BNR Historic Double-Loop Hike near Erbie

This coming Saturday, November 4th, the Sue and Jack Mabry will lead a loop hike on the BRT from Erbie Campground through the surrounding historic and scenic area. Note that all the rain has raised the river level, so the Erbie Bridge may be impassible from the Compton-Erbie road.  Drivers will want to reach the trailhead from Hwy 7 through Jasper or Pruitt and turn north and follow CR79 for the 5.5 miles to the campground by the river.

Missouri Shut-Ins, Elephant Rocks, and Taum Sauk Two-Day Hikes

Fred Paillet has offered to lead a two-day hike in southeast Missouri on November 9-10th.  Southeast Missouri is several hours by car from NWA, but it offers some unique geological terrain.  As Fred notes, there are a number of state parks in the area for further exploration and camping possibilities. Here is a link to the one where the first hike is located.

https://mostateparks.com/park/johnsons-shut-ins-state-park

Ozark Society Expedition to Southeast Missouri State Parks

The dome-like uplift that generated the rugged terrain of our Ozark Mountains has at its core a hard geological massif of truly ancient rocks.  They are more than a billion years old compared to the limestone and sandstone that comprise much of the rest of our Ozark geology.  This is the only place in our area where you can stand on the Canadian Shield.  A number of interesting state parks showcase this geology in southeast Missouri at locations around Poplar Bluff.  These include Elephant Rocks with its great stack of pink pachyderm-sized boulders and the scenic gorge carved by a tributary of the Black River at Johnson Shut-Ins.  There is a large bedrock scar produced when a mountain-top reservoir suddenly drained that remains a mecca for geologists visiting this unique bedrock province.  The site is also of interest in a great experiment in ecological succession – often visualized as rewilding of former farmland, but here starting from bare scratch on a scoured rock surface.  You can read more about the area and its geology in a previous Pack and Paddle below.

Schedule:

Wednesday, November 8.  Travel to Poplar Bluff, Missouri with multiple lodging options.  Trip leaders plan to stay at the Comfort Inn.

Thursday, November 9.  Morning departure from Comfort Inn to Johnson Shut-Ins State Park.  Hike 3.1 mile loop around canyon wall on well-developed tail with some steep gorge-viewing staircases involved.  A separate 2.5 mile loop trail goes up onto the adjacent ridge for those with extra energy.  Afternoon visit to Taum Sauk scour site with approximately one mile loop hike.

Friday, November 10.  Morning visit to Elephant Rocks for leisurely hike around the rocks on a paved and level trail.  There may be a lot of other visitors, but the rocks are a unique experience.  Then time to take in the view from the highest point in Missouri – no climbing equipment needed and a great place to take a picnic lunch, but lots of tables to eat with the elephant crowd, too.  Afternoon available for the return drive (about 6 hours to Fayetteville).  Several other state parks in the area for those who want to see more of SE Missouri.

Lodging Option:  The Comfort Inn in Poplar Bluff, Missouri has offered the Ozark Society a group discount rate for accommodations on the nights of November 8th and 9th, preceding Fred Paillet’s hikes to Johnson Shut-Ins and Elephant Rocks. They say their regular rates are $120-$140, depending on local events. But for the Ozark Society, their rate is $90/night, or with tax $101.68. This price is for a room with two queen beds. To make a reservation at this rate, contact Daisy (Fr-Tues 3:00-11:00 pm) or Penny (Mon-Frid 7am-3:00 pm) at (573) 609-8053 and tell them you’re with the Ozark Society.

For other arrangements–sharing a room, carpooling, other accommodations, you’re on your own.

Notes on Logistics and Driving Distances:

• Elephant Rocks, Johnson Shut-Ins, and Taum Sauk State Park are all within 20 miles of each other
• Driving distance, Fayetteville AR to Poplar Bluff MO = approximately 250-300 miles
• Driving distance, Poplar Bluff MO to Elephant Rocks State Park MO = approximately 85-90 miles
• Driving distance, Fayetteville AR to Elephant Rocks State Park MO = approximately 300 miles
• Tourist facilities (motels, restaurants) also exist in Pilot Knob MO, approximately 5 miles from Elephant Rocks State Park

This coming Saturday, 11 November 2023, we’ll visit the ruins of the Hedges home in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness, allegedly burned out by persons unknown on New Year’s Day 1991.

Day, Date:  Saturday, November 11,, 2023

Name of Hike:  Hedges Homestead

Location:  Buffalo National River

Meeting Place and Time:

• Meet on Saturday, November 11 at Root School, 1529 E Mission Blvd, Fayetteville AR for car-pooling at 8:15 am; or,
• Meet at the Kings River Country Store in Marble AR at 9:00 am; or,
• Meet at the Boxley Trailhead (aka Upper Buffalo Wilderness Trailhead) at the southern end of Boxley Valley in the Buffalo National River at 10:00 am.

Hiking Distance: 4 miles

Elevation Gain:  750 feet

Rating:  All Trails calls it “a moderately challenging route.”

Features:  This is an out and back trail, we will travel up some old trail for awhile, then come to an old road and follow it to the Hedges.  We can explore the old homesite and visit the “Pickle Hole” on the Buffalo.  It is a beautiful area.

Hike Leader:  Judi Nail

Contact Information:  Telephone = 870 421 6824; email = jnail1113@gmail.om

Comments:  Bring water, snacks, lunch, gloves, and a hiking stick, and wear comfortable hiking boots/shoes.  Insect repellant and sunscreen may be advisable. No pets are allowed on any hikes.  Children under 12 years are discouraged, and minors must be accompanied by a guardian.  Participants are required to sign a Liability Release sheet at the trailhead to take part in any Ozark Society outing.  Everyone is welcome to hike with the OS, whether an Ozark Society member or not.
http://www.ozarksociety.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04H/OS-Sign-Up_Sheet_rev4.pdf

Hike: Steel Creek to Jim Bluff Loop via BRT & ORT

This Wednesday, Nov. 15th, Terry Frederick will lead a round-trip loop hike from Steel Creek to Jim Bluff, which will include six river crossings.  This is one of the most scenic areas of the Buffalo River, the weather will be sunny and some fall colors remain.  We’ll hike downstream on the Buffalo River Trail (BRT) from Steel Creek to Beech Creek, cross the river and follow the Old River Trail (ORT, horse/hike trail) to Jim Bluff before returning to Steel Creek via the ORT, which is the horse-wagon trail which follows the river bed, used by early settlers.  No rain is forecast, so most likely the river will be shallow (ankle-deep).

Day, Date:  Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023

Name of Hike:  Buffalo River Loop from Steel Creek to Jim Bluff on the BRT and ORT, BNR

Location:  Steel Creek, three miles east of Ponca AR on AR Hwy 74

Type of Hike:  Dayhike, Trail (BRT), horse/hike trail (ORT), and primitive horse trail

Distance:  8.3 miles, BNR Milemarkers 31 to 35 roundtrip

Vertical Elevation Difference:  600 ft (gain on BRT from Steel Creek to Beech Creek)

Rating:  Moderate to difficult due to distance, elevation gain, and multiple water crossings.  Hikers who do not want to cross the river and get wet feet may hike as far as Beech Creek, and then return to Steel Creek via the BRT.  This would result in a moderate, scenic, trail-only hike of 6.6 miles, with an elevation gain of 600 ft, and it would include views from the Steel Creek and Fisher Point overlooks. For the rest, wool socks and warm but wet feet may be best.

Features:  We will leave from Steel Creek and hike downstream on the Buffalo River Trail (BRT) to Beech Creek, then drop down to the Buffalo River on the primitive horse trail, and follow the Old River Trail (ORT) downstream to Jim Bluff.  We will then return upstream on the ORT back to Steel Creek in the Buffalo River bottom land.  Expect six river crossings on the ORT.  We will see Roark Bluff at Steel Creek, and then view the Buffalo River from a 300 foot overlook above the Steel Creek area.  At Fisher Point on the BRT we look across the Buffalo to Big Bluff.  Once we leave Jim Bluff, we follow the ORT and pass below Big Bluff before returning to Steel Creek along the river.  More info can be found in Ken Smith (Buffalo River Handbook; 295-299, 156-169), or Tim Ernst (Buffalo River Hiking Trails; 64-70), or at http://www.ouachitamaps.com/Buffalo%2001%20West.html

Hike Leader:  Terry Fredrick (contact hike leader for more info)

Telephone & Email:  479-422-7776 or terrfre@att.net (telephone is preferred)

Meeting Place and Time:  To carpool,

• Meet at Harp’s Crossover Foodstore parking lot in Fayetteville at the intersection of AR Hwys 265/45 (Mission and Crossover) for an 8:15 a.m. departure; or,
• Meet at the Kings River Country Store in Marble AR at 9:00 a.m.; or,
• Meet at the trailhead at the Steel Creek canoe launch/horse area at 10:00 a.m.

Driving Distance:  One-way driving distance from the Fayetteville carpool to the trailhead is 61 miles via AR Hwy 45/US Hwy 412/AR Hwys 21 & 74. About 1.5 hours.

Comments:  Bring water, lunch, rain gear, gloves and wear hiking boots and/or water shoes (sandals, tennis shoes but not flip-flops).  Insect spray and hiking poles may also be useful.  No pets are allowed on any hikes, and children under 12 years are discouraged.  Participants are required to sign a “liability release” http://www.ozarksociety.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/OS-Sign-Up_Sheet_rev4.pdf at the trailhead to take part in any Ozark Society outing.  There will be six river crossings on the ORT—approximately one every half-mile in the second-half of the hike.  Wear hiking boots with wool socks (e.g., SmartWool) or bring water shoes (tennis shoes, sandals, not flip-flops) if you don’t want to get your hiking boots wet.  Whatever footwear you choose, because of the frequency of water crossings, it will be inconvenient to change shoes at each river crossing.  Thus, expect not to change shoes during this final segment of the hike, i.e., once you put water shoes on, you will keep them on for the duration of the hike.  With wool socks, your feet should remain comfortable even if wet.  Water level could be knee-deep if there is heavy rain during the week, or only ankle-deep if rain is light.  Everyone is welcome to hike with the OSHC, whether an Ozark Society member or not.  See “rating” section above if you do not want to do the water-crossings.

Kingfisher Trail at Lake Sequoyah just south of Fayetteville

On Saturday Nov. 18, Nancy Garner will lead a hike at Lake Sequoyah, just south of Fayetteville. The Kingfisher Trail follows the hillside above the lake for roughly 1.2 miles, then heads sharply uphill for a quarter mile or so to a scenic hilltop clearing owned by Nancy’s family. There, we can snack and rest—Nancy’s son will be providing some lawn chairs for more comfort than hikers normally get—and we can enjoy a view of the lake before heading back. The hike ends where it begins, at the Rookery Trailhead, just over the bridge across Lake Sequoyah.

That’s the end of the organized hike, but the 3.5 mile out-and-back Rookery Trail also begins at the parking area, so those who wish to explore on their own may do so.

Hike: Kingfisher Trail at Lake Sequoyah with side hike to private vista

Date: Saturday, November 18, 2023

Meeting Place and Time: Rookery Trailhead, Lake Sequoyah Drive, southeast side of Fayetteville AR just off of AR Hwy 16 at 10:30 am on November 18

Hike Distance: 3 miles more or less

Rating; Easy with uphill to the scenic spot, maybe 500 ft of elevation gain/loss. Leaf litter over rocky trail

Hike Leader: Nancy Garner

Phone/email: (479) 521-1568 or   beingnancy03@arkansas.net

Directions: Google Maps shows the Rookery Trailhead as the meeting point, just on the right as you exit the bridge across Lake Sequoyah. To reach the spot, from the intersection of Hwy 265 and 16 (Huntsville Road), drive 3 miles south and turn left on S Lake Sequoyah Drive (road #50). In roughly a mile, the road makes a 90 degree right turn. Continue to veer right across the bridge. Just over, you’ll see the parking area on the right.

Comments:  Bring water, lunch, rain gear, gloves and wear hiking boots and/or water shoes. Insect spray and hiking poles may also be useful.  No pets are allowed on any hikes, and children under 12 years are discouraged.  Participants are required to sign a “liability release” http://www.ozarksociety.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/OS-Sign-Up_Sheet_rev4.pdf at the trailhead to take part in any Ozark Society outing.

Highlands Chapter Fall Hiking Calendar

November

  Wednesday, 15th, Steel Creek to Jim Bluff Loop on BRT & ORT, Terry Frederick

Saturday, 18^th, Kingfisher Trail at Lake Sequoyah, near Fayetteville, Nancy Garner

Saturday, 25^th, Hare Mountain on the Ozark Highlands Trail, Jack & Sue Mabry

December

Saturday, 2^nd, Two hikes:

        Lake Wilson (Fayetteville) Kids & Family Hike, Shari Withey

       Spy Rock Trail, Norma Senyard

Saturday, 9^th, OHT Maintenance, Fain Creek, Tom Perry

Saturday, 16^th Eureka Springs Urban Hike, Luke Parsch

On Saturday, Sue & Jack Mabry will lead us on the Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) from Morgan Fields up to Hare Mountain and back for sweeping views of the Mulberry River and Herrods Creek valleys. Sue notes that the high for the day will be nudging 50 and for the apres hike, we will likely adjourn down to Redding Campground, where we can gather around a fire. If pumpkin pie is weighing you down, here’s a way to melt it off.

The end of our fall hiking season is within sight (see calendar below), but there is still time to lead a weekday hike if you’re so inclined.

Day, Date:  Saturday, 25 November 2023

Name of Hike:  Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT)—Morgan Field to Hare Mtn.

Type of Hike:  Dayhike on trail

Distance:  4 miles more or less

Total Elevation Gain/Loss:  660 ft gain/loss to Hare Mtn and back

Rating:  Moderate, due to elevation change.

Features:  This hike on the Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) takes us to Hare Mountain which is the highest point (2382 ft) on the OHT.  The long views from the trail to the south are towards the Mulberry River Valley and several ranges beyond.   On Hare Mountain, we will explore remains of an early pioneer farm with a giant stone fireplace and the well that served the homestead.  As we return to Morgan Field, we follow a ridge with views primarily of the Herrods Creek drainage to the east.  For more info see Tim Ernst (Ozark Highlands Trail Guide, 56-62) or http://www.ouachitamaps.com/OHT-02Cherry- Morgan.html

Hike Leader:  Sue & Jack Mabry

Contact Information Telephone, Email:  816-922-9896; or Mabrysue@gmail.com

Meeting Place and Time:

• Meet at MANA Family Medicine South in Fayetteville for an 8:45 am carpool departure from at the intersection of Huntsville Road (AR Hwy 16) and Crossover Road (AR Hwy 265); or,
• Meet at the entrance sign to Redding Campground at 10:00 am.  The sign marking the Redding Campground entrance is 2.7 miles from the junction of AR Hwy 23 southbound after you turn onto AR Hwy 215. Pull in when you see the Redding Campground sign on the right and we’ll organize for the short drive to Morgan Fields. Bathrooms are about a mile away inside the campground if there is need. From there, Jack and Sue will lead us in a caravan to Morgan Fields via a dirt road off Hwy 215.
• Or meet at Morgan Field at 10:30 am if you prefer to drive directly. Please note that on Google Maps, Morgan Fields is shown as Ozarks Highlands West Cobb Trailhead. That is our destination, shown on the map with a dotted line-marked trail from the parking area. This spot can be reached either by a dirt road off Hwy 23 (#81) or from the south near Redding Campground, where road #82 heads north and joins 81 (bearing left).  Click on “Location” in this announcement to see Google Map.

Comments:  Bring water, lunch, rain gear, gloves and wear hiking boots and/or water shoes. Insect spray and hiking poles may also be useful.  No pets are allowed on any hikes, and children under 12 years are discouraged.  Participants are required to sign a liability release: http://www.ozarksociety.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/OS-Sign-Up_Sheet_rev

November

    Saturday, 25^th, Hare Mountain on the Ozark Highlands Trail, Jack & Sue Mabry

December

Saturday, 2^nd, Two hikes:

        Lake Wilson (Fayetteville) Kids & Family Hike, Shari Withey

       Spy Rock Trail, Norma Senyard

Saturday, 9^th, OHT Maintenance, Fain Creek, Tom Perry

Friday, 15^th Eureka Springs Urban Hike, Luke Parsch

To become a pathfinder and trailblazer, you’ll win the esteem and gratitude of your fellow hikers. Just reserve a date for your outing by emailing or calling:

Steve Singleton

Fall Outing Chair

Ozark Society Highlands Chapter

aerialobserver@gmail.com

(479) 283-9446