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Coordinates: 35°56′45″N 93°23′54″W / 35.94596°N 93.39837°W / 35.94596; -93.39837
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{{Unreferenced|date=August 2007}}
{{Refimprove|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox trail
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| location = Arkansas, United States
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[[File:Buffalo River trail.jpg|right|upright|thumb|View from the trail looking down on the Buffalo]]{{Short description|Hiking and backpacking trail in Arkansas}}
The '''Buffalo River Trail''' is a [[hiking]] and [[backpacking (wilderness)|backpacking]] trail that follows the path of the [[Buffalo National River]] in [[Arkansas]]. It is consists of two separate sections that are referred to as the Western and Eastern sections. The Western Section is from Boxley Valley to Pruitt. The Eastern Section is under development with completed segments from Woolum Ford to Highway 65 bridge at Tyler Bend and South Maumee to Highway 14 (Dillard's Ferry). The Ozark Highlands Trail joins the Eastern Section of the Buffalo River Trail at Woolum Ford and so this section may be referred to as the Ozark Highlands/Buffalo River Trail.
The '''Buffalo River Trail''' is a [[hiking]] and [[backpacking (wilderness)|backpacking]] trail that follows the path of the [[Buffalo National River]] in [[Arkansas]]. It consists of two separate sections that are referred to as the Western and Eastern sections. The Western Section (upper river section) is from Boxley Valley to Pruitt. The Eastern Section (middle, lower river section) is from Woolum Ford to Highway 14 (Dillard's Ferry). The [[Ozark Highlands Trail]] joins the Eastern Section of the Buffalo River Trail at Woolum Ford so it is officially designated the Buffalo River/Ozark Highlands Trail.<ref name=BuffaloByFoot2007>{{cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Ken|title=Buffalo by foot|url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2007/oct/18/buffalo-foot/?print|website=Arkansas Online|accessdate=1 February 2016}}</ref>


==Course==
==Course==
The trail follows the path of the [[Buffalo National River]] in [[Arkansas]] and traverses the rugged Buffalo River country.
The trail follows the path of the [[Buffalo National River]] in [[Arkansas]] and traverses the rugged Buffalo River country. The route stays on the south side of the river to avoid river crossings.
<br />
<br />
'''Western Section'''
'''Western Section'''

<br />
*Mileage: 37 miles
*Mileage: 37 miles
*Trailheads: Boxley Valley (western terminus), [[Ponca]], Steel Creek, Kyles Landing, Erbie, [[Ozark]], and Pruitt(eastern terminus).
*Trailheads: Boxley Valley (western terminus), [[Ponca]], Steel Creek, Kyles Landing, Erbie, [[Ozark, Arkansas|Ozark]], and Pruitt (eastern terminus).
<br />
<br />
'''Eastern Section''' (under development)
'''Eastern Section''' Now open from Hwy. 65 to Hwy. 14. about 42.8 miles.
*This section is also extension of the Ozark Highlands Trail.
*This section is also an extension of the Ozark Highlands Trail and maintenance is by the Ozark Highlands Trail Association.
*Completed Segments:
*Segments:
**Woolum Ford (western terminus) to Tyler Bend. 15 miles
**Woolum Ford (western terminus) to Collier Homestead/Tyler Bend. 12.5 miles
**South Maumee to Highway 14/Dillard's Ferry (eastern terminus). 11 miles
**Collier Homestead to Grinders Ferry. 2 miles
**Grinder's Ferry to Zack Ridge Road. 6.6 miles.
⚫
**Trailheads: Woolum Ford, Tyler Bend (Highway 65 bridge), Grinder's Ferry, South Maumee, and Highway 14/Dillard's Ferry
**Zack Ridge Road to Red Bluff Road. 4.5 miles.
**Red Bluff Road to South Maumee Road. 6.2 miles
**South Maumee Road to Spring Creek Road. 5.1 miles
**Spring Creek Road to Highway 14/Dillard's Ferry (eastern terminus). 5.9 miles.
⚫
*Trailheads: Woolum Ford, Collier Homestead/Tyler Bend, Grinder's Ferry, Zack Ridge Rd., Red Bluff Rd., South Maumee, Spring Creed Rd, and Highway 14/Dillard's Ferry


==Development==
==Development==
The trail is being developed as a cooperative effort of the NPS and volunteers. Kenneth L. Smith is the trail building volunteer coordinator.
The trail is being developed as a cooperative effort of the NPS and volunteers. Kenneth L. Smith is the trail building volunteer coordinator.
Spring work season is mid-March through early April. Fall work season is mid-October to early November.
Spring work season is mid-March through early April. Fall work season is mid-October to early November.

===History===
In 1986 [[Kenneth L. Smith]] began his work as coordinator for development of the Buffalo River Trail.<ref>{{cite web|title=CELEBRATE THE BUFFALO….The challenge goes on. Highlights of the History of the Buffalo National River|url=http://www.celebratethebuffalo.com/bnr-history-timeline.html|website=Celebrate The Buffalo|accessdate=2 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103002631/http://www.celebratethebuffalo.com/bnr-history-timeline.html|archive-date=3 January 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The gap between the Western and Eastern Section is due to The Wilderness and Backcountry Management Plan released by the park service in 1994 which restricted development in areas designated as wilderness.<ref name="BuffaloByFoot2007" />

====Western Section====
Construction began on the Western Section in 1980 and by 1994 half of the 37 miles were completed.

====Eastern Section====
The Woolum Ford to Tyler Bend segment was completed in 1991 <ref name=BuffaloByFoot2007/> and the South Maumee to Hwy 14/Dillards Ferry segment was completed in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ernst|first1=Tim|title=Cloudland Journal Archives October 2010|url=http://www.timernst.com/JournalArchives/october2010journ.html|website=Tim Ernst|accessdate=5 February 2016}}</ref>
<br/>Ozark Highlands Trail Association volunteers built a 20&nbsp;ft. bridge across a gulley near the Grinder's Ferry trailhead in 2015.<ref name="CompulsiveHikerDec2015">{{cite web|last1=Reed|first1=Michael|title=Building a Bridge Beside the Buffalo - December 5, 2015|url=http://compulsivehiker.com/2015/12/05/building-a-bridge-on-the-buffalo/|website=Compulsive Hiker|accessdate=5 February 2016}}</ref>


==Features==
==Features==
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==Guidebooks==
==Guidebooks==
"Buffalo River Handbook" by Kenneth L. Smith, University of Arkansas Press.<br>
"Buffalo River Handbook" by [[Kenneth L. Smith]], University of Arkansas Press.<br>
"Buffalo River Trails" by Tim Ernst, Cloudland Publishing.
"Buffalo River Trails" by Tim Ernst, Cloudland Publishing.


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{{Coord|35.94596|-93.39837|format=dms|display=title|type:landmark_region:US-AR}}
{{Coord|35.94596|-93.39837|format=dms|display=title|type:landmark_region:US-AR}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
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[[Category:Hiking trails in Arkansas]]
[[Category:Hiking trails in Arkansas]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Newton County, Arkansas]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Newton County, Arkansas]]
[[Category:Buffalo National River]]


{{Arkansas-stub}}

Latest revision as of 10:52, 11 May 2024

Buffalo River Trail
LocationArkansas, United States
View from the trail looking down on the Buffalo

The Buffalo River Trail is a hiking and backpacking trail that follows the path of the Buffalo National River in Arkansas. It consists of two separate sections that are referred to as the Western and Eastern sections. The Western Section (upper river section) is from Boxley Valley to Pruitt. The Eastern Section (middle, lower river section) is from Woolum Ford to Highway 14 (Dillard's Ferry). The Ozark Highlands Trail joins the Eastern Section of the Buffalo River Trail at Woolum Ford so it is officially designated the Buffalo River/Ozark Highlands Trail.[1]

Course

[edit]

The trail follows the path of the Buffalo National River in Arkansas and traverses the rugged Buffalo River country. The route stays on the south side of the river to avoid river crossings.
Western Section

  • Mileage: 37 miles
  • Trailheads: Boxley Valley (western terminus), Ponca, Steel Creek, Kyles Landing, Erbie, Ozark, and Pruitt (eastern terminus).


Eastern Section Now open from Hwy. 65 to Hwy. 14. about 42.8 miles.

  • This section is also an extension of the Ozark Highlands Trail and maintenance is by the Ozark Highlands Trail Association.
  • Segments:
    • Woolum Ford (western terminus) to Collier Homestead/Tyler Bend. 12.5 miles
    • Collier Homestead to Grinders Ferry. 2 miles
    • Grinder's Ferry to Zack Ridge Road. 6.6 miles.
    • Zack Ridge Road to Red Bluff Road. 4.5 miles.
    • Red Bluff Road to South Maumee Road. 6.2 miles
    • South Maumee Road to Spring Creek Road. 5.1 miles
    • Spring Creek Road to Highway 14/Dillard's Ferry (eastern terminus). 5.9 miles.
  • Trailheads: Woolum Ford, Collier Homestead/Tyler Bend, Grinder's Ferry, Zack Ridge Rd., Red Bluff Rd., South Maumee, Spring Creed Rd, and Highway 14/Dillard's Ferry

Development

[edit]

The trail is being developed as a cooperative effort of the NPS and volunteers. Kenneth L. Smith is the trail building volunteer coordinator. Spring work season is mid-March through early April. Fall work season is mid-October to early November.

History

[edit]

In 1986 Kenneth L. Smith began his work as coordinator for development of the Buffalo River Trail.[2]

The gap between the Western and Eastern Section is due to The Wilderness and Backcountry Management Plan released by the park service in 1994 which restricted development in areas designated as wilderness.[1]

Western Section

[edit]

Construction began on the Western Section in 1980 and by 1994 half of the 37 miles were completed.

Eastern Section

[edit]

The Woolum Ford to Tyler Bend segment was completed in 1991 [1] and the South Maumee to Hwy 14/Dillards Ferry segment was completed in 2010.[3]
Ozark Highlands Trail Association volunteers built a 20 ft. bridge across a gulley near the Grinder's Ferry trailhead in 2015.[4]

Features

[edit]

Sites on the trail include expansive views from atop bluff cliffs, abandoned homestead sites, vestiges of Civil War-era mining and logging activities and a wide variety of Ozark flora and fauna.

Guidebooks

[edit]

"Buffalo River Handbook" by Kenneth L. Smith, University of Arkansas Press.
"Buffalo River Trails" by Tim Ernst, Cloudland Publishing.

Access

[edit]

The Buffalo Outdoor Center in Ponca, AR offers a vehicle shuttle service for point-to-point hikers.

35°56′45″N 93°23′54″W / 35.94596°N 93.39837°W / 35.94596; -93.39837

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Smith, Ken. "Buffalo by foot". Arkansas Online. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  2. ^ "CELEBRATE THE BUFFALO….The challenge goes on. Highlights of the History of the Buffalo National River". Celebrate The Buffalo. Archived from the original on 3 January 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  3. ^ Ernst, Tim. "Cloudland Journal Archives October 2010". Tim Ernst. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  4. ^ Reed, Michael. "Building a Bridge Beside the Buffalo - December 5, 2015". Compulsive Hiker. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
[edit]
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