Outdoor Adventures in the Ozarks

       The Centerpoint Trailhead always seems to be full to capacity to the extent that an entrepreneur across the road now offers ‘secure parking $5.00’.  Many times we’ve driven past saying ‘someday...’ well today is the day, I pull in at 10:00 with only one vehicle in the medium size parking lot, sure it’s the middle of the week but this trailhead is always popular. views for miles from Goat Trail      And why not , Centerpoint Trail provides access to literally every inch of the Ponca Wilderness.   Ponca is unique having lots of trails crisscrossing the wilderness, making exploration easy.   And Centerpoint may be the easiest entry point into the wilderness, since the trailhead parking is located right on State Highway 43, paved all the way.   All of this contributes to the trailheads popularity, but the biggest reasons for a full parking lot are Eva Henderson’s Home and The Goat Trail. trailhead warnings Chimney Rock Trail ...

       I decided today to explore a little bit of the ‘long distance’ Ozark Highlands Trail along Buck Branch.   Most of the ‘main’ trailheads for the OHT are spaced too far apart for casual day-hikes.   So I’m always looking for a back road with possible parking that crosses the trail, thereby breaking up a long section of trail into manageable day-hike opportunities.   And the Buck Branch area where the OHT crosses NC 7050 seems to be a likely candidate. Kiddie Pool on Buck Branch      At Pelsor/Sand Gap I turn west on Highway 123 and in just half a mile north on NC 7050, this south end of the county road is also known as Hurricane Trail.   Maybe I should have seen this as a ‘red flag’ but the road is in great shape, I continue north oblivious to what lies just a mile ahead.   After passing 5-6 houses the road appears to abruptly end at a house with a pack of barking dogs nipping at my tires. the road has fallen apart but no...

      B ack to the Buffalo to do more exploring, this time upriver from Pruitt about half way to Erbie.   A few years ago while out scouting for swimming holes off NC 2890, we found only one swimming area that was close enough to hike in summer’s heat.   But we did find some old roads (with gates) that seemed inviting as possible hiking routes.   The weather man is predicting today to be the ‘pick day of the week for getting outdoors’ so it's back to the Buffalo. beautiful scene on the Buffalo River      At a sharp curve with a heavy wood gate I park off the road being careful not to block the gate.   Going south beyond a second gate on my right are some ruins, first a concrete block foundation that isn’t very wide, hard to figure out what this might have been.   But just behind is a larger poured concrete foundation obviously once a house.   Then the road enters a big field where the roadway becomes a trail before vanishing ...