There's No Better Time To Take This Iconic Arkansas Trail Than In Fall
By Carol Ann Carson|Published October 25, 2018
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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.
The colors have finally made a dramatic change and the temperature has seemed to settle in the cooler-but-not-quite-freezing zone, which means it’s time to enjoy the full force of fall. Hopefully you’ve already planned a trip or two to the Buffalo National River since there’s no where better to enjoy the season. One particular adventure in the area is taking the Centerpoint Trail to the Big Bluff and Goat Trail. This collection of trails may not be the easiest but it’s overwhelmingly rewarding in fall. Today’s adventure is not recommended for small Arkansans but your family can enjoy this gorgeous campsite nearby or take one of these fall hikes instead.
There's no doubt that the Buffalo National River is one of the most beautiful places in Arkansas, especially in the fall.
The area has an endless list of trails, floats, and camping options but today we'll be focused on the Centerpoint Trail. To get to the Centerpoint Trailhead from Ponca you'll need to drive three miles north on Hwy. 43 to the Firetower Road junction. For a map of the trail, use this link.
The Centerpoint Trail takes hikers to the Goat Trail that leads to the top of the Big Bluff.
The top of Big Bluff is 550-ft. which makes it the tallest sheer bluff face found between the Rocky and Appalachian mountains. The trees you first spot near the bluff have been dated to over 800 years old by the National Park Service. Looking out to the Buffalo, it's easy to see what makes this spot so iconic.
The hike may be strenuous, but it'll well be worth the struggle.
After all, you'll be on top of the world at the Big Bluff.
We would love to see your fall photos of this hike in our Facebook Group, Arkansas Nature Lovers. You should join for your chance to be featured and to discover why there’s nothing better than Arkansas’ stunning nature.
Hiking is a wonderful way to enjoy fall but so is riding and driving.
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