Outdoor Adventures in the Ozarks

         As summer approaches the possibility of a ‘comfortable enjoyable’ hike becomes pretty rare, hiking in Arkansas in the summer can be downright ‘miserable’.   Last year I went on a couple late spring hikes (see: 175 MCA Camp Trail , and 176 SH Morris Spring ) , on both these I left the house early, didn’t drive far and kept the hike short.   That ‘recipe’ worked well, getting a short outdoor adventure in, then returning home before the heat of the day. pastoral scene south of Acorn Lane Today I’m hoping for more of the same, and I return to Slippery Hollow for my fifth visit to this 1450 acre property of the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission.   Today I park under the powerlines near the south boundary to the main unit of the natural area, next to a gate where I begin hiking north on an old road.   This road follows the ridge which goes about 1.5 miles to a point overlooking the confluence of Booker Hollow with Big Music Creek alm...

  March was unusually dry this year, April and May have more than made up for it, and today we find ourselves under yet another flash flood warning.   What’s challenging is finding days cool and dry enough to get in a few more hikes before summer sets in.   Today our high is supposed to only reach the upper 70’s with a good chance of rain beginning just after sunset, so I get out early and hope for the best. 'Turtle Bay' on the beautiful Buffalo I’m going to try sticking  to the ‘trail’ hoping to avoid the ticks which are out in abundance this year, apparently thanks to all the rain.   I’ve plotted out a nice loop hike on the Buffalo River and Old River Trails, just east of Erbie Campground.   Much of this route we have hiked before, at least the BRT portion, (see: 51 Erbie to Adair ) but this area on the Old River Trail will all be new to me. Erbie Landing on the BRT Spur near trailhead Pulling into Erbie Campground, I head east toward the canoe launch...

      After my recent hike from Jackson Ridge Trailhead on top of Ludlow Bluff (see: 198 Silver Mystic ) deep into the Duck Head , I was studying the map looking for a possible way to hike down to the base of Ludlow Bluff on the Buffalo at the narrow ‘neck’ of the Duck’s Head (aka: beginning of Seven Mile Bend).   Finding a ‘possibility’ named ‘Toney Road’ (MC 6043), today I have decided to check it out.   After all, you never know until you go . a pedestal on Ludlow Bluff      The gravel road is in great shape to my ‘chosen’ starting location with a cable gate across what appears to be a driveway.   I park here careful not to block the gate, just north of the gate a man is loading round bales of hay into the barn.   On my map this gate is right on the boundary of Buffalo Nat. River, so I ask if it’s okay to park here.   He explains, ‘the park service is in and out all the time and the house is occasionally rented to college g...