Outdoor Adventures in the Ozarks

      Today I’m going back to the Buffalo River to do some exploring around Pruitt, specifically downriver from the end of the Buffalo River Trail at Pruitt picnic area.   The BRT consists of two separate trails, the ‘upstream’ section from South Boxley Trailhead to Pruitt Day Use Area and the ‘mid river’ section from Richland Creek at the confluence with the Buffalo down to Dillard’s Ferry (combo BRT/OHT). looking down off the top of Hurd/Desmond Bluff      The upstream section ends before river mile 52 and the mid river section doesn’t start until just short of mile 79, in between is 27 miles of river without a trail.   It would be great to see the Buffalo River Trail connect these two separate trails someday, but in the mean time I guess we’ll have to rely on old roads and bushwhacks to fill in the space.   An inconvenience sure, but it does make for a more natural experience . Buffalo River below new parking lot      Some ‘...

      Lately on my hiking excursions I have put a lot of miles on the truck getting to and from my chosen destinations, and in the process have passed by loads of good hiking areas.   On my last three hiking adventures I have driven over 100 miles round-trip to each location.    So today I’m going down to Hiner Hole, one of our favorite swimming holes, to hike a short section of the Old River Trail, which should cut my travel time and mileage in half. overhang bluff at Leypoldt Hole      The road from Scenic Highway 7 to Hiner Hole is NC 2890 and it always seems to be in poor condition this morning is no different, just over an inch of rain in the last 24 hours doesn’t help.   All eight of the creek crossings have flowing water, one is a little muddy all the rest are across solid bedrock so no problem.   A couple areas have water flowing down the road and there’s lots of tree debris on the road too, all this makes for an enjoyable...

       Recently I started going back to some of the places we have visited before I started documenting our hikes on Outdoor Adventures in the Ozarks.   Fern Falls and Alum Cove are ( see: 174Fern Falls  and  177 Alum Cove ) the first two with many more to come.  Today’s choice is another short hike: Hudson Shelter, first visited way back at the end of March ’15. Hudson Bluff     Over nine years ago I probably won’t remember much from that previous visit, but as soon as I pull into the parking area on an old logging road everything looks vaguely familiar.  Except the Wag-Bag ammo-can mounted on a wood post looks pretty new although empty, it serves as a trailhead marker.  And the trail south is in great shape obviously getting lots of use, all downhill to a rocky creek with little water then down some more following the creek. trail right from old logging road @ 'trailhead' above Hudson Shelter Falls     A ...