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.. on: function(evt, cb) { Those views are incredible and definitely (I would assume) worth the hike! Enjoy the lake, folks, but be careful. Many reviews have said that the hike is dangerous and can be scary if youre afraid of heights.We didnt think the hike was dangerous, as long as youre careful. Ive visited Big Bluff multiple times now. Learn how your comment data is processed. Check out our blog for more close by . And now back to the bluff There are a few caves where thebluff overhangs. What attractions are near Big Bluff & The Goat Trail? Weve been in the spring, summer and fall. (Recommended). Description : The first two miles of this Ozarks trail meanders through deep Ozarks forest and leads to the Big Bluff that is over 500 feet tall. 2015 - Solo Pine. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. 43 from the Fire Tower Road intersection. Spring is my favorite time of year to go anywhere in the Ozarks for multiple reasons. Luckily, we started early, but definitely be cautious of the heat + humidity that hits the Ozarks in the summer. Some of these trees have been dated to over 800 years old by the National Park Service, so take a few moments to pause and wonder at these tenacious, gnarled sentinels as they watch over the bluff and the river. As for photography, weve found the best time to capture Big Bluff is in the afternoon once the sun has moved into mid-afternoon position, say 3:00 PM or so. The ledge trail to the big bluff, called Goat Trail, is not maintained by the National Park Service. This 1 2/3-mile hike offers a twist on the Bluff Trail, going along and just above the coast of Montaa de Oro State Park. This section of the hike follows a narrow path along the edge of Big Bluff, with a very steep and long drop-off to the Buffalo River below. The round trip was about 6 miles ( some easy, some over and around rocks and boulders and some only a couple feet wide between the cliff wall and a couple hundred feet drop off the edge). Difficulty : Moderate to Strenuous. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. The trail map claims 3 miles to the start of Big Bluff from the Center-point Trail Head. Check out our channel to get outdoor adventure inspiration!
The Suitcase Agent - Center Point / Big Bluff Goat Trail But please dont lean over and topple onto the ground below. The view is spectacular and I did not find it as dangerous as the web says. The Buffalo National River is home to a few more traditional campgrounds. There are no permits required or day-use fees. The Buffalo National River is located in Northern Arkansas, right by the Ozark National Forest.The area is most famous for the river, which winds 135 miles through the area, and is one of the few remaining undammed rivers in the lower 48, as well as the first designated National River in the United States. It was an awesome experience. Although you are way above the river on the bluffs, I felt like the bluffs were wide enough to feel safe and it was not slippery at all. A rugged, strenuous hike through the Ponca Wilderness to one of Buffalo National River's most expansive vistas. 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. Absolutely incredible views but the return hike is challenging. Not super wet until you hit the couple of runoff areas. The spur trail (Goat Trail) to Big Bluff is off to the right of the fire ring. If you have more time to spend in this region, here are some ideas of things to do before or after your hike. YouTube, Travel Guides, Gear, & FAQs. Big Bluff Trail leads out about a tenth of a mile before coming out on the face of Big Bluff. I love hiking and exploring new trails. The Buffalo National River is a designated International Dark Sky Park, recognizing and protecting its exceptionally dark and starry skies. Website built with love byDreamworthy Design. A lot of parking at trailhead and it was muddy when I went but over all was good (12/18/2022). We'll be sharing monthly travel tips and our favorite places to help you plan the best road trips, hiking, and camping! This was one of my top five hikes ever!! When we set out in the morning, there was rain in the forecast. (Recommended) It's quite a hike from the Camp Grounds but doable. Hi Alex yes, it is definitely a bucket list hike!
Hiking the CentePoint to Goat Trail to Big Bluff (Arkansas) The trail is virtually all downhill on the way to the Bluff and Goat Trail. It takes 4 to 5 hours to complete the round-trip hike, most of which is along the Centerpoint Trail, the trailhead for which is located 3 miles north of Ponca on Hwy 43. This crazy formation is inside one of the overhangs. In and out down-sloping gravel trail that could pose a challenge to some hiking back out. Hi Marianne thanks for reading and leaving a comment. The Goat Trail and Big Bluff. Were Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) 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. These cabins range in size and cost, but feature kitchens and amenities to make you feel right at home! You can do it! You most likely wont see any while youre there, but they do roam somewhere out there!Once getting onto the Goat Trail, the scenery starts to get more interesting. 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. Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information. However, the Buffalo National River is just one of the many things to see and do in this area. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Cookie Policy, 2021 Adventures of A+K. You dont have to walk the last section of the trail to see the great views. If you were to visit her, she'd try to feed you cornbread. On a journey to Alaska in @brisketthevan Every year residents of Northwest Arkansas and the river valley hear about Beaver Lake tragedies on the local news. She loves sharing her adventures both big & small. My wife and I drove down from Springfield Mo after friends told us how great this hike was. The gravel parking area at Centerpoint Trailhead can accommodate 20-25 vehicles. : Jake Thomas Gardipee, 5 6.5 mile roundtrip and gorgeous views this looks like my kinda hike hehe. Good grief, dont try to jump off a cliff into the river. So the return trip was pretty tiring. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Haha we love you! Relatively easy hike for this 6 mile round trip trek. You'll need to leave pups at home dogs aren't allowed on this trail. The region is so beautiful and feels remote and untouched, with lots of windy backroads, open land, and small towns full of local establishments.As we hiked and drove around the area, we were kicking ourselves for not visiting it sooner. Before you read any further, we wanted to clear up the trails name. We are so happy Arkansas / Campgrounds. I searched the Big Bluff Goat Trail in Google and it took me to a place where many people were bathing in the river but zero signs of a hike. Are you looking for an incredible hike with epic views and relatively minimal scrambling in the Ozarks? })(); 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. Hiked on February 6 2023. How to Hike Centerpoint to Big Bluff (Goat Trail) in Arkansas, Plan a Weekend Getaway to Mount Magazine State Park- the, 5 Best Places to Camp Along the Arkansas Buffalo River, How to Reach Hawksbill Crag Hiking the Whitaker Point Trail. This 5-mile out and back hike ventures up a coastal canyon at the south end of Montaa de Oro State Park. 8 am 5 pm | Nov Feb. Buffalo Outdoor Center is authorized to provide canoe rentals and transportation services within the Buffalo National River. Again, avoid is a strong word. We arrived at the Centerpoint Trailhead bright and early on a Monday morning in November. On paper it might seem that way, but in action it's just a gorgeous adventure you have to be a bit more careful at parts. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. There is little to no cellphone reception in the area except at the top of the hill near the trailhead. We had our hearts set on the well-known Centerpoint to Goat Trail, a 5.9 mile out and back trail whose destination is a famously breathtaking view of the Buffalo River. Shortly after our arrival at Big Bluff, it became quite clear that a storm was rolling in, and fast. Never been to Arkansas but would love to visit this trail. Even if you dont make it to the narrow ledge this is still a super spectacular view! The best! It is considered the tallest along the Buffalo at over 500 ft. tall.
Goat Bluff Trail | Map, Guide - Arkansas | AllTrails Big Bluff & The Goat Trail - Tripadvisor (Sa. Its a downhill trek until you get to the Goat Trail, but it never felt super steep. Cant wait to start travelling around the US again! All Rights Reserved. On the way back, the hike is all uphill, which makes it a bit harder, but minus a couple pretty steep sections, which had us huffing and puffing a bit, its not too difficult. Hiking the Big Bluff Goat Trail from the Centerpoint Trailhead is about a 6 mile hike. Big Bluff is part of the Buffalo River Trail, so don't think the trail will simply end. From Boxley, Arkansas (the junction of Highways 21 & 43 in Buffalo National River), travel north on Highway 43 to Ponca, Arkansas. 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. Buzzards frequent this area and youllfind feathersalong the trail. ); Thats the downside of being from a tropical country haha.. never getting to see changes of season at home. The differences between your fall and summer pics are so stunning! And for goodness sake, please dont drink and boat. Categories . If camping during the winter, there are vault toilets. The weather is cooler, there are little to no bugs, and the area is quieter.