What an incredible view! Goat Bluff Trail Moderate 4 (84) Buffalo National River Photos (88) Directions Print/PDF map Length 3.0 miElevation gain 275 ftRoute type Out & back Try this 3.0-mile out-and-back trail near Compton, Arkansas. All rights reserved. All Rights Reserved. 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. Will travel for tacos, BBQ, & ice cream 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. Thanks for sharing. Although you are way above the river on the bluffs, I felt like the bluffs were wide enough to feel safe and it was not slippery at all. 360122 N 932147 W And it may not be the best for small kiddos, unless you can keep them right by your side. Awesome trail. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Categories . Before headingback up to the top, Matt, my dad and I joined my mom with her awesome view, ate a granola bar and soaked it all in. We started about 6:00 and it took us about an hour and a half to get down to the base of the trail. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. Hi yall! Buffalo Outdoor Center In fact, its so big that it has the distinction of being the tallest sheer bluff face found between the Rocky and Appalachian mountains. 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! 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. This hike is not recommended for children under 12 years old. This campground is RV-friendly, clean, has fantastic bathrooms, and is open year-round. Even if you dont make it to the narrow ledge this is still a super spectacular view! Follow this old road until you see the first obvious fork to the right. The footbridge will be re-installed in late-Spring 2023. However, the Buffalo National River is just one of the many things to see and do in this area. We love creating short videos so you can visualize the trail conditions before your trip. She is married to an expat Argentine, Pablo! Seriously, watch that water coming down out of the mountains. Trail maps say big bluff is just .8 miles long before it abruptly ends, but this is far from the truth. Big Bluff & The Goat Trail (Compton) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. However, the Goat Trail runs along this cliff face at around 340 feet above the river. Published by on October 31, 2021. This is another trail on which youll want to have plenty of water and a hearty snack along, as well as possess a reasonably good physical fitness level in order to enjoy. Shortly after our arrival at Big Bluff, it became quite clear that a storm was rolling in, and fast. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. The trail map claims 3 miles to the start of Big Bluff from the Center-point Trail Head. Hikers wishing to access the beach, Creamery Meadow, Ridge, Bluffs, Panorama and Spring trails will need to ford the Big Sur River. Enjoy the lake, folks, but be careful. Pin this hiking guide to help plan your adventure! The first summer visit we made here, Matt and I got up early, picked up my parents and set off for a day trip. If you stay the night, be very careful when moving along . haha. callback: cb One should not jump off of cliffs. It is one of our absolute favorite hikes in the Ozarks (along with hiking the Whitaker Point Trail). Others don't. My husband and I hiked the Compton trail down and then took the old river trail and came out at Centerpoint. Steep 2.5 mile hike out- but the trail is beautiful and worth the effort. What a beautiful spot for hiking. Be sure to continue on past the rock formation with the eyehole to access the Goat Trail. Like 900 ft. Go down the goat trail to enjoo ok y one of the best views in the Ozarks. We were there in the fall and the river was almost dry. One of the advantages of fall is the ability to catch some pretty amazing views at the beginning of the trail. 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. There is little to no cellphone reception in the area except at the top of the hill near the trailhead. Wed highly recommend downloading the AllTrails map for the route youre hiking before you go. You can find more info about where dogs are allowed at the Buffalo National River here. We use cookies to improve your browsing experience on our website. Make sure you go past the hole in the rock for the best part of the whole trail. Pets are not permitted on trails in the Ponca Wilderness of Buffalo National River. Hi Uncle Burt! If you begin this hike in the afternoon, please carry a light source just in case you hike out after dark. Users of the outdoors website All Trails rated Cougar Crest 4.5 out of 5 stars and listed it as "moderate." Related Articles It can be easy to miss. the hike in is nothing spectacular but man the destination cant be beat! This post contains affiliate links, which means well receive a commission if you purchase through our links at no extra cost to you. We only saw about 6 people on our way back and ended up getting back to the van in about 3 hours. Haha we love you! 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. 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! No restrooms there, but a decent gas stop and convenience store was just a short distance before we got there. As of last count, Beaver Lake had claimed 120 lives. This hike is one of the most popular hikes in the Buffalo National River and its no surprise why, as it features some of the best things the area has to offer: river views, mountains, and unique rock outcroppings. If you love hiking in the wilderness, then youll love hiking the Centerpoint Trail to Big Bluff. The trail is rocky, and the way back is almost entirely uphill, but it is a trail accessible to most hikers just make sure to wear sturdy shoes. Besides, the long hike out will be a struggle for them (and you). The Buffalo National River is home to a few more traditional campgrounds. Found out about this hike while doing my research for our trip to the Buffalo National River area. The best! November 17, 2022 November 17, 2022 thesuitcaseagent 1 Comment on Center Point / Big Bluff Goat Trail. Just dont fall off. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The most popular hiking destination from Centerpoint is Big Bluff, which features a panoramic vista of the Buffalo River and surrounding wilderness. The trailhead is located on the right at 3.5 miles. Keep your footing. hike out is a bit steep in places. Very rocky getting down but doable. 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. We did encounter a herd of wild boars, but they ran off right away. big bluff goat trail deaths. : Jake Thomas Gardipee, 5 We planned to make it for sunrise at the bluff, so we hit the trail at about 6 am. Designed & Developed by SoloPine.com, The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. It takes 4 to 5 hours to complete the round-trip hike, most of which is along the Centerpoint Trail, the trailhead for which is located 3 miles north of Ponca on Hwy 43. Spring is just magic. 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. The weather is cooler, there are little to no bugs, and the area is quieter. 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. Ashlee Fechino is an outdoor recreation and travel writer and founder of The Happiness Function. Amazing trial, its a little rough going down to the spot, all downhill just watch your step! The spur trail (Goat Trail) to Big Bluff is off to the right of the fire ring. 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. Just saying.. am I the only one wondering that? This trail is quickly becoming one of the most popular in the state, & for good reason. The Goat trail EASILY provides one of the BEST scenic views of the Buffalo River. When the waters are higher, you can notice how beautifully turquoise the water is. Come on an email adventure with us! The Goat Trail is the narrow ledge trail that spurs off of the Centerpoint Trail and takes you out onto Big Bluff. We skipped the falls so that we would have some daylight to set up camp. Taking in a panoramic view while gettingsome shade! Hi Marianne thanks for reading and leaving a comment. Finally I found two people who were riding a horse and were heading towards the place and I followed them. 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. Hello from the Florida Keys! 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. All Rights Reserved. The surgery would leave him unable to walk for two months and unable to hike for even longer. Thanks for reading. Once youve parked your car, youll see the National Park Service trail sign. This trail is also not a place for young children. You can do it! Learn More. The Buffalo, situated down below, makes the perfect horseshoe bend. Big Bluff Goat Trail | northern Arkansas | - YouTube Welcome back! Views from the bluffs are incomparable, and it served as the perfect place to catch up on some reading on a beautiful sunny day. 3.5 miles north of Ponca, on hwy 43. Trail was a little muddy but nothing terrible. This is the main Centerpoint Trail. If you make a purchase with Amazon.com through For the Love of Wanderlust, you will help me stay on the road + keep my site running at no additional cost for you. AllTrails rates this trail as hard; however, I would argue that it is more of a moderate hike. Service animals permitted. Loving your adventures and loving these views too! By closing this banner or interacting with our site, you acknowledge and agree to our privacy policy. TRAIL LENGTH: The trail to Big Bluff is about 6.5 miles roundtrip, but you can also continue on to some other scenic sites, so know where youre going and when to turn around. These views are amazing. Head down the gravel path, which turns into an old homestead road covered in leaf litter. The main Centerpoint Trail is easy to hike and is through the trees. Next time we'll go earlier in the year. However, the trail was pretty rocky at times, so make sure you have good shoes and keep an eye on where youre stepping so you dont trip!After about 45 minutes to 1 hour of hiking on the Centerpoint Trail, youll reach an open area with a fire ring to the left and trails straight ahead (which we hear goes to the river) and to the right. 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. You can take a look at the map below before heading out. Your email address will not be published. Big Bluff Trail leads out about a tenth of a mile before coming out on the face of Big Bluff. Would do again! This crazy formation is inside one of the overhangs. 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. 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! Enjoy the view but use extreme caution on Big Bluff. Hiked on February 6 2023. } If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. If you turn left, you continue on the trail that will take you all the way to Hemmed-in-Hollow. Its truly something to marvel at. Great hiking. In and out down-sloping gravel trail that could pose a challenge to some hiking back out. The later inthe year you get, the lower the Buffalo River gets. You can watch our experience on the trail here to get a better idea of how the trail is. However, the thunder started shortly after we hit trail. Find more places to camp along the Arkansas Buffalo River (Upper District) here. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. I didnt know such a trail existed in this part of the country. Relatively easy hike for this 6 mile round trip trek. As we mentioned above, there are some ledges, some of which are somewhat narrow, especially at Big Bluff. Hi Beverley thanks for reading and commenting. TRAIL LENGTH: The trail to Big Bluff is about 6.5 miles roundtrip, but you can also continue on to some other scenic sites, so know where you're going and when to turn around. Simply enter your email to get adventures from across the world, inspiration + conversations about all things travel delivered right to your inbox! Great view. Thanks so much for reading! It's approximately 6.5 miles round trip and moderately hard due to the loose rocks and incline. (function() { On paper it might seem that way, but in action it's just a gorgeo. Will definitely hike it again. OK, avoiding these spots is not a good idea. You are two hearty hikers to do that in the rain! Dont over-pace yourself on the first half, the trip back will demand your stamina lol The views of the Buffalo River were great. Every year residents of Northwest Arkansas and the river valley hear about Beaver Lake tragedies on the local news. I have to add this to my list of my must-do hikes so I dont forget. Contact Us, 8 am 6 pm | Mar Oct Check out our other guides: Before embarking on your adventure, please review theLeave No Trace principlesto ensure you leave every place better than you found it, so that others can enjoy these beautiful places for many years to come!These seven principles include planning ahead and preparing, hiking and camping on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly (pack out what you pack in! 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. We only recommend products we truly love, actually use during our adventures, and think you can benefit from too! 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. The view is spectacular and I did not find it as dangerous as the web says. We got there later in the morning and luckily saw a couple, but from quite a distance. For our first trip to Northwest Arkansas, we only had the opportunity to hike one trail. 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. Based on reviews, I was nervous about the height and narrowness of the bluffs and the hike on the way out. 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. 93% of travelers recommend this experience. Before you read any further, we wanted to clear up the trails name. Thanks for the great guide. If you were to visit her, she'd try to feed you cornbread. I didnt feel the hill out was as bad as it was made out to be either. The parking lot for the Centerpoint Trailhead fills up quickly. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. But it is a gradual incline the whole way. Great photos! Its also home to waterfalls, rocky hikes, mountain views, valleys, the states only herd of elk, and so much more! Hiking to Big Bluff: The hike takes from 4 to 5 hours to complete round trip if you're in decent shape. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. highly encourage everyone to see this. We arrived at the Centerpoint Trailhead bright and early on a Monday morning in November. We unfortunately only had one day in the area, but we tried to squeeze in as much as we could. We hope yall have a blast! dont go if its wet. We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location. It was so beautiful! To arrive at the Goat Trail you must first start at the Centerpoint trailhead. 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.. You should go forth and explore the Natural States breathtaking beauty. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Cookie Policy, 2021 Adventures of A+K. Enjoy this 9.5-km out-and-back trail near Ponca, Arkansas. 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. living on the road in ourself-converted sprinter van! 97% of travelers recommend this experience. Excellent trail. While the official distance is 5.9 miles on All Trails, our GPS tracked us at just shy of 7 miles.