8 Dixon Ford & Reeves Branch

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     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.

Just above Dixon Ford, the Buffalo River (officially) begins at the confluence of Reeves Fork and Big Buffalo Creek.
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 around in the road. My first reaction is to say out loud "Is this guy crazy?" Well, we stop (don't have a choice really) and help him get turned around. Next, how are we to get past each other?  It all works out in the end, and they make it out alive, and we get down to the Buffalo all in one piece.  We see them again later, parked at the Glory Hole; 4-wheel drive not necessary.

Buffalo River above Dixon Ford

    Here along the south bank of the river is flat, level open woods. With many nice campsites, we park in one. Enough driving let's get out and do some hiking!  Hiking, besides being good exercise is also a great way to relieve stress.

trickle falls

    Our plan is to hike along the bank, crossing the river wherever necessary, maybe as far downstream as Pruitt Hollow. The Buffalo is just a mountain stream way up here in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness.  It shouldn’t be too hard to cross back and forth, skipping across on dry rocks.  Yeah right… ‘crossing as necessary’ isn’t really an option, not today anyway, with the high water and air temperatures cold.

Reeves Branch

    So much for the plan, we don't get far hiking down river. Instead, we head upstream staying mostly on the old road traces that seem to go everywhere in this area. We end up on Reeves Branch upstream from some old rock walls and a couple more campsites.

rock wall along old road

    The Buffalo River around Dixon Ford is a beautiful place for camping with opportunities for hiking, bike and horseback riding in every direction on many old roads. We only hiked a little over a mile today with little or no elevation change. The challenge at Dixon Ford today was just getting here, but we'll be back, for more hiking in the area see: (80 Dixon Ford to the Upper Buffalo Mountain Bike Trails).

Reeves Branch

    Dixon Ridge Road the way down to the Buffalo River at Dixon Ford is pretty easy to get to.  Known as both Forest Road 1463 and Newton County Road 9100, this narrow dirt road turns north off Highway 16/21 about 1.4 miles northeast of Fallsville, or approximately 7.25 miles southwest from Edwards Junction.  From the highway follow Dixon Ridge Road to its end in the Dixon Ford (unofficial) Campground just over 3 miles, the last half mile can be pretty rough.

Location: Dixon Ford: 35.82286, -93.46222

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