This looks like a great hike to do, but Im really not great with heights so Im not sure how Id feel about some of the narrow ledges and paths. This trail will take you all the way to Hemmed-in-Hollow Falls if you want to lump those two sites into one day.TRAILHEAD LOCATION: The hike to Big Bluff starts at the Centerpoint Trailhead which is located near Possum Trot right off of Highway 43.TRAIL DIFFICULTY: This trail is decently steep and once you get to Big Bluff it becomes just a narrow, rocky ledge. Thanks for the great guide. I would love to get to Arkansas . We entered at Center Point trail. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Cookie Policy, 2021 Adventures of A+K. Sharing our experiences in the wilderness and what we learn along the way. It is considered the tallest along the Buffalo at over 500 ft. tall. From the very start of the Goat Bluff section though had AMAZING views and was so much fun. Beautiful weather and scenery! event : evt, Had we visited a week or two sooner, we can only imagine how even more gorgeous it wouldve been! If you stay the night, be very careful when moving along . We absolutely loved it! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Note: this guide contains affiliate links, which means that if you use the links provided and make a purchase, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Its an out and back hike, so you will return the same way as you came.One important thing we wanted to mention about this trail is its name. Name, age Date Location, comments Jesse Sky Bergman, 9: May 16, 1988: Stalked and killed by a four-year-old male cougar at Catface Mountain in British Columbia near Tofino. I love hiking the view is always worth the trek! Wearing layers helps regulate your body temperature when hiking to keep your body warm or cool, depending on the weather. Its very steep, and very dangerous. Although there are several ways to reach Goat Trail, which follows along the edge of Big Bluff, Centerpoint Trail is arguably the most popular route. We skipped the falls so that we would have some daylight to set up camp. Walking along the bluff is a fun and more unique hiking experience and the views of the river as it winds through the area are hard to beat! J.B. Weisenfels has lived in rural Arkansas for three decades. Since the return hike is all uphill, youll definitely want some water, especially if you hike on a hot, sunny day! Maumelle Campground. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, there are compelling reasons to add , When confronted with a patch of edible mushrooms in the woods, especially rare and delicious ones, we are often overcome , A couple of weekends ago, Eric and I, accompanied by friends John and Sammy, drove four hours southeast to explore . You'll receive your first newsletter soon! I have never been big into hiking but the more I see these photos, the more I want to get out there and do it full on. Techno-Tainment Combo in Branson, Dublin's Irish Tenors and The Celtic Ladies, Great Woodsman Zipline Canopy Tour Branson. You come to a Y in the trail and the campground sits in the middle of the Y. It was an awesome experience. There are several connector routes to different hiking trails in the Buffalo River Valley, making it a very easy place to spend a lot of time outdoors. Please do go and enjoy the view. Matt took this photo and thats me walking along the narrow trail. She loves sharing her adventures both big & small. (function() { Thanks so much for reading! Its almost time to hit the Goat Trail to Big Bluff, but before you go, here are a few more things to be aware of, including some rules, parking info, and more! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience on our website. OK, lets talk about the ledge trail (or Goat Trail) on Big Bluff for a moment. Service animals permitted. Super tight view all the same. The views are definitely worth the hike. We left our little hikers at home for this one as its definitely more of a challenge and a bit treacherous at spots. There are a few names for hiking to this specific viewpoint in Buffalo National River. Find more places to camp along the Arkansas Buffalo River (Upper District) here. OK, avoiding these spots is not a good idea. Wed suggest starting the hike early so you can enjoy the bluff without a lot of people, which will make it feel safer and more enjoyable.Although, we will agree, if you do not like heights, you may not love Big Bluff. Hotels near Fort Smith Municipal Airport (FSM), Motels near Fort Smith Municipal Airport (FSM), Things to do near Big Bluff & The Goat Trail, Wilderness Rider Buffalo Ranch & Adventure Park, Budapest Small-Group Day Trip from Vienna, Half Day Zanzibar Mnemba Atoll Marine Reserve Snorkeling Tour, Small-Group Dallas and Fort Worth City Sightseeing Tour, Venice City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Tour, 3 Days Desert Tour from Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga, Make Your Own Pizza in Rome - Pizza Making with a local Chef, Amber Cove & Taino Bay Shore Excursion, Private Charter on Blue Sky Catamaran, *NEW* BUFFALO RIVER VALLEY VIEWS-5MIN FROM PONCA! While youre in the area, there are other great hikes. We only recommend products we truly love, actually use during our adventures, and think you can benefit from too! Centerpoint Trail continues straight here if by chance you are uninterested in the view from the cliff. . , Fungi are amazing. living on the road in ourself-converted sprinter van! After getting b, Our beautiful home in Mrida! Although there is a perspective from the far eastern side of the Goat Trail (behind where the hiker in the photograph is walking) that is better suited for morning photography as its a west-facing shot. You can do it! Bicycles are permitted only on authorized trails: Creamery Meadow and Ridge trails. Based on reviews, I was nervous about the height and narrowness of the bluffs and the hike on the way out. Love Arkansas? The later inthe year you get, the lower the Buffalo River gets. We heard that the trail is very popular and can get busy, so we wanted to experience it on a weekday and arrived early to hopefully avoid crowds.After parking and waiting a bit for it to get lighter out, we hit the trail! The Happiness Function, LLC 2023. Hi Beverley thanks for reading and commenting. Bring bug spray! forms: { From that entry point most of the trail is . We will definitely be adding more hikes in the Ponca Wilderness Area to our bucket list, such as a trek to the famous Hemmed in Hollow waterfall. Pin this hiking guide to help plan your adventure! Only reason for the 4 stars is the return was all uphill the whole way and that snow and ice on the trail was much more an issue. This is not a place for folks with vertigo or a dislike of heights. Hiking the Big Bluff Goat Trail from the Centerpoint Trailhead is about a 6 mile hike. Steel Creek Campground is managed by the National Park Service. Looking for a good home base to explore the Buffalo National River and hike the Goat Trail to Big Bluff? I think this is my favorite Big Bluff photo because it really shows just how big thisbluff is. Finally I found two people who were riding a horse and were heading towards the place and I followed them. With breathtaking views of the river, mountains, and bluff at the end, it combines so many of the things that make the Buffalo National River special! You can take a look at the map below before heading out. A rugged, strenuous hike through the Ponca Wilderness to one of Buffalo National River's most expansive vistas. This is where the trail corridor opens up into a large, rounded flat area with a fire ring that directionally is at about one oclock on your right. Great views after the two mile mark though! The trail map claims 3 miles to the start of Big Bluff from the Center-point Trail Head. Published by on October 31, 2021. It is not advisable to bring children, liquor, or reckless behavior on this hike. Next time we'll go earlier in the year. Thankfully, between working on an eastern time schedule and both of us being fairly fast hikers, we've been able to get in some solid trail time after work. Inside them are nice spots for some shade. Big Bluff & The Goat Trail (Compton) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. })(); The Happiness Function is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs, which are affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and other affiliate sites. My husband and I hiked the Compton trail down and then took the old river trail and came out at Centerpoint. After about 10 minutes or so, youll reach a cool rocky outcropping that has a hole in it. It gets its name from the feral descendants of domesticated goats (brought here by pioneers) who either escaped captivity or were turned loose in the wilderness and eventually became wild. Great photos! Just a few other people. Lots of unsuspecting swimmers have been washed away. It is open year-round. The ledge trail to the big bluff, called Goat Trail, is not maintained by the National Park Service. From here it is a rough trail that continues down the ridgeline to intersect the Old River Trail. Thank you! Parking lot is at a crossroads and the trail is clearly marked. This is the main Centerpoint Trail. The Centerpoint Trail leads into the rugged Ponca Wilderness of Buffalo National River. 90 minute drive got us to the Centerpoint trailhead. In and out down-sloping gravel trail that could pose a challenge to some hiking back out. highly encourage everyone to see this. From the trailhead 3 miles north of Ponca, AR, it's about a 6 mile hike and about 900 feet down to the Goat Trail and is one of Arkansas' must see locations.. The Centerpoint to Goat Trail is one of the most popular trails in Buffalo National River. The Springtime Jonquil Festival In Arkansas Thats Unlike Any Other, Spend A Magical Evening Savoring This Wine And Fondue Experience In Arkansas, Arkansas Oldest Drive-In Theater Is Hiding In A Small Town And Youll Want To Visit, Dine At The Historic Spot In Arkansas Where The Legendary Gangster Al Capone Drank Whiskey, Here Are The 6 Biggest Risks Living In The State Of Arkansas, This Recent Arkansas Phenomenon Is Shrouded In Mystery And Baffling Geologists, 10 Terrifying Things In Arkansas That Can (And Just Might) Kill You, This Waterfall Swimming Hole In Arkansas Is Perfect For A Summer Day. It is one of our absolute favorite hikes in the Ozarks (along with hiking the Whitaker Point Trail). We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location. The mountains that surround the area are also very beautiful! Come along for the hike as we climb to the top of Arkansas' famous "Goat Trail". Big Bluff is absolutely a trail that should not be missed. (Recommended) It's quite a hike from the Camp Grounds but doable. Big Bluff is part of the Buffalo River Trail, so don't think the trail will simply end. Ponca, AR 72670, 1 (870) 861-5514 Now going back to your car is an uphill incline. The Centerpoint Trail is mostly a forested walk, with the occasional view through the trees of the surrounding area at the beginning. Nice trail. To get to the Goat Trail, start the hike from Centerpoint Trailhead. Same song, different spillway. The spur trails connect the Centerpoint trail with the Chimney Rock Trail, Sneeds Creek Trail, Big Bluff Trail, Compton Loop Trail, and Hemmed-in Hollow Trail. big bluff goat trail deaths. There are no permits required or day-use fees. Round trip 6.5 miles is a good morning hike, and I like the option to add on. Technically this route is the Centerpoint Trail to the Goat Trail to Big Bluff, but we have seen it called the Big Bluff Trail, Goat Trail, Centerpoint to Goat Trail, and other names, which made it a bit confusing to understand if they were the same or not.In this guide well call it the Goat Trail to Big Bluff to keep things shorter, but we wanted to mention its various name combinations so youre not confused. If youre hiking in the Ponca area, you might enjoy checking out these other hiking trails: Check back soon for new articles about hiking in the Buffalo National River, Ponca Wilderness, Ozark National Forest, and Northwest Arkansas! Will definitely hike it again. Every year residents of Northwest Arkansas and the river valley hear about Beaver Lake tragedies on the local news. In this guide were sharing everything you need to know before hiking the Goat Trail to Big Bluff in the Buffalo National River, including trail stats, what to bring, and more!Despite living in Texas for the majority of our lives, we never visited Arkansas and boy, were we missing out! There is a dedicated parking lot for the hike which has room for probably about 15 cars. a snack to enjoy at the end of the trail. This is a video and some pictures of Big Bluff/Goats trail/bluff in Arkansas. Goat trail is on the right and it had no marking. Good grief, dont try to jump off a cliff into the river. Your email address will not be published. Very muddy but the views at the end are worth it! Ive visited Big Bluff multiple times now. I have an 8 year old thats an experienced hiker that I will bring back. Simply enter your email to get adventures from across the world, inspiration + conversations about all things travel delivered right to your inbox!