If you use the links provided and make a purchase, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. There will be a tree with signage telling you to go to the right to start the Goat Trail. ), understanding campfire rules and always fully extinguishing your fires, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors. OK, avoiding these spots is not a good idea. Hotels near Fort Smith Municipal Airport (FSM), Motels near Fort Smith Municipal Airport (FSM), Things to do near Big Bluff & The Goat Trail, Wilderness Rider Buffalo Ranch & Adventure Park, Budapest Small-Group Day Trip from Vienna, Half Day Zanzibar Mnemba Atoll Marine Reserve Snorkeling Tour, Small-Group Dallas and Fort Worth City Sightseeing Tour, Venice City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Tour, 3 Days Desert Tour from Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga, Make Your Own Pizza in Rome - Pizza Making with a local Chef, Amber Cove & Taino Bay Shore Excursion, Private Charter on Blue Sky Catamaran, *NEW* BUFFALO RIVER VALLEY VIEWS-5MIN FROM PONCA! My husband and I hiked the Compton trail down and then took the old river trail and came out at Centerpoint. 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. We left our little hikers at home for this one as its definitely more of a challenge and a bit treacherous at spots. You can see the Buffalo River Valley and all of its glory. The trail's destination is the Big Bluff overlooking the Buffalo River. We got there later in the morning and luckily saw a couple, but from quite a distance. As you can see on the map above, as well as on the AllTrails page, the hike to Big Bluff is all downhill, which means that you'll be going all uphill on the way back. Centerpoint Trail continues straight here if by chance you are uninterested in the view from the cliff. Youll know you made it when you see the rocky ledge that curves around the bluff, with open and incredible views of the Buffalo National River! We unfortunately only had one day in the area, but we tried to squeeze in as much as we could. The main Centerpoint Trail is easy to hike and is through the trees. Thanks for the great guide. 90 minute drive got us to the Centerpoint trailhead. The views look outstanding in the sun shine and your pictures really bring the images to life as they jump off the page at me, Wow, such beautiful views! (Recommended) It's quite a hike from the Camp Grounds but doable. I have to add this to my list of my must-do hikes so I dont forget. The campground is a tent-only facility. Every year residents of Northwest Arkansas and the river valley hear about Beaver Lake tragedies on the local news. My wife and I drove down from Springfield Mo after friends told us how great this hike was. These views are amazing. The views are definitely worth the hike. Based on reviews, I was nervous about the height and narrowness of the bluffs and the hike on the way out. From the trailhead 3 miles north of Ponca, AR, it's about a 6 mile hike and about 900 feet down to the Goat Trail and is one of Arkansas' must see locations.. Required fields are marked *. Fall, winter, and spring are excellent times of the year to hike in the Ponca Wilderness. Name, age Date Location, comments Jesse Sky Bergman, 9: May 16, 1988: Stalked and killed by a four-year-old male cougar at Catface Mountain in British Columbia near Tofino. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Youll have fun. Goats and Buzzards The Goat Trail is the narrow ledge trail that spurs off of the Centerpoint Trail and takes you out onto Big Bluff. Twenty campers died in a flash flood in 2010. Some of these trees have been dated to over 800 years old by the National Park Service, so take a few moments to pause and wonder at these tenacious, gnarled sentinels as they watch over the bluff and the river. We camped at the base of the Hemmed in Hollow trail, by the river. We founded The Happiness Function to show you how to seek fulfillment outdoors through an active lifestyle, hiking, camping, and road-tripping in the USA. The trail crosses on a shelf of the bluff, which has a great view of the valley but which is narrow at points. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. After soaking in the views for a bit and snapping tons of photos, we headed back on the Goat Trail to the Centerpoint Trail. Goat Bluff Trail | Map, Guide - Arkansas | AllTrails 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. But please dont lean over and topple onto the ground below. Avoid the stress of forgetting camping and hiking essentials with our handy guide. Shortly after our arrival at Big Bluff, it became quite clear that a storm was rolling in, and fast. As we mentioned above, there are some ledges, some of which are somewhat narrow, especially at Big Bluff. If you follow the trail you will reach a couple of natural shelter areas that provide just enough room inside to place a tent or even sleep on the ground. 2023 Buffalo Outdoor Center. You should go forth and explore the Natural States breathtaking beauty. We love hiking in the late fall and during the middle of the week to beat the crowds. The trail is tight in places (where it gets the Goat Trail name) and not suitable for young children. Awesome. When she's not hiking in the mountains or planning a backpacking trip, she's taking a road trip or sampling some delicious craft beer. You can often find us driving all around the US and Canada, scoping out the best coffee shops, eating tacos and ice cream (were a 5+ taco and 2+ scoop household), and enjoying nature. It's difficult coming down and even harder coming back up. 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. We also saw some deer. Since the return hike is all uphill, youll definitely want some water, especially if you hike on a hot, sunny day! I searched the Big Bluff Goat Trail in Google and it took me to a place where many people were bathing in the river but zero signs of a hike. Besides, the long hike out will be a struggle for them (and you). It is important to note that Goat Trail is not a place for those afraid of heights. 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. We will definitely be adding more hikes in the Ponca Wilderness Area to our bucket list, such as a trek to the famous Hemmed in Hollow waterfall. Buffalo River Trail: Steel Creek Campground to Villines Homestead, Buffalo River Trail from Kyles Landing Campground, Ponca Wilderness and Buffalo National River Loop, Buffalo River Paddle Route: Ponca to Kyles Landing, Paige Falls, Broadwater Hollow, Thunder Canyon via Cecil Cove Trail, Buffalo River Trail: Steel Creek Campground to Erbie Campground, Kyles Landing to Camp Orr via Buffalo River Trail, Buffalo River Trail: Compton to Ponca Backpacking Route. It is not recommended for kids or those afraid of heights. Centerpoint to Goat Trail | Map, Guide - Arkansas | AllTrails Have a great hike next time you go, Ashlee & Pablo. In and out down-sloping gravel trail that could pose a challenge to some hiking back out. Hikers wishing to access the beach, Creamery Meadow, Ridge, Bluffs, Panorama and Spring trails will need to ford the Big Sur River. Buzzards tend to be the wildlife one sees on Big Bluff or at least an abundance of the gray down feathers youll find scattered about where they roost. Just avoid the risky behaviors that could endanger your life, health, and safety. One should not jump off of cliffs. Trail is nicely marked, going back up is not that bad! She's a road trip aficionado, an avid hiker, lover of learning + culture and an all-around wanderess. Excellent trail. big bluff goat trail deaths - madinahmining.com She loves sharing her adventures both big & small. What gorgeous views! This 5-mile out and back hike ventures up a coastal canyon at the south end of Montaa de Oro State Park. Trail was a little muddy but nothing terrible. I would love to get to Arkansas . There is a dedicated parking lot for the hike which has room for probably about 15 cars. We arrived to the goat trail at about 9 AM. This section of the hike follows a narrow path along the edge of Big Bluff, with a very steep and long drop-off to the Buffalo River below. Wow! When researching this hike we saw this hike called a variety of names. Parking lot is at a crossroads and the trail is clearly marked. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. Youll hear and read the route called different names, but they all mean the same thing. The trail is downhill all the way to Big Bluff, so the hike back to the parking lot is all uphill. You can take a look at the map below before heading out. After getting b, Our beautiful home in Mrida! Snow melting but not muddy. Theres another small section though the trees and then you start to notice the trees to your right start to thin out and on your right, you start to see a bluff rise above you and then it opens up. This trail is also not a place for young children. It was a little over 6.5 miles roundtrip taking the Goat Trail to the Big Bluff with around a 1000 ft. descent going in and a 1000 ft. ascent coming back. On a journey to Alaska in @brisketthevan She is a writer, a mom, and a graduate student. Wearing layers helps regulate your body temperature when hiking to keep your body warm or cool, depending on the weather. ! 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. Nine of those deaths took place in 2014. What you should actually avoid is engaging in risky behavior. The trail map claims 3 miles to the start of Big Bluff from the Center-point Trail Head. Make reservations at recreation.gov online or on the app. Nice to see a comment from you! 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. Required fields are marked *. Have fun. Yes, but a leash is recommended, especially on Big Bluff which has some narrow sections with steep drops to one side. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, there are compelling reasons to add , When confronted with a patch of edible mushrooms in the woods, especially rare and delicious ones, we are often overcome , A couple of weekends ago, Eric and I, accompanied by friends John and Sammy, drove four hours southeast to explore . This trail is quickly becoming one of the most popular in the state, & for good reason. on: function(evt, cb) { } This is the Little Missouri near Little Rock. You could likely squeeze through this hole, but wed suggest going down below it on the more traditional trail to get around it. 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). Centerpoint to Big Bluff Trail Overlook. The Suitcase Agent - Center Point / Big Bluff Goat Trail We got a later start than expected due to spending extra time on Hawks Bill Crag and Glory Hole Falls trails. He was correct. Check out our channel to get outdoor adventure inspiration! Thats not a joke. FREE apps we use to plan outdoor adventures, 5 Best Places to Camp Along the Arkansas Buffalo River (Upper District), 12 Hiking Trails in Arkansas You Cannot Miss, The Perfect Weekend at Mount Nebo State Park, Plan the Best Weekend at Devils Den State Park, The Ultimate Guide to Petit Jean State Park, How to Reach Hawksbill Crag Hiking the Whitaker Point Trail, Lost Valley Trail: Incredible Hike to Cob Cave and a Waterfall . Never been to Arkansas but would love to visit this trail. Buffalo Outdoor Center is literally right across the highway. About 0.25 miles from the Goat Trail turn off, youll reach Big Bluff! Goat Trail to Big Bluff Trail Stats The Goat Trail to Big Bluff is 5.9 miles roundtrip and has an elevation change of 1,076 feet. Would love to hike the Big Bluff Goat Trail with my family! Youll probably want bug spray in the summer. In summer, its hard to get this view through all of the leaves. In 2007, a man really did that. Service animals permitted. Keep your footing. We are so happy Arkansas / Campgrounds. } Its challenging but Im not an athlete and it was just hard enough. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Find more places to camp along the Arkansas Buffalo River (Upper District) here. With that being said, hundreds of people safely enjoy Big Bluff every year, so if you feel this is a hike for you, then the physical workout youll get is worth the stunning river view. It gets its name from the feral descendants of domesticated goats (brought here by pioneers) who either escaped captivity or were turned loose in the wilderness and eventually became wild.