Outdoor Adventures in the Ozarks

     We’re pretty excited this morning, it has finally cooled off enough to do some hiking and we are ready.  I decide to try and find Big Point Lookout, mainly because on the map it appears to be a fairly easy hike, (we’ll see).  I have a whole list of other places I want to check out along the way, so we get an early start out the door. Blue Hole in early autumn      On highway 123 south, our first stop is Blue Hole on the Buffalo, this is Blue Hole #5, with Eddings Cave across the river up a little ravine (see: 57 Blue Hole ) .  We want to see what this hole looks like at the end of summer with low water levels and get a few pictures while we’re here, the water levels certainly are ‘low’.  Other than a small area around the bend at the downstream end of the hole, Blue Hole is only 3 or 4 feet deep, that includes under the rope swing. vista from above Hell and Gone      About halfway back up to the highway, is a pull-off parking spot on the east side of the road, we park deciding to

     Later this week the weather is supposed to finally cool down, but today’s forecast is for highs in the mid-nineties, so we better go swimming, it just may be our last chance until next year.  We drive south to St. Joe and turn off Highway 65 at the brown sign for Baker Ford and Woolum, the plan is to try a different swimming hole near Baker Ford.      There are actually three holes in close proximity to Baker Ford: Baker Ford Hole, Blue Hole (#8), and Greenhaw Hole.   At least ‘on the map’ these all look as though they should be pretty easy to get to, but  ‘you never know until you go’ as they say.   We park down at the canoe launch area and explore the bank looking for a route upriver, it appears there may have been an old road heading upstream once. at Baker Ford      This isn’t an option though, thanks to a slough that looks more like a little stagnant swamp with a very small ‘entrance’ from the river.   All along the riverbank  and around this slough it's overgrown with ex

     Last year in September we came to Blue Hole and were so impressed with this beautiful place we just had to return, for that first time here see: ( 101 Blue Hole ) .  There are a bunch of swimming spots on the Buffalo River known as ‘Blue Hole’ and by Ken Smith’s count this is Blue Hole #6.  Anyway, this particular Blue Hole is just upstream from river mile: 78 , and Woolum Ford.      We drive into Woolum leaving Highway 65 at the south end of Pindal, turning west on North Woolum Road.  The well-known route to Woolum from St. Joe has been closed for almost a year now, due to erosion of the road at the area on the river known as Highbanks.      The North Woolum Road out of Pindal starts as a paved road, but the pavement ends after about half a mile.  Another seven miles past the end of the pavement down this fairly good dirt road with occasional gravel sections, we arrive at the Woolum parking lot with the restroom and bulletin board.  From here on I recommend 4-WD with good ground

     The weather's slowly been cooling down, but summer isn't through with us yet.  I have recently thought  Rush Creek Hole maybe a good swimming option or is it just another overcrowded campground swimming hole?   If Rush doesn’t work out, I have other options, both of which we have been to before.    The paved road ends just as we enter Rush Historic District near the old houses at the side of the road.      For more on the Rush Historic District see: ( 77 Rush Mountain and Clabber Creek) .  We drive down to the last parking area at the downstream end of Rush Creek Hole and the confluence with Clabber Creek.    The road down through the historic district is in good shape until we pass the canoe launch area, then turns into a series of big mud holes.  We make it with no problem to the parking area on the right, about 100 feet before road’s end at a locked gate. Rush Creek Hole near Clabber Creek      This parking lot has room for 8-10 vehicles, in the southeast corner is a