Outdoor Adventures in the Ozarks

     I have wanted to see Big Creek Cave Falls for a long time but wasn't sure if I knew where it was.   After all there are two different creeks named Big Creek in the Buffalo River drainage, and there's the Left and Right Forks and well, I was a little confused. But after some research Big Creek was actually pretty easy to get to. Big Creek Cave Falls      We start our hike at a Forest Service (steel cable) gate. There are two gates and either one works as a Trailhead. Past the gate, heading south down an old road we soon come to Left Fork Big Creek which is flowing pretty strong. I thought we had come prepared for creek crossings; I had read about these 'hillbilly waders' aka 'El cheapo creek waders'. old relics      Simple to use and seemingly a great idea, you just slip a heavy-duty trash bag over each boot, hold them up around your knees with bungee cords and head across the creek. Well as the saying goes you get what you pay for. After just a few steps th

      Dixon Ford is a place I have wanted to see for a long time, a ford is where a road crosses a stream without a bridge. Well, technically that's not exactly right. A 'ford' is any well used wet crossing. There isn't always a 'road' any wet crossing is technically a ford. Anyway, Dixon Ford is where NC 9100 (FR4163) aka Dixon Ridge Road, crosses the Buffalo River. Buffalo River downstream of Dixon Ford      This crossing is not for a standard car or small SUV, you definitely want something with high ground clearance. Getting down to the ford isn't exactly a walk in the park either.   The road is fine until you come to that last descent down into the Buffalo River valley. Deep ruts, big rocks, hairpin curves, very steep and narrow! Yeah, for some Jeep owners this is the stuff dreams are made of. Buffalo River at Dixon Ford    Just after starting down this 'final descent' we come around the first hairpin and encounter a minivan attempting to turn a

     We were driving home from Mountain Home today and decided to take a look at Slippery Hollow Wildlife Management Area. Since this wasn't planned, we had no gear, not even boots or camera, but wanted to check it out anyway, below are a few photos from later visits. at Slippery Hollow      We walk around on top of a couple hollows looking for a good (easy) way down and don’t find one, these appear to be pretty deep and steep hollows. Up on top and near the highway are open woods, without much undergrowth. Following an old road trace, we find evidence of a homesite, mostly just some trash. boundary marker      We'll have to come back better prepared for hiking and see what we find down in the hollows. Today, although we hiked less than a mile, we still had a good time looking around, and look forward to coming back someday .  For an account of my return to Slippery Hollow see: ( 108 Boozer and Big Music ) , and ( 109 Marble Falls Spring ) . muddy old road