If you turn right, youll see a sign on a tree that simply says Goat Trail and you follow it to Big Bluff. Nine of those deaths took place in 2014. 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! It is considered the tallest along the Buffalo at over 500 ft. tall. Want to report conditions for this trail? Ponca, AR 72670, 1 (870) 861-5514 more information Accept. Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information. . The view from the bluffs in breathtaking as you stand right at the edge and overlook the buffalo. Next time we'll go earlier in the year. 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. I love getting outdoors and into the wilderness. We arrived to the goat trail at about 9 AM. Learn More. 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. It is an out and back trail, approximately 3 miles each way. 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. } Your photos are stunning by the way! Super tight view all the same. The side trail that leads to an outcropping on the bluff is called the Goat Trail and is about 350 ft. tall. The area was incredibly remote and quiet. To arrive at the Goat Trail you must first start at the Centerpoint trailhead. Based on reviews, I was nervous about the height and narrowness of the bluffs and the hike on the way out. This looks like a great hike to do, but Im really not great with heights so Im not sure how Id feel about some of the narrow ledges and paths. ); At 550 feet, its the larges bluff face between the Rockies and Appalachians. If you were to visit her, she'd try to feed you cornbread. If you use the links provided and make a purchase, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Its pretty safe from down below, but climbing the bluff to see it from the top may endanger your neck. I was and am still scared of heights. Wearing layers helps regulate your body temperature when hiking to keep your body warm or cool, depending on the weather. The main Centerpoint Trail is easy to hike and is through the trees. It is not advisable to bring children, liquor, or reckless behavior on this hike. It was an awesome experience. To get to the Goat Trail, start the hike from Centerpoint Trailhead. So, if you see any of the following, youre in the right place: The hike from Centerpoint to Big Bluff starts from the Centerpoint Trailhead outside of Ponca, AR. After some of our close friends explored the state earlier this year, we realized how gorgeous it was and made it a top priority for the fall on our way back to Texas.We kicked off our time in the state mountain biking and exploring Bentonville before heading down to the Buffalo National River area for some hiking. Be sure to read the terms + conditions of these sites when booking or purchasing! Bringing a lunch and have a picnic at the Bluff is a memory that we will cherish. J.B. Weisenfels has lived in rural Arkansas for three decades. Speaking of trees, one of the great privileges of being out on Big Bluff is the chance to see the large, aged junipers that somehow manage to grow along the trails edge, clinging to what seems like nothing but sheer rock and very little soil. Its great to see something you can do with the whole family too even if your mum was scared stiff! Id love to visit this place twice so itll be hard to choose even when to go once. Super pretty and worth it. We hope to get to hike Goat Trail again sometime when the weather is better, and we have more time to enjoy the view. 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. From the Centerpoint Trailhead, it is about a 1-hour hike to the spur trail that takes you out onto Big Bluff. dont go if its wet. listeners: [], November 17, 2022 November 17, 2022 thesuitcaseagent 1 Comment on Center Point / Big Bluff Goat Trail. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Taking in a panoramic view while gettingsome shade! Round trip 6.5 miles is a good morning hike, and I like the option to add on. Thanks for reading. Amina you would have fun hiking here! Just a few other people. Maumelle Campground. Taking on a good hike is a great way to do that and would definitely consider this one when I am in the Arkansas area. A great hike for a group. Well done to your Mum for doing this! It was neat to see them. Make sure you go past the hole in the rock for the best part of the whole trail. We camped at the base of the Hemmed in Hollow trail, by the river. Four months ago, Eric and I took a weekend trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas for one last hurrah just before his knee surgery. Wed highly recommend downloading the AllTrails map for the route youre hiking before you go. About 0.25 miles from the Goat Trail turn off, youll reach Big Bluff! The majority are first-come, first-served and some are free to stay at. The Goat trail EASILY provides one of the BEST scenic views of the Buffalo River. My mom has a serious fear of heights, but Im so super proud of her because she made it to the amazing overview you see below! Just saying.. am I the only one wondering that? Looks like a great hike . Thats the downside of being from a tropical country haha.. never getting to see changes of season at home. Never been to Arkansas but would love to visit this trail. We got a later start than expected due to spending extra time on Hawks Bill Crag and Glory Hole Falls trails. The payoff is the bluffs, which are beautiful. Yes, but a leash is recommended, especially on Big Bluff which has some narrow sections with steep drops to one side. When you get out to the bluff it does get a little narrow my 11 year old didn't feel comfortable going thru that spot so we turned around there maybe 100yds from the end. 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. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Besides, the long hike out will be a struggle for them (and you). Are you looking for an incredible hike with epic views and relatively minimal scrambling in the Ozarks? It was so beautiful! The Centerpoint Trail is mostly a forested walk, with the occasional view through the trees of the surrounding area at the beginning. The views are definitely worth the hike. Check us out on YouTube! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. The main Centerpoint Trail is easy to hike and is through the trees. She is a writer, a mom, and a graduate student. A little muddy at spots, and steep climb coming back, but absolutely worth the trek. I didnt feel the hill out was as bad as it was made out to be either. After about 10 minutes or so, youll reach a cool rocky outcropping that has a hole in it. It sounds a little scary trying to navigate the small ledge near the end of the hike, but definitely an adventure and if it gives great views, then definitely worth it. The Centerpoint Trailhead is located approximately 3 miles north of Ponca, AR, directly across Hwy. Sign up to get travel updates, guides, vlogs, and other resources delivered straight to your inbox once a month! This hike is not recommended for children under 12 years old. This post contains affiliate links, which means well receive a commission if you purchase through our links at no extra cost to you. The hike down to Big Bluff is relatively easy, though rocky. The Goat Trail to Big Bluff is 5.9 miles roundtrip and has an elevation change of 1,076 feet. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. Excellent trail. At a corner I saw a horse path and decided to follow it. jezebel spirit scriptures; Super safe trail until after you get past the eye and then it starts to feel a bit sketchy but worth it. Yes, its beautiful. 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. It is important to note that Goat Trail is not a place for those afraid of heights. All Rights Reserved. Bring bug spray! With a large b, Our FAVORITE things we did in Mrida, Mexico! Found out about this hike while doing my research for our trip to the Buffalo National River area. October 20, 2021. 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. The hike itself is mostly downhill . window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { Great hiking. The bluff itself is "said to be" the tallest sheer vertical cliff face found between the Appalachians and the Rockies, with an estimated height of 560 feet! Had we visited a week or two sooner, we can only imagine how even more gorgeous it wouldve been! Hiking to Big Bluff: The hike takes from 4 to 5 hours to complete round trip if you're in decent shape. (Recommended). 4699 AR 43 Hwy It is best to get here around sunrise or close to sunset to have the best chance to see some elk. This allows us to continue publishing free travel and gear guides. 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. After soaking in the views for a bit and snapping tons of photos, we headed back on the Goat Trail to the Centerpoint Trail. I would love to hike the Centerpoint to Big Bluff (Goat Trail) in Arkansas. Unfortunately, we picked one of the hottest days of the year. Since this is a little over 6-mile hike, that makes it a more pleasant experience. The Buffalo National River is home to a few more traditional campgrounds. She's a road trip aficionado, an avid hiker, lover of learning + culture and an all-around wanderess. I wasn't sure we would be up to tackling it but hubby and I are so glad we did. There are two campgrounds relatively close to the Centerpoint Trailhead. Enjoy this 9.5-km out-and-back trail near Ponca, Arkansas. The trail ends at the juncture of the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail. Thank you! Parking lot is pretty decent, not to busy, saw about 3-4 different groups. The Bluffs along Buffalo National River Flickr/Buffalo Outdoor Center Good grief, don't try to jump off a cliff into the river. Were Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) 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. Not only are they an incredibly diverse kingdom of organisms, but many are also very delicious. It's approximately 6.5 miles round trip and moderately hard due to the loose rocks and incline. If you love hiking in the wilderness, then youll love hiking the Centerpoint Trail to Big Bluff. On the way back, the hike is all uphill, which makes it a bit harder, but minus a couple pretty steep sections, which had us huffing and puffing a bit, its not too difficult. Head down the gravel path, which turns into an old homestead road covered in leaf litter. The trail is downhill all the way to Big Bluff, so the hike back to the parking lot is all uphill. This 5-mile out and back hike ventures up a coastal canyon at the south end of Montaa de Oro State Park. The spur trail (Goat Trail) to Big Bluff is off to the right of the fire ring. Thanks for sharing. Big Bluff is absolutely a trail that should not be missed. The trail is an old logging trail and can be rocky at times. Since the return hike is all uphill, youll definitely want some water, especially if you hike on a hot, sunny day! Hiked on February 6 2023. This is the Little Missouri near Little Rock. We love creating short videos so you can visualize the trail conditions before your trip. If you stay the night, be very careful when moving along . When the waters are higher, you can notice how beautifully turquoise the water is. The views from the Goat Trail are incredible. By closing this banner or interacting with our site, you acknowledge and agree to our privacy policy. We entered at Center Point trail. 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. I bet going in the summer or fall is just as beautiful as each other. Then the trail dips down for the next 1.5 miles or so and then comes back up. The trailhead is located on the right at 3.5 miles. If you are not familiar with the area, we recommended downloading maps for offline use or having a topo map (we have this one). Spring is just magic. We only recommend products we truly love, actually use during our adventures, and think you can benefit from too! You will certainly get some great pics of the river, the bluffs and the hills beyond. Thanks for your support! I crossed the river 4 or 5 times from one side to the other and walked for an hour without finding anyone. 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All writing and photos belong to For the Love of Wanderlust unless otherwise stated, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on StumbleUpon (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Flipboard (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Things to Do in Eureka Springs - Arkansas's Hippie Town, Travel Backpack Review: Classic 28L Bag by CabinZero, The Elephant House - Edinburgh, Scotland - A Harry Potter Pilgrimage, 7 Types of Exploration You Should Try At Least Once. 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. the hike in is nothing spectacular but man the destination cant be beat! Relatively easy hike for this 6 mile round trip trek. The rain started shortly after, turning the trail into a muddy stream and completely soaking us by the time we got back to the car. I love hiking the view is always worth the trek! Its nice to look at, but dont try to walk across it. Sharing our experiences in the wilderness and what we learn along the way. 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. Great day on the trail. The river water has a clear, blue color, which contrasted super nicely with the yellow and orange leaves we witnessed. Unfortunately, after checking the radar, it seemed the storm would be raging for a while once it started, so we and the others started to high-tail it out of there. If you have more time to spend in this region, here are some ideas of things to do before or after your hike. As always, we recommend having the 10 essentials on you when doing any hike, but here are a few key items we want to point out that will especially help you during this hike! Every year residents of Northwest Arkansas and the river valley hear about Beaver Lake tragedies on the local news. We were there in the fall and the river was almost dry. Average hiking time is 4 to 6 hours. We got there later in the morning and luckily saw a couple, but from quite a distance. The Big Bluff, otherwise known as the Goat Trail, sits 550' above the Buffalo National River and the trail is only about 4 feet wide. 360122 N 932147 W big bluff goat trail deaths . Its very steep, and very dangerous. big bluff goat trail deaths. Designed & Developed by SoloPine.com, The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. Stay warm up there! Way in seemed harder than the way out Lots of rocks to clamber over. Take caution if crossing it. Techno-Tainment Combo in Branson, Dublin's Irish Tenors and The Celtic Ladies, Great Woodsman Zipline Canopy Tour Branson. Youll know when you get to Big Bluff because the views of the Buffalo are epic! There is really only one long stretch back up hill that is hard, but otherwise the climb back up wasnt that bad. It almost looks like a beehive. Enjoy the view but use extreme caution on Big Bluff. We heard that the trail is very popular and can get busy, so we wanted to experience it on a weekday and arrived early to hopefully avoid crowds.After parking and waiting a bit for it to get lighter out, we hit the trail! Fantastic scenery! The footbridge will be re-installed in late-Spring 2023. Woo! The Happiness Function, LLC 2023. Hello from the Florida Keys! Nice trail well maintained. How to Hike Centerpoint to Big Bluff (Goat Trail) in Arkansas, Plan a Weekend Getaway to Mount Magazine State Park- the, 5 Best Places to Camp Along the Arkansas Buffalo River, How to Reach Hawksbill Crag Hiking the Whitaker Point Trail. But the best part is that its all located on a great property with a store for your adventure needs and access to tons of activities, like kayaking, ziplining, mountain biking, and close proximity to hikes! 8 am 5 pm | Nov Feb. Buffalo Outdoor Center is authorized to provide canoe rentals and transportation services within the Buffalo National River. The Centerpoint to Goat Trail is one of the most popular trails in Buffalo National River. The gravel parking area at Centerpoint Trailhead can accommodate 20-25 vehicles. We were the only ones on the trail that we saw. The Buffalo National River is a designated International Dark Sky Park, recognizing and protecting its exceptionally dark and starry skies. Hwy 43 Firetower Road junction Buffalo National River, Compton, AR 72624. You should especially avoid that when the water is high. hike out is a bit steep in places. My husband and I hiked the Compton trail down and then took the old river trail and came out at Centerpoint. 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. The most popular hiking destination from Centerpoint is Big Bluff, which features a panoramic vista of the Buffalo River and surrounding wilderness. The view at end is well worth it. The Goat Trail is the narrow ledge trail that spurs off of the Centerpoint Trail and takes you out onto Big Bluff. This was one of my top five hikes ever!! But even more importantly, make sure you have bags to put your trash in so you can pack out what you brought. You don't have to spend a lot of money or use a ton of vacation time to explore close to home. Twenty campers died in a flash flood in 2010. Loving your adventures and loving these views too! This hiking seems fun in Arkansas. What an incredible view! 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. Fall, winter, and spring are excellent times of the year to hike in the Ponca Wilderness. While this is a relatively short hike, you may want to bring snacks and food to keep you fueled during the trek. There are several connector routes to different hiking trails in the Buffalo River Valley, making it a very easy place to spend a lot of time outdoors. Ozark Cabins has quite a few properties around the Buffalo National River, including some right across from the trailhead. } Such beautiful views reminds me a lot of the hikes we do on the NSW South Coast of Australia very similar views. It poured the entirety of the hike back to our car, ironically ceasing only once we arrived at the parking area. 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. The summer will also be a great time to see the trees with their lush green color!We hiked the trail in the fall, specifically in early November, and got the last glimpses of fall colors before the leaves fell. You can watch our experience on the trail here to get a better idea of how the trail is. Love Arkansas? haha. 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. living on the road in ourself-converted sprinter van! Get a FREE packing list and gear guide from us detailing exactly what we take on a camping and hiking trip! Consequently, plan extra time on the hike out as it's all uphill. Great views after the two mile mark though! The ledge trail to the big bluff, called Goat Trail, is not maintained by the National Park Service. And , Many people love mushrooms. Its funny how the world replicates its landscapes over on the other sides of the world!! Truly awesome place for hiking. When we set out in the morning, there was rain in the forecast. The differences between your fall and summer pics are so stunning! Thanks for reading. 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. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. And now back to the bluff There are a few caves where thebluff overhangs. The Goat Trail to Big Bluff is just one of the many things to do in the Buffalo National River area! Goat Trail is on our list this fall! Theres also a dead tree on the bluff that has years upon years of buzzard stuff lacquered over it. Small gravel parking lot. However, the Goat Trail runs along this cliff face at around 340 feet above the river. This, ladies + gentlemen, is my favorite view in Arkansas. On Tuesday, I decided to make my second hike out to the "big" bluff (this week). Centerpoint to Big Bluff Trail Overlook. Very rocky getting down but doable. However, the thunder started shortly after we hit trail. Get a FREE Camping & Hiking Packing List! I want to do Big Bluff in the spring next year so I can see the river at a nice, high point so you can really see thathorseshoe bend! Finally I found two people who were riding a horse and were heading towards the place and I followed them. 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. What attractions are near Big Bluff & The Goat Trail? 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. Users of the outdoors website All Trails rated Cougar Crest 4.5 out of 5 stars and listed it as "moderate." Related Articles From Boxley, Arkansas (the junction of Highways 21 & 43 in Buffalo National River), travel north on Highway 43 to Ponca, Arkansas. From this fork is where the rocky bluff begins so you can hike to Big Bluff along the Goat Trail. I have an 8 year old thats an experienced hiker that I will bring back. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. The hardest part of the trail looks like an old gravel bed with a lot of loose rocks. There are over 6,000 cenotes on the Yucatn Penin, One of our favorite ways to experience a new place, Things to do in Hot Springs National Park, What to bring to hike the Goat Trail to Big Bluff, Things to know before hiking the Goat Trail to Big Bluff, Our Experience Hiking the Goat Trail to Big Bluff, Where to stay to hike the Goat Trail to Big Bluff, Other spots to check out in the Buffalo National River. It is one of our absolute favorite hikes in the Ozarks (along with hiking the Whitaker Point Trail). We had our hearts set on the well-known Centerpoint to Goat Trail, a 5.9 mile out and back trail whose destination is a famously breathtaking view of the Buffalo River. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Before you read any further, we wanted to clear up the trails name. Despite the wet and cold end to our hike, the view from Big Bluff was well worth it. Incredible photography! There are a few names for hiking to this specific viewpoint in Buffalo National River. From here it is a rough trail that continues down the ridgeline to intersect the Old River Trail. This is a video and some pictures of Big Bluff/Goats trail/bluff in Arkansas. The hike from Centerpoint Trailhead to Big Bluff is approximately 6 miles round-trip. Trail was a little muddy but nothing terrible. Be sure to continue on past the rock formation with the eyehole to access the Goat Trail. Others don't. 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. Only reason for the 4 stars is the return was all uphill the whole way and that snow and ice on the trail was much more an issue. "TINY CABIN", View all hotels near Big Bluff & The Goat Trail on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Big Bluff & The Goat Trail on Tripadvisor, View all attractions near Big Bluff & The Goat Trail on Tripadvisor. I have to add this to my list of my must-do hikes so I dont forget. We hiked this trail the other day. Pets are not permitted on trails in the Ponca Wilderness of Buffalo National River. You can do it! Beautiful weather and scenery! She is also an avid collector of tacky fish whatnots, slightly chipped teapots, and other old things.