Outdoor Adventures in the Ozarks

     Today the goal is to hike to Richland Falls.  Should be simple enough, right?  I have wanted to see this waterfall for many years.  Although it’s going to be pretty warm and humid, finally today’s the day, one simple goal; go see Richland Falls.  O nce again Richland Campground is closed, the sign on the gate blames COVID19 and goes on to say, ‘dispersed camping in the National Forest is allowed’ and ‘all trails remain open’.   Once again, we park near the gate next to the blackberries. Falling Water Creek near the crossing      We hike down the campground road then past the second gate and down through the lower campground to the bulletin board which is the trailhead.  From here we enter the Falling Water floodplain of round river rock and come to the banks of Falling Water Creek. early summer jungle      We came prepared for this crossing, removing the zip-off legs of our quick dry hiking pants a...

    Today we’re going to hike another little section of the Buffalo River Trail, but instead of an ‘in and out’ type hike I have devised sort of a loop.  Actually, two small loops that meet in the middle right at the Parker-Hickman parking area, which together form a lopsided figure-eight.  So almost half of the ‘Parker-Hickman Eight’ isn’t on the BRT.  We’ll begin our hike at the parking area for  Parker-Hickman Homestead . Parker-Hickman Farm      At the back of the parking lot is the Parker-Hickman BRT Trailhead, heading south along Webb Branch the trail soon joins a road.   A hundred yards further we cross Webb Branch, still on the road.   The trail then leaves the road and continues up a little side creek.   Where we left the road there was a sign that said,  ‘Discovery Site’ with an arrow pointing up the road. more out-buildings from parking area      I have read about these ‘discovery...

     It’s pretty warm to go hiking today but we want to get out anyway, I don’t know how much hiking we’ll do though.  I chose the Richland Creek area mainly because I have been wanting to hike to Richland Falls and we’re just waiting for the flow in Falling Water Creek to subside enough for crossing.  We’ll check that out today, among other things. mouth of Richland Creek at Woolum      Arriving at the Richland Campground we find the heavy wood gate locked, again.  With a sign on the gate stating, 'campgrounds of the Ozark National Forest are closed due to COVID19 restrictions'.  Not surprised, the gate was locked back at the end of April when we hiked into Wild River.  We park here, near the gate but off the road, next to a wild blackberry bramble. Richland Creek at lower campground      We walk around the gate into the campground, the ‘closure’ isn’t such a bad thing we decide since it gives us an opportunity ...

     Here it is the end of May and we’re still squeezing in a hike now and then.  Spring got off to an early and wet start, but this month has been mostly dry and mild, so we won’t complain.  Our plan today is to drive to Woolum, wade across the Buffalo River and hike to the Narrows and Skull Bluff.  We arrive at Woolum with no problem, but the river is much higher than we anticipated. near 'The Barns'      A canoe outfitter at Woolum Landing is doing a brisk business and asks if we would like to ‘go for a float’.  I explain that we were hoping to cross the river and hike down to the ‘Nars’.  He advises against trying to wade the river, tells us it’s at least five feet deep with a strong current.   We drive east through the large field with Woolum Campground on our right along the river. a great day to be out in the woods      We check out the campground at about half full has two vault toilets spr...