Bicycles are permitted only on authorized trails: Creamery Meadow and Ridge trails. It is not advisable to bring children, liquor, or reckless behavior on this hike. (Recommended) It's quite a hike from the Camp Grounds but doable. Length : 6 miles roundtrip, 4 hours. It takes 4 to 5 hours to complete the round-trip hike, most of which is along the Centerpoint Trail, the trailhead for which is located 3 miles north of Ponca on Hwy 43. It was so beautiful! Such a cool trail! - Stock Photos provided by our partner Depositphotos, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hi yall! We are so happy Arkansas / Campgrounds. But it is a gradual incline the whole way. The Goat Trail and Big Bluff. There are a few names for hiking to this specific viewpoint in Buffalo National River. Seriously, watch that water coming down out of the mountains. You can find more info about where dogs are allowed at the Buffalo National River here. Contact Us, 8 am 6 pm | Mar Oct Lots of unsuspecting swimmers have been washed away. Youll start to walk along a more narrow trail, with a rock wall on your left. The campground does not have showers. what does greyson mean in the bible The hike itself is pretty standard woodland path, with not a ton of features and only a few rocky sections to break up the long walk. The main Centerpoint Trail is easy to hike and is through the trees. Your email address will not be published. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( 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. Although there are several ways to . When you look out, you can see the gorgeous Ozark Mountains and then further down to the Buffalo River and this is the spot where it makes a perfect horseshoe bend. The hardest part of the trail looks like an old gravel bed with a lot of loose rocks. We camped at the base of the Hemmed in Hollow trail, by the river. Your email address will not be published. Have fun. Some random moments from our two weeks in Mrida! Its great to see something you can do with the whole family too even if your mum was scared stiff! Ponca, AR 72670, 1 (870) 861-5514 Would do again! We got a later start than expected due to spending extra time on Hawks Bill Crag and Glory Hole Falls trails. Spring is just magic. From the parking lot to Big Bluff, the trail travels mostly downhill, so it's important to conserve energy, drinking water, and snacks for the uphill hike back to your car. , Fungi are amazing. It almost looks like a beehive. As for photography, weve found the best time to capture Big Bluff is in the afternoon once the sun has moved into mid-afternoon position, say 3:00 PM or so. Also, wed love to hear if youve hiked the Goat Trail in Arkansas or if it is on your bucket list! What an incredible view! However, the trail was pretty rocky at times, so make sure you have good shoes and keep an eye on where youre stepping so you dont trip!After about 45 minutes to 1 hour of hiking on the Centerpoint Trail, youll reach an open area with a fire ring to the left and trails straight ahead (which we hear goes to the river) and to the right. From here, its about a 1/4-mile hike out to the start of Big Bluff. You can take a look at the map below before heading out. The Goat trail EASILY provides one of the BEST scenic views of the Buffalo River. You can watch our experience on the trail here to get a better idea of how the trail is. })(); 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. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. You will certainly get some great pics of the river, the bluffs and the hills beyond. As always, we recommend having the 10 essentials on you when doing any hike, but here are a few key items we want to point out that will especially help you during this hike! When she's not hiking in the mountains or planning a backpacking trip, she's taking a road trip or sampling some delicious craft beer. The trail's destination is the Big Bluff overlooking the Buffalo River. You'll need to leave pups at home dogs aren't allowed on this trail. A great hike for a group. With million-dollar views, you wont regret your decision to bring your camera and your sense of adventure to trek this iconic hike in the Ozark Mountains. Hi Sarah! It is not advisable to bring children, liquor, or reckless behavior on this hike. However, the Goat Trail runs along this cliff face at around 340 feet above the river. The view of the Buffalo River from Big Bluff. Thanks for the great guide. The Buffalo National River is home to a few more traditional campgrounds. Amazing trial, its a little rough going down to the spot, all downhill just watch your step! All Rights Reserved. Thanks for reading and being such a loyal fan. Enjoy the lake, folks, but be careful. The Goat Trail takes hikers along the narrow edge of Big Bluff with a sheer vertical drop to the Buffalo National River in northern Arkansas. Hiking out to the bluffs is pretty much downhill all the way, making the hike back completely uphill. Hiking the Big Bluff Goat Trail from the Centerpoint Trailhead is about a 6 mile hike. No restrooms there, but a decent gas stop and convenience store was just a short distance before we got there. The hike down to Big Bluff is relatively easy, though rocky. The surgery would leave him unable to walk for two months and unable to hike for even longer. It's approximately 6.5 miles round trip and moderately hard due to the loose rocks and incline. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 8 min to complete. We will only ever recommend products we truly love, actually use during our adventures, and think you can benefit from too! The Centerpoint trail is broad and easy to walk, although like so many trails in mountainous Buffalo River country, its basically uphill all the way back (2.5 miles). event : evt, 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. Where were the goats though?? The campground is a tent-only facility. Awesome trail run today. The view from the top is spectacular, but the hike has its dangers. We also saw some deer. callback: cb This location does not have a restroom. 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. In this guide were sharing everything you need to know before hiking the Goat Trail to Big Bluff in the Buffalo National River, including trail stats, what to bring, and more!Despite living in Texas for the majority of our lives, we never visited Arkansas and boy, were we missing out! She loves sharing her adventures both big & small. Before headingback up to the top, Matt, my dad and I joined my mom with her awesome view, ate a granola bar and soaked it all in. Excellent trail. This crazy formation is inside one of the overhangs. This is a video and some pictures of Big Bluff/Goats trail/bluff in Arkansas. The trail crosses on a shelf of the bluff, which has a great view of the valley but which is narrow at points. Enjoy the view but use extreme caution on Big Bluff. I want to do Big Bluff in the spring next year so I can see the river at a nice, high point so you can really see thathorseshoe bend! Awesome trail. She's a road trip aficionado, an avid hiker, lover of learning + culture and an all-around wanderess. Since we started the hike early and were the first ones on the trail, we had Big Bluff all to ourselves, which made the experience even better! We love hiking in the late fall and during the middle of the week to beat the crowds. 3.5 miles north of Ponca, on hwy 43. From here, it's about a 1/4-mile hike out to the start of Big Bluff. Dogs are only allowed at campgrounds, on the river, and on the gravel bars, but must be on leash. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. So, if you see any of the following, youre in the right place: The hike from Centerpoint to Big Bluff starts from the Centerpoint Trailhead outside of Ponca, AR. Nice views. There are two campgrounds relatively close to the Centerpoint Trailhead. 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. I have added this place in my bucket list. 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. In 2015, an intrepid hiker tried just that, fell through the hole, and had to be airlifted to the hospital. Its almost time to hit the Goat Trail to Big Bluff, but before you go, here are a few more things to be aware of, including some rules, parking info, and more! Buzzards frequent this area and youllfind feathersalong the trail. The payout at the end of the strenuous hike is a wide open view of the Buffalo National River, plus a geological wonder. But please dont lean over and topple onto the ground below. I would love to hike the Centerpoint to Big Bluff (Goat Trail) in Arkansas. It's difficult coming down and even harder coming back up. Avoid the stress of forgetting camping and hiking essentials with our handy guide. By closing this banner or interacting with our site, you acknowledge and agree to our privacy policy. haha. Matt took this photo and thats me walking along the narrow trail. Ashlee holds a BS degree in Biology and MS in Environmental Policy & Sustainability and is passionate about the outdoors. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. there is a shorter hike alternative that is only 3 miles instead if 6 if you want less hiking. This isnt the best hike for someone with a crippling fear of heights.TRAIL TIPS: As always, take plenty of water. Not only are they an incredibly diverse kingdom of organisms, but many are also very delicious. I have to add this to my list of my must-do hikes so I dont forget. Located just 6 minutes from the trailhead, JB Trading Co is a great spot to call home in the Buffalo National River. Thanks for reading. We arrived at the Centerpoint Trailhead bright and early on a Monday morning in November. Paige Wunder is based in the Ozarks where she lives with her husband. Relatively easy hike for this 6 mile round trip trek. Dont over-pace yourself on the first half, the trip back will demand your stamina lol Thats not a joke. If youre looking for a big view of the Buffalo River combined with a world-class geologic experience, then Big Bluff and its narrow Goat Trail is your kind of place. And the highlight of our time there was hiking the Goat Trail to Big Bluff (watch our experience)! This is a very popular area for backpacking, camping, and fishing, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Trail maps say big bluff is just .8 miles long before it abruptly ends, but this is far from the truth. It poured the entirety of the hike back to our car, ironically ceasing only once we arrived at the parking area. ! On a journey to Alaska in @brisketthevan Beautiful weather and scenery! Its very steep, and very dangerous. She is a writer, a mom, and a graduate student. The spur trail (Goat Trail) to Big Bluff is off to the right of the fire ring. Taking on a good hike is a great way to do that and would definitely consider this one when I am in the Arkansas area. What you should actually avoid is engaging in risky behavior. And , Many people love mushrooms. One of the advantages of fall is the ability to catch some pretty amazing views at the beginning of the trail. At 550 feet, its the larges bluff face between the Rockies and Appalachians. It is considered the tallest along the Buffalo at over 500 ft. tall. fantastic, breathtaking and simply a must see! After about 10 minutes or so, youll reach a cool rocky outcropping that has a hole in it. Thankfully, between working on an eastern time schedule and both of us being fairly fast hikers, we've been able to get in some solid trail time after work. We had our hearts set on the well-known Centerpoint to Goat Trail, a 5.9 mile out and back trail whose destination is a famously breathtaking view of the Buffalo River. All Rights Reserved. But don't let that scare you. If you are not familiar with the area, we recommended downloading maps for offline use or having a topo map (we have this one). They are also allowed on a few trails, including the Tyler Bend Campground trails (Spring Hollow, Buck Ridge, and Rock Wall in the Middle District) and all three Buffalo Point Campground trails (Forest Trail, Overlook Trail, and Campground Trail in the Lower District). This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. You should go forth and explore the Natural States breathtaking beauty. These views show, not only how narrow the ledge gets, but also how tall that bluff is above you. 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. Nice to see a comment from you! Looking for a good home base to explore the Buffalo National River and hike the Goat Trail to Big Bluff? This hiking seems fun in Arkansas. Get a FREE Camping & Hiking Packing List! Cant wait to start travelling around the US again! Four months ago, Eric and I took a weekend trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas for one last hurrah just before his knee surgery.