museum8:45 AM - 1:30 PM(GMT-05:00)

sun26apr9:00 AMsun12:00 PMEdible & Medicinal Plants Workshop & Hike - Registration Required!Led by Pinnacle Mtn State Park Interpreter and Herbalist Rose Marie Nuffner9:00 AM - 12:00 PM(GMT-05:00)

wed29apr8:00 AMwed6:00 PMHiking Lost Valley and Balanced Rock8:00 AM - 6:00 PM(GMT-05:00)

Event Details

Date of Outing
	04/29/2026
Your Name
	Eric Fraser
Your Phone
	501-680-2247
Your Email
	efraser@sbcglobal.net
Name of Outing
	Hiking Lost Valley and Balanced Rock
Location of Outing
	Ponca, Arkansas
Type of Activity
	Hiking
Distance
	4 miles
Elevation Difference
	700 feet including both destinations. The ascent is primarily ascending to the cave entrance in Lost Valley, and the last 100 yards at Balanced Rock.
Rating
	Mostly easy. Intermediate for cave exploration at Lost Valley, which is optional.
Features
	Creekside hike in both places. Waterfall at large bluff shelter in Lost Valley. Steps uphill leading to Eden Cave with 100 foot crawl to view 30 foot waterfall inside the cave. Second portion of hike a few miles away at Leatherwood Creek (tributary to Buffalo River at Ponca Low Water Bridge). One shallow water crossing, often able to “rock hop.” Then 200 foot ascent to unique rock at top of a waterfall. Both hikes are “out-and-back.” If at any point, return to vehicle is desired, that is perfectly acceptable.
Leader(s)
	Eric Fraser
Carpooling?
	Yes, depending on number of participants.
Starting location of outing
	Leave Morgan McDonald’s at 8 AM. Suggest arrival 20 minutes earlier.
Driving distance to starting location
	140 miles to either trailhead. Only 2 miles between the two trailheads. Expect to be gone about 10 hours.
What to bring
	Sturdy trail shoes or boots, water, lunch and trail snacks. (It is possible that a lunch venue is open in Ponca, but Jasper is the closest I am sure food is available, and is 15 mountain miles, or 25 minutes away.) Wear clothing appropriate for the weather, and bring a headlamp if you’d like to explore Eden Cave.
Toilets on site?
	Restrooms are available at both trailheads.

Time

April 29, 2026 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM(GMT-05:00)

Calendar GoogleCal

wed29apr3:00 PMwed4:30 PMWild Women Wednesday Hike3:00 PM - 4:30 PM(GMT-05:00)

May

tue05may10:00 AMtue2:00 PMMay Wildflower Walk at Terre Noire Natural AreaLed by PMSP Interpreter Matthew Friant10:00 AM - 2:00 PM(GMT-05:00)

tue05may7:00 PMtue9:00 PMPulaski Chapter Monthly Meeting7:00 PM - 9:00 PM(GMT-05:00) 600 Pleasant Valley Drive

wed06may3:00 PMwed4:30 PMWild Women Wednesday Hike3:00 PM - 4:30 PM(GMT-05:00)

sat09may8:45 AMsat1:00 PMMt. Nebo Bench Trail: A Guided Historical and Geological Tour8:45 AM - 1:00 PM(GMT-05:00)

sat09may10:00 AMsat2:00 PMBringing Nature to Your Yard Native Plant Sale10:00 AM - 2:00 PM(GMT-05:00) Library Square, 100 S Rock St

tue12may10:00 AMtue2:00 PMPaddle the Little Maumelle River Trail or Grassy Lake Water TrailLed by AGFC Watchable Wildlife Coordinator Kirsten Bartlow10:00 AM - 2:00 PM(GMT-05:00)

wed13may10:00 AMwed12:00 PMCentral Arkansas Water Ozark Point Watershed Treatment Plant Tour & Picnic Lunch10:00 AM - 12:00 PM(GMT-05:00)

Event Details

Name of Outing: Central Arkansas Water (CAW) Ozark Point Watershed Treatment Plant Tour & Picnic Lunch

Day, Date: 10:00, Wednesday, May 13

Beginning and Ending Time: Tour: 1.5 hours. optional 30 min walk to to Knoop Park Overlook and picnic lunch

Type of Activity: Educational Tour

Location: Ozark Point Water Treatment Plant; 701 N Martin, Little Rock

Distance: Optional Knoop Park Trail walk: 1.4 miles on an easy, paved trail

Elevation Difference: mostly flat with some stairs

Features: CAW is excited to have the Ozark Society join us at the historic Ozark Point Water Treatment Plant. This site has played a big role in central Arkansas’s water story, and it’s always great to share it with people who appreciate the region’s natural and cultural heritage.

We’ll kick things off with a relaxed walk around the grounds and historic buildings, then head inside for a look at the treatment plant and lab to see how water service has evolved over the years.

If the weather cooperates, we’ll finish up with a brownbag lunch at Knoop Park, which offers a great view of the Arkansas River and downtown.

Everyone is welcome to attend, whether an Ozark Society member or not.

Leader(s): OS Contact person: Mary Heller

Telephone & Email: macheller60@icloud.com

Meeting Place: Ozark Point Water Treatment Plant: 701 N. Martin, Little Rock

What to Bring: brown bag lunch, and water; wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes

Cost: free

Toilets:

After Activity Socializing: (Optional) Bring your brown bag lunch and a drink to picnic at the new park overlook