Outdoor Adventures in the Ozarks

    We really have overlooked Indian Rockhouse, I don’t know why.  Maybe because Buffalo Point where Indian Rockhouse is located is the biggest most developed place on the river.   Buffalo Point pre-dates Buffalo National River by over 30 years, was created as Buffalo State Park back in 1938 by the state of Arkansas, the National Forest Service and the Civilian Conservation Corps.  It's a great place, with a ranger station, multiple  camping areas, rental cabins and even  a restaurant.  There are miles of hiking trails, including the Indian Rockhouse Trail. small sinkhole      We decide to check it out thinking since it’s the off-season at campgrounds and canoeing destinations, maybe we won’t encounter too many others out on the trails.  Also, today's the day after Thanksgiving, everyone should be shopping (Black Friday) or laying around the house with the lingering effects of tryptophan.  Anyway,  here we are at the parking area, which is pretty full , we manage to squeeze

     We've been to Rush Historic District a few times but  haven’t really ‘seen’ it.  Years ago,  we did the short Interpretive Loop and drove down to the campground then over to the canoe launch and that’s about it.  The plan today is to hike some of the many trails and really get an idea of what's here of both historic interest and natural beauty. ore-cart along Rush Mtn. Trail      From the Morning Star Mine parking lot, we walk across the road to the ghost-town of Rush.  The town has four houses still standing, all on the same side of the street, and at the west end of ‘town’ is the Taylor-Medley Store which also served as the Post Office.  The store is looking pretty ‘sad’ like it could fall over any minute. in Rush ghost town      Crossing the road,  we head back to Morning Star Mine Trailhead, next to where we’re parked and start in a clockwise direction around the Morning Star Interpretive Loop.  This easy trail has loads of historic information posted almost continuous

     Driving down to the Triple Falls Parking Area at the bottom of Camp Orr Road, is not what I would call a ‘good’ road but that being said it’s in better shape today than it was the last couple times we were here.  The road conditions ‘go with the territory’ I suppose, wherever you mix steep dirt roads with rain and then put traffic on it, the road ends up falling apart quickly.  Just drive down slowly  and you shouldn’t have any problem, though whenever it gets really   bad,  I wouldn’t try in anything less than a 4X4 with high ground clearance. Dry Creek      We s tart out south on the Triple Falls Trail for just over 100 yards to the signed trail intersection where we turn right and head to the top of the falls.  It’s a little steep for a while but levels out soon and turns to the left (south) onto a ledge along the base of a low bluff high on the hill above the creek.  This entire area is very ni ce,  and we soon come down a little hill to the top of Triple Falls. a 'water