37 Ozark to Cedar Glade on the BRT

     We must have been impressed with the Buffalo River Trail. Just three days ago we hiked the BRT for the first time and here we are back already, for my description of that hike see: (36 Pruitt to Ozark).  Today we begin at the Ozark Campground and continue upriver.

boulder in the Buffalo

    The trailhead is at the bottom of the hill as you enter the campground, and this is where we park.  We have the Ozark Campground all to ourselves, not a soul in sight, I had thought that with this gorgeous weather for late December, hikers would be here taking advantage of their time off work for Christmas.

rock steps

    We start hiking to the south from the edge of the campground and are soon in the woods down in the floodplain not far from the Buffalo.  Over left of the trail are interesting rocks, crevices and low bluffs.  Soon we come to the trail intersection with the Old River Trail (ORT), which joins the BRT for a short way before leaving uphill to the east.

slick rocks

    From here we go into a small side drainage down some stone steps, across the creek then up more steps on the other side.  This little creek sports some nice wet weather cascades along here for about 100 yards.  Following the creek further upstream another 100 yards then turn north we head up the hill.

the climb up to Cedar Glade

    At the top we level out above the Buffalo River and turn to the west.  As the trail approaches the river the slope down to the river gets steeper and soon, we’re on top a bluff overlooking the Buffalo below.  Along here the trail steps across a tiny but steep drainage with small wet weather falls both above and below the trail.

wet weather cascade

    About a quarter mile past the little double falls is another side drainage that we curve around, cross the creek and come to another waterfall.  This fall is a nice one, at about 12 feet tall and maybe 10 feet wide with a round pool at the base.  A beautiful spot, today it could definitely use some rain.  Past this little creek are more nice views of the river below, then another little drainage that the trail circles around and up the other side, up more stone steps and at the top is Cedar Glade.

wet weather falls

    Cedar Glade is a real nice peaceful spot with a great view of the Buffalo River, a picnic area and some nice stonework around a large fire-ring, and a parking area.  Here at the end of today’s BRT section, we take advantage of the picnic table then after lunch head back to the car at Ozark Campground.

BRT at Cedar Glade

    The sign at Cedar Glade says it’s 1.7 miles to Ozark Campground, our ‘in and out’ total distance is 3.8 miles with an elevation gain of just under 200 feet.  Hiking this well-maintained section of the BRT is nice, mellow and very pleasant.

stonework at Cedar Glade

Ozark Trailhead: Statistics Chart 37    It's easy to find, about 1.5 miles south of the Buffalo River bridge on Hwy.7 take Ozark Campground Road (NC 2470) west, just over 1.5 miles down to the campground, river and trailhead.

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