Easily accessible hiking along Arkansas Rivers is a no-cost way to introduce the youngest and oldest family members to the beauty of the Ozark Mountains.
The best day a child or adult might remember on the Buffalo National River could be the one he or she spends during an Arkansas walk in the woods. Whether its spring, summer, fall, or winter, the trails along the Upper Buffalo are absolutely perfect for hiking.
Gorgeous vistas and waterfalls are plentiful and are all ready to be enjoyed and photographed. Spring is a wonderful time of year to be in the woods while the skies are crystal clear and the leaves are gone, creating exciting vistas for as far as one can see. While the upper Buffalo Region is one of the best places to see the area, please remember that January, February, and March weather can be very unforgiving, so just plan ahead.
Here are two short, child-friendly hikes that I like around Harrison, Arkansas. You can do them on foot, in a stroller, or even in wheelchair, guaranteeing an adventure for everyone in the family.
Hike 1: Easy trail from Lost River to Cobb Cave
Shorter daytime trails begin at Lost Valley and the Cedar Grove Picnic Area, a short drive from Scenic Highway 7 down the Erbie Road.
Located just off Arkansas Highway 43 between Ponca and Boxley, Lost Valley was once an Arkansas State Park which was deeded over to the National Park Service shortly after the river was designated America’s first national river in 1972 and turned over to the federal government. The trail is 2.3 miles round trip. This out and back trail begins at the campground where picnic and restroom facilities are available and progresses slightly uphill following Clark Creek on the right.
The first part of the hike is on a wide, mostly open stretch. When you get to the .7 mile mark, the trail will split. Take the right turn and continue on.
Further up the trail you will see what is typically called the “Jigsaw Blocks”, which is a series of boulders that look as if they fell from the bluff behind them. Continue on up the trail, taking the next two right forks until you get to a tall bluff and the entrance to Cobb Cave (approximately 1 mile). This is one of those unforgettable views along the trail. At the end of this stop is Eden Falls, another of the great viewing places along the way. Take a minute to rest here, before heading back down. Remember to take the right forks as you return to the campground.
If you wish to be very adventurous you can continue on the trail to Cobb Cave. Make sure you remember to bring your flashlight with you. The cave is a tight squeeze for approximately 200 feet ending in a large room with a 35-foot-tall waterfall. The entrance to the cave can be tricky as the water from the falls exits. Cobb Cave is neat to explore but again be cautious with taking children into the cave.
This trail is rated easy and great for children of all ages. It is both handicap and stroller accessible for part of the way. Dogs are not allowed on the trail.
Hike #2: Cedar Grove to South Pond and Back, with Buffalo River Views
The Ponds Loop Trail (.4 miles) starts just across the road from the Cedar Grove Picnic area offering a nice view of the river below. The loop trail begins there (across the road). Off to the left is a hard packed gravel part of the trail that is accessible for both strollers and wheelchairs. Within a short distance, you will come to a nice observation deck overlooking the South Pond. From there the trail narrows (not accessible for either children’s strollers or wheelchairs) and heads up into the woods. Turn right when you get to the North Pond and hike back to the parking lot. Incidentally, the 33-mile Buffalo River Trail passes through the picnic area. Both ponds are clear and full of floral and other aquatic plants and animals.
These two short hikes are not designed specifically for young hikers and offer features suitable for others as well. However, they are excellent when introducing young people to the outdoors.
For additional information on the above mentioned trails, other trails along the Buffalo National River, and local places to stay, visit the Harrison Convention and Visitors Bureau site or call them at 870/741-1789.
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hope you all like it!
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I was the same way. I had my Bat Mitzvah on top of Masadah and was complaining of the heat. I didn't truly recognize what an amazing place I was in. I was fortunate enough to return last summer and had the time of my life. I look forward to seeing your post for when you get to return. I wish you all the best!
one of my all time favorite vacations.
This was one of the best trips I have ever been on.
I am ecstatic that I was able to participate in learning my heritage, history, and my parents past.
My trip to Africa was really an extraordinary experience, and I fell in love with the country Nigeria. I am so happy that my father allowed me to see my heritage and my family.
Truly humbling
I hope you enjoy learning about my experiences in Paris, France!
Thank you so much for this information. Multi-generational travel is an area that I am interested in, but it is not easy to navigate various ages, levels of mobility and interests. These tips are super useful!
This was seriously such a life-changing trip for me. I got to see a whole other way that people live life. It really opened my eyes and made me EVEN MORE eager to learn German and to adopt a more frugal lifestyle.
My experience with traveling to a foreign nation, in the form of a blog.
Going on that trip was the best thing I have done in my life. I learned so much, and experienced many different things, such as food, culture, and people. It was a great opportunity for me, and I highly advise others to travel as well. You will not be disappointed.
I recommend this or a similar trip for any future paleontologists. I have since been to the Field Museum in Chicago and the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and am pleased to have visited all the major paleontological museums in North America.
I hope you have fun on your trips, too!
This is my submission to the young travel writer scholarship
My trip to South Africa transformed my life. I grew closer to my best friend, as well as experience a culture very different from my own. As a result, my knowledge of the world has grown.
I quite enjoy I can feel the passion.
I hope you enjoy the lessons i learned over seas in Spain! I know I will take them with me as I move forward in life. Thank you for reading!
-Rebecca Krivitsky
enjoy my story, i pray it will reveal a new cultural avenue while still providing a humorous tale
This trip was truly life changing. It was the first time I realized that there is a whole other world outside the United States!
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Thanks and support
Here is the website documenting my trip: http://madisongoestonewyork.blog.com/
My time in El Salvador changed my life. It is my dream that one day I will be able to return there. I can honestly tell you that my love for the people in El Salvador has remained with me. And I hope the best for that nation.
The summer of my sophmore year in high school I spent a week in El Salvador. This one week changed my life. As I volunteered in El Salvador I gained an amazing view of different cultures and life styles. I developed a love for El Salvador and its people. And my memories there will remain with me through out my life. It is my dream that one day I will be able to return their and give more of my time to those amazing people.
My freshman year of high school I spent a week of my summer in El Salvador. It was a remarkable week that literally changed my outlook on life. I have a huge heart for the people of El Salvador and the country itself. It is my dream that one day I will be able to go back.
My amazing trip
It was definitely a trip to remember that I'd do any day! 🙂
A trip to remember that I'd do again any day
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I enjoy traviling with my family and creating new memories.
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Thank you for reading my essay.
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Thank you for taking the time to read my essay I really appreciate it.
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This trip was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. From the Great Wall to the hospitals of Beijing, I learned so much about myself and other cultures.
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Reading this story has been a stroll down memory lane. I stayed at the Diplomat as a little girl in the 1970's, and still remember how impressed I was with it. So glad to hear that the resort has bounced back to its original glory.
I am very glad to know that Disney Cruise Line is taking health so seriously, yet making cleanliness palatable for kids. These suggestions are also great for air travel, another germy breeding ground. Thanks for the info!
My family loves Cancun, and we have had good stays at the Oasis and the Sol Melia and the Sheraton too. Nice to see a new list of recommendations from you. Thanks
This is a really fun outing, but if you can't get out to the countryside, just visit one of those urban tree sellers. A lot of them in the northeast are staffed by college kids from Canada, who take a break, get into a rental trailer and drive it south, then re-sell trees they have bought on consignment to pay for the next semester.
I always ask (nicely) and I always get (with a smile), the extra boughs that they take off to make the trees look even all around. With some ribbon, maybe the wire from a coat hanger and lots of creativity, it's easy to get the kids helping you turn old boughts into beautiful wreaths for around the house.
Love the photos in this article!
Thanks for having this contest; my family loves Snowmass and it would be great to go back there. We took our son when he was about 7 and it was a great learning adventure for all of us. The instructors are terrific and we had fun, but it's not something we could afford to do right now.
Thanks for giving us another chance to go back!
When Jean Carlisle of Menomonie, Wisconsin heard she won a family of four Galapagos Adventure Cruise, she wrote us:
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Jean explained that she'd enjoyed playing along the scavenger hunt but was anxious about the random drawing for a winner.
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So glad it's helpful to you with your teens, I've already given the Primland brochure to my own mom and her girlfriend who want to tour the Blue Ridge Parkway and look at the Appalachian handcrafts. This is a great base for lots of exploration. If you go, I know you'll enjoy it!
This sounds like a real find and perfect for my own family. I ma always looking for resorts that will work as destinations with lots to do for my two teens, and Primland sounds excellent. Thanks for spreading the word!
Thanks so much for sharing your dreams about the Galapagos; that's the way we all felt when we learned that the terrific Lindblad team wanted to work on this project. so excited to know that someone's dream will reallyl come true! And a 6th grader is the perfect travel companion.
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so you're sure to be recorded as an entry into the grand prize drawing. Hope to see you on Twitter too @familytravel4um @travelingmoms @takingthekids @LindbladEXP
If there are no comments on our blog, does this mean that our blog has been rejected, or that it has not been reviewed yet? thanks!
As noted, thanks to your enthusiasm, there are several thousand posts to read, so the judges will be done by mid October. Check back after that to see your status!
I tried following the steps above for finding out about the scholarship judging, but I'm still lost. Does it show up at the bottom of your blog? Or is it just off to the side when you have the option of clicking on your blog? Like, is it next to the name of your blog, the date it was published and then the word scholarship with either a yes or no? Thanks!
Crystal – you get an email