Summer seems to be coming early this year to northern Arkansas, you never know though. Remember 2013, when it snowed in early
May? Today’s forecast is for highs in
the low 80’s with above average humidity.
I don’t think I want to go hiking, so we settle on a drive instead. And decide to look around Erbie for some parking/trailhead
locations that may be used for future hikes. We turn off Highway 7 at the old stone-faced
church across the highway from Dogpatch.
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Tom Thumb Cemetery
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I want to find Tom Thumb Spring and Cemetery, it’s on lots of maps of
this area and looks like a great place to begin a hike to Reavis Cabin and
possibly even Fitton Cave. Like anywhere
else it turns out there are a lot of roads in this area that aren’t on the map,
we have to turn around a couple times but eventually find the cemetery.
Tom Thumb Spring turns out to be on private
property, so we won’t be seeing the spring.
Tom Thumb Cemetery is old with some graves dating back to the Civil
War. The cemetery is still in use today
and is well cared for.
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from a nearby tree
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Leaving Tom Thumb, we back-track to Cove Creek and park at the bridge. Yes, there is a bridge here across Cove
Creek, most maps call this crossing a ‘ford’.
This is a pretty place on Cove Creek right where another smaller creek
flows in and with recent rains, a nice little waterfall. We take some pictures then continue back, at
the next intersection turning right toward Erbie.
Just beyond the National River boundary sign
we come to Cove Creek again, downstream of the confluence with Cecil Creek with
loads of water today. Here there is no bridge, even though many maps
indicate a bridge...hmm. This ford
looks to be a little over a foot deep, but I have learned that the water is
always deeper than it looks. Had we driven
the truck today instead of ‘Not a 4-Wheeler’ I wouldn’t even hesitate. A three-point turn and we’re going back the
way we came.
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Cove Creek at the bridge
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Not giving up on getting to Erbie just yet, we head back east then south, over to the other
road in, which is a mile or two south.
This lower route obviously doesn’t get nearly as much use as the ‘north’ road
and it gets rougher and narrow the further we go.
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at the bridge over Cove Creek
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When we’re
close to Conard Fissure we see a pull-out parking spot in front of an old
rickety gate and assume this to be the path leading up to Conard Fissure. But I don’t know how much of this area is
private property, so I need to do some more research before we attempt to visit
the impressive sinkhole where a large saber-toothed tiger’s tooth was found years ago. |
streams are flowing good today
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In another mile and a half, we reach the end of the
line. At a big barricade in the road announcing, ‘Road Closed’ we park just a few feet back from this sign in a
small one car parking spot on the north side of the road. Walking past the barricade we head down the
road just over 100 yards to Cove Creek.
Here above the confluence with the Buffalo River, Cove Creek has washed
out the road completely. Today sitting
here on the banks of Cove Creek are some heavy equipment and lots of building
materials, it looks to me like there may be a new bridge here in the not-too-distant future. That will be nice! So once again we turn around, it’s starting to
look like we aren’t going to make it to Erbie today.
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Cove Creek tributary stream
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Almost at the top of the hill is an intersection with an old road to the
right, we pull in and park at this ‘Y’ intersection. We notice yellow blazes and realize this must
be an access for the Old River Trail.
It’s getting into the heat of the day now, but we want to check it out
anyway. We head off past a cable gate
and down the road, which makes for an easy short hike.
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ruins in the jungle
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The old road crosses a small hay field and
just before entering another larger field we see an old homesite on our
right. All that remains of the small
house is a basement and foundation stones along with some concrete work. In the next field are more remains of
out-buildings but the road has ended.
The hay needs cut, at least knee high and prime tick season we turn
around and head back to the car. |
basement of an old home
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Although we never actually made it to Erbie, we had a great time
exploring the area around Cove Creek. For
an update on road conditions in the area read: (82 New Erbie Loop). Sometimes it is possible to get out and enjoy
nature without getting far from the conveniences of a modern lifestyle, namely
‘the car’. As our weather warms up,
hiking season ends and soon we’ll be looking for that ‘perfect’ swimming hole.
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