The Remote Hike To Buckeye Mountain In Arkansas Winds Through The Wilderness And Past A Waterfall
By Carol Ann Carson|Published March 26, 2020
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Carol Ann Carson
Author
Arkansas native, Carol Ann Carson, has written for OnlyInYourState for three years now. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. The graduate of University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Carol Ann earned her B.A. in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. in Library Science. She loves exploring the trails around the Buffalo National River and has yet to find a waterfall that wasn't her favorite.
If you’re needing a bit more elbow room than what’s available at the state parks, try this remote trail instead. Buckeye Mountain is a stunning backpacking trek that has plenty of gorgeous features, including a waterfall! Let’s escape to the wildness and explore this wild trail.
So you've hiked around your nearby state parks and other favorites like Glory Hole Falls and Hawksbill Crag. If you're still in search of some seclusion, you may find it atop Buckeye Mountain.
For some proper quiet time and nature reconnection, head to southeast Mena. The Caney Creek Wilderness is filled with stunning adventures that are rather underrated.
The trail from Buckeye to Caney Creek is long, but such a rewarding trek.
We do not recommend this hike for families or novice hikers. However, seasoned trail travelers should add this one to their list. The out-and-back is a little over 11 miles long but has connecting trails if you'd rather change it to a loop. The map of the former can be found here and the latter right here.
You can shorten the path if you're wanting a quicker out-and-back break instead of a full overnight adventure. Head out about 2.5 miles to reach the first of the vistas then return down the mountain.
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There's so much to see along this winding path you won't know what to expect next!
Besides the ridiculously serene Ouachita forest covering the mountain, the trail also has tons of interesting rock formations. These are especially photo-worthy along the ridge line further up the trail.
Buckeye to Caney Creek takes about six hours total so be sure to take advantage of the pit stops along the way. These are pack-in-pack-out primitive campsites and as always leave no trace.
However long you decide to spend on the mountain, Buckeye will treat you to numerous features and endless views.
Be sure to research this trail further before taking your first step and don't forget your GPS!
We would love to hear about your Buckeye adventures in the comments below! Don’t forget to add your photos to our Facebook group, Arkansas Nature Lovers.
If you’d like to stay remote but skip the backpacking, head to this nearby spring instead. It’s quite the secluded oasis! For more adventures, here is a list of breath-taking waterfalls in Arkansas.
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