The private lot appeared to not be open during our visit since the main parking area still had lots of spots open.Whatever lot you decide to park in, make sure to NOT park on the main road as we have read many reports of people being towed. The view from the bluffs in breathtaking as you stand right at the edge and overlook the buffalo. Thanks so much for reading! Would love to hike the Big Bluff Goat Trail with my family! Great photos! Karen you will make it to the Ozarks! 93% of travelers recommend this experience. Haha we love you! Consequently, plan extra time on the hike out as it's all uphill. Buffalo Outdoor Center is an adventure lovers dream! Hi Marianne thanks for reading and leaving a comment. I was lucky to find it - Review of Big Bluff & The Goat Trail, Compton After about 10 minutes or so, youll reach a cool rocky outcropping that has a hole in it. All the rain that we get in springtime makes for beautiful, lush trees, wildflowers are beginning to bloom and the river is higher. We only saw about 6 people on our way back and ended up getting back to the van in about 3 hours. Bicycles are permitted only on authorized trails: Creamery Meadow and Ridge trails. We did encounter a herd of wild boars, but they ran off right away. In 2015, an intrepid hiker tried just that, fell through the hole, and had to be airlifted to the hospital. Amina you would have fun hiking here! It was an awesome experience. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. It's very steep, and very dangerous. Relatively easy hike for this 6 mile round trip trek. The trail is tight in places (where it gets the Goat Trail name) and not suitable for young children. She is a writer, a mom, and a graduate student. Check out our blog for more close by . Dont avoid these gorgeous places. This post contains affiliate links, which means well receive a commission if you purchase through our links at no extra cost to you. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. This creek level is OK. Feel free to splash around in water levels two or three times this highjust know that flash flooding is a real problem in the springtime, and water levels can rise suddenly. Overall a great trail despite the death of the last huge incline going out. The Goat Trail and Big Bluff. Today was our last hike of our weeks vacation in the Buffalo National River park, and we started at the Centerpoint trail head. The view is spectacular and I did not find it as dangerous as the web says. Big Spring, Blue Spring, and Falling Spring, Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park: Suburban Mushroom Heaven, Three Creeks Conservation Area: A Columbia Favorite, Why I Mushroom Hunt: A Scientists Perspective on Foraging, Amazing Health Benefits of Eating Wild Mushrooms, Sustainable Mushroom Foraging, and Why its so Important, Whites Creek Trail: An Incredible Hub of Biodiversity. Enjoy the lake, folks, but be careful. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( My wife and I drove down from Springfield Mo after friends told us how great this hike was. Make reservations at recreation.gov online or on the app. Buffalo Outdoor Center is literally right across the highway. The best reason for going in the spring, though, is the sheer beauty of springtime in the Ozarks. The sheer face of a cliff is certainly not where you want to be during a thunderstorm, so we and some fellow hikers found shelter in a hollowed-out part of the cliff nearby, hoping to wait it out. A slip could break your leg or neck. Nine of those deaths took place in 2014. The Springtime Jonquil Festival In Arkansas Thats Unlike Any Other, Spend A Magical Evening Savoring This Wine And Fondue Experience In Arkansas, Arkansas Oldest Drive-In Theater Is Hiding In A Small Town And Youll Want To Visit, Dine At The Historic Spot In Arkansas Where The Legendary Gangster Al Capone Drank Whiskey, Here Are The 6 Biggest Risks Living In The State Of Arkansas, This Recent Arkansas Phenomenon Is Shrouded In Mystery And Baffling Geologists, 10 Terrifying Things In Arkansas That Can (And Just Might) Kill You, This Waterfall Swimming Hole In Arkansas Is Perfect For A Summer Day. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. I didnt feel the hill out was as bad as it was made out to be either. The view from the top is spectacular, but the hike has its dangers. Although there are several ways to reach Goat Trail, which follows along the edge of Big Bluff, Centerpoint Trail is arguably the most popular route. I like to do Easy/moderate hikes admist stunning natural beauty, ozarks looks just ideal! You'll need to leave pups at home dogs aren't allowed on this trail. These views show, not only how narrow the ledge gets, but also how tall that bluff is above you. You come to a Y in the trail and the campground sits in the middle of the Y. Big Bluff - Goat Trail on the Buffalo River - YouTube The mountains that surround the area are also very beautiful! . It is not advisable to bring children, liquor, or reckless behavior on this hike. If that parking lot fills up, there is another parking lot across the road that seems to be privately owned and they charge a fee to park there.We started our hike at sunrise on a Monday and were the first car in the parking lot. 2015 - Solo Pine. No restrooms there, but a decent gas stop and convenience store was just a short distance before we got there. This is where the trail corridor opens up into a large, rounded flat area with a fire ring that directionally is at about one oclock on your right. Those views are incredible and definitely (I would assume) worth the hike! This looks like an amazing place to hike. It is considered the tallest along the Buffalo at over 500 ft. tall. Great view. Wow! What restaurants are near Big Bluff & The Goat Trail? The Goat Trail takes hikers along the narrow edge of Big Bluff with a sheer vertical drop to the Buffalo National River in northern Arkansas. What you should actually avoid is engaging in risky behavior. What hotels are near Big Bluff & The Goat Trail? The trail in doesn't really feel like it is as steep as it is hiking back out. 90 minute drive got us to the Centerpoint trailhead. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Length : 6 miles roundtrip, 4 hours. We arrived at the Centerpoint Trailhead bright and early on a Monday morning in November. Is Goat Trail over the Buffalo National River the most dangerous hike in the United States? This is a popular hike and can be pretty busy on the weekends. Taking in a panoramic view while gettingsome shade! The Centerpoint trail is broad and easy to walk, although like so many trails in mountainous Buffalo River country, its basically uphill all the way back (2.5 miles). Having a headlamp is not only one of the 10 hiking essentials, but is especially important if you plan to start your hike before sunrise or finish after sunset. I love hiking and exploring new trails. Now going back to your car is an uphill incline. After getting b, Our beautiful home in Mrida! You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Amazing trial, its a little rough going down to the spot, all downhill just watch your step! From Boxley, Arkansas (the junction of Highways 21 & 43 in Buffalo National River), travel north on Highway 43 to Ponca, Arkansas. 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. The hike itself is mostly downhill . Get a FREE Camping & Hiking Packing List! Running water and flushing toilets operate seasonally. Great views after the two mile mark though! The campground does not have showers. : Jake Thomas Gardipee, 5 Found out about this hike while doing my research for our trip to the Buffalo National River area. Some random moments from our two weeks in Mrida! Here are a few recommendations for lodging near the hike, as well as the other activities nearby! The later inthe year you get, the lower the Buffalo River gets. This, ladies + gentlemen, is my favorite view in Arkansas. Hello from the Florida Keys! In this guide were sharing everything you need to know before hiking the Goat Trail to Big Bluff in the Buffalo National River, including trail stats, what to bring, and more!Despite living in Texas for the majority of our lives, we never visited Arkansas and boy, were we missing out! The Hike Final thoughts CenterPoint Trail to Goat Trail to Big Bluff The trail to Big Bluff covers 5.9 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 1,076 feet. - Stock Photos provided by our partner Depositphotos, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hi yall! If you were to visit her, she'd try to feed you cornbread. Spring is just magic. Follow along on her adventures - big and small - across this beautiful world. Big Bluff demands we all be on our best behavior in exchange for enjoying one of the most lofty views of the Buffalo National River accessible by hiking trail. A little muddy, but no traction needed. Contact Us, 8 am 6 pm | Mar Oct The differences between your fall and summer pics are so stunning! The Goat Trail to Big Bluffover the Buffalo National River. We hope to get to hike Goat Trail again sometime when the weather is better, and we have more time to enjoy the view. Come along for the hike as we climb to the top of Arkansas' famous "Goat Trail". Hike the Goat Trail to Big Bluff | Buffalo Outdoor Center These trees growing along the bluff are junipers and some of them have been dated back to over 800 years! Since this is a little over 6-mile hike, that makes it a more pleasant experience. What an incredible view! Check us out on YouTube! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience on our website. All Rights Reserved. Buzzards frequent this area and youllfind feathersalong the trail. Excellent trail. While the official distance is 5.9 miles on All Trails, our GPS tracked us at just shy of 7 miles. Keep your footing. 10 Most Dangerous Spots In Arkansas Nature - OnlyInYourState Have a great hike next time you go, Ashlee & Pablo. Some scrambling might be required, depending on how far across the bluffs you want to go. (function() { When researching this hike we saw this hike called a variety of names. We skipped the falls so that we would have some daylight to set up camp. 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. Great day on the trail. At 550-ft tall, Big Bluff is just thatbig. Steep 2.5 mile hike out- but the trail is beautiful and worth the effort. It gets its name from the feral descendents of domesticated goats (brought here by pioneers) who either escaped captivity or were turned loose in the wilderness and eventually became wild. The Centerpoint Trailhead is located five minutes or 3.3 miles north of Ponca, Arkansas, off AR HWY 43 N. Ponca is an adorable mountain town in the middle of (almost) nowhere within the upper Buffalo National River. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. I have added this place in my bucket list. listeners: [], The Happiness Function, LLC 2023. Despite being managed by the National Park Service, hiking the Goat Trail to Big Bluff, as well as accessing the rest of the Buffalo National River is free! Check out our channel to get outdoor adventure inspiration! Hikers wishing to access the beach, Creamery Meadow, Ridge, Bluffs, Panorama and Spring trails will need to ford the Big Sur River. This allows us to continue publishing free travel and gear guides. Big Bluff and The Goat Trail - Ponca, AR - stepoutside.org document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Located 30 miles west of downtown St. Louis, Babler State Park is home to an impressive 2,400-acre old-growth forest ecosystem. I mentioned the simple, white sign in the summersection of the post that says Goat Trail the photo above and below this are of the sign. The Big Bluff Trail and it's smaller tributary, the Goat Trail are approximately a four- to five-hour round-trip hike with a final destination of Big Bluff. There is not much cell service in the area and its helpful to track your progress on the trail, as well as verify the route if needed. With breathtaking views of the river, mountains, and bluff at the end, it combines so many of the things that make the Buffalo National River special! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In her spare time she enjoys driving to the nearest creek to sit a while. We got a later start than expected due to spending extra time on Hawks Bill Crag and Glory Hole Falls trails. } Yes, its beautiful. Absolutely incredible views but the return hike is challenging. As of last count, Beaver Lake had claimed 120 lives. Good for your mom for getting up and out there, Im sure she liked the views once she got there, even if they were a little scary. So the return trip was pretty tiring. The trail crosses on a shelf of the bluff, which has a great view of the valley but which is narrow at points. Such a cool trail! I crossed the river 4 or 5 times from one side to the other and walked for an hour without finding anyone. The surgery would leave him unable to walk for two months and unable to hike for even longer. Pin this hiking guide to help plan your adventure! Its great to see something you can do with the whole family too even if your mum was scared stiff! I turned around about 3 miles on at the hole in the rock cause I was getting pretty tired and it seemed too sketchy for my Midwestern self. There's a spur off the Centerpoint Trail called Goat Trail, which leads to Big Bluff, a bluff over 500 ft tall and considered the tallest bluff along the Buffalo River. After about 2.6 miles, youll reach a clearing with a campfire ring, where you will want to hang a right to take Goat Trail along the edge of Big Bluff. If you turn right, youll see a sign on a tree that simply says Goat Trail and you follow it to Big Bluff. The spur trail (Goat Trail) to Big Bluff is off to the right of the fire ring. living on the road in ourself-converted sprinter van! Goat trail is on the right and it had no marking. It is one of our absolute favorite hikes in the Ozarks (along with hiking the Whitaker Point Trail). 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. the hike in is nothing spectacular but man the destination cant be beat! Awesome. (Recommended) It's quite a hike from the Camp Grounds but doable. Very muddy but the views at the end are worth it! You should especially avoid that when the water is high. When the waters are higher, you can notice how beautifully turquoise the water is. Good grief, dont try to jump off a cliff into the river. Although there are several ways to . They are also allowed on a few trails, including the Tyler Bend Campground trails (Spring Hollow, Buck Ridge, and Rock Wall in the Middle District) and all three Buffalo Point Campground trails (Forest Trail, Overlook Trail, and Campground Trail in the Lower District). Same trail in same trial out. It was so beautiful! Note that with no foliage on the trees it's pretty warm out. Small gravel parking lot. These views are amazing. Super pretty and worth it. In this hiking guide were sharing all of the details about hiking to Big Bluff on the Goat Trail, including where to start, trail stats, things to know before you go, our experience, as well as some other spots to check out nearby. Wed suggest starting the hike early so you can enjoy the bluff without a lot of people, which will make it feel safer and more enjoyable.Although, we will agree, if you do not like heights, you may not love Big Bluff.