Outdoor Adventures in the Ozarks

    Just so there isn't any confusion, this is not the Leatherwood Creek in the Leatherwood Wilderness of the lower Buffalo. This is Leatherwood Creek flowing into the upper Buffalo at Ponca Low Water Bridge. Previously, thousands of day-trippers walked right over this little stream with no idea of the beauty that is hiding just upstream.  But since around 2017 this creek has become one of the more popular hikes that start at the low water bridge. Ponca low-water bridge      Hiking might be considered a sideline activity from here, Ponca Low Water Bridge is the most popular canoe launch site on the entire river (at least in the spring), it’s also a trailhead for the Buffalo River Trail, Old River Trail and the short interpretive loop to Villines Homestead, so naturally you can expect to see lots of people here any time of year. 'falls 2'      We walk across the bridge and head over the dirt berm just to the left of the trailhea...

     It has been a month since we last got out to do any hiking, and we’re really  ready  for some nice weather.  Today while not exactly a heatwave is supposed to feature calm winds and sunny skies with highs approaching 60 degrees, sounds like 'hiking weather' to me, so I’ll take it! Stepp Creek Falls      We load up our gear and head south for Stepp Creek Falls.  Stepp Creek is a major tributary of the Little Buffalo River and contains some great scenery including bluffs, caves and waterfalls.  About a half mile north on NC 8913 (FR92755A), we park just off the road on the left.  This parking spot is where an old road once intersected here, now it’s a parking spot and an easy access down to Stepp Creek. Side Stepp Creek      We start northwest on this old road trace which soon turns more north just past an old rock wall.  The trail heads slowly downhill, this is easy hiking, off to our left we can s...