Buffalo National River
I woke up at 7:00 am in a Walmart parking lot, where I was surrounded by several tractor-trailers and large RVs. One of the tractor-trailers caught my attention as the driver kept repositioning it in the lot, backing up slowly between two other rigs, staying in one spot for about ten minutes, and then repeating the process somewhere else. This went on for an hour, and I noticed a note hanging from the passenger side window, but I couldn't read it. I had the thought that he may be practicing for some type of competition.
I did some shopping at Walmart Foods and topped up the ice in the cooler. The closest open Starbucks was 26 miles away, but I found a Dunkin down the street. I needed to plan my route south. I knew I might not have cell coverage as I drove into the Ozark mountains.
Buffalo Hills Scenic Drive
Next on my itinerary was Buffalo National River near Jasper. As I was searching in AllTrails, I found a Scenic Drive from Harrison to Jasper. I’d never seen a scenic drive in AllTrails before. It was a sunny, blue sky day, perfect for a drive through the Ozark Mountains and along the Buffalo National River.
Driving out of Harrison, I saw so many interesting places to stop and grab a photo. One of the funniest, was a chiropractor’s table, that had a dummy with a wig strapped on it. There were many rusting vehicles and buildings that are falling down. There are are also nostalgic buildings that bring back a sense of years gone by.
The scenic drive offers breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. The route passes through small towns, historic sites, and outdoor recreation areas, making it a popular destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers. There wasn’t much traffic this time of year. Highlights of the drive include the towering bluffs and clear waters of the Buffalo River, the charming town of Jasper with its quaint shops and restaurants, and the rugged wilderness of the Ozark National Forest. Apparently, this is a very popular area for so many outdoor activities.
Steel Creek - Buffalo National River Park
I had been meandering around for hours on back road, stopping to look at things and photograph. I was looking for a place to hike and I had lost cell coverage. I turned towards the Steel Creek area and drove down a very steep winding road. At the bottom was a park. It seems people bring horses to this area, although I didn’t see any horses. There was a couple sitting with two dogs and I asked about hiking trails. They seemed to have no control over their angry dogs but they were very helpful. There were two hiking areas at each end of the valley.
I chose to hike the easier route because they told me the views would be better. I met a ranger that gave me slightly different feedback. He also told me there was no fee for camping at the moment. I was told the trail led to Ponca was about two miles, a the town was focused on outdoor activities. I set off in search of Ponca along the river.
This was not a well maintained trail, and there were no blaze markings with the exception of one at the trailhead. The trail is fairly straight, but it runs up and down the embankment of the river. There are briars all along the way, as well as a type of bamboo that does cut. Along the way, I met two climbers that had just repelled off the rocks above. We chatted for a while and I learned that they were students at U of Arkansas in photography and business for the film industry.
I continued my hike, but I eventually turned around when I realized I wasn’t going to make it to Ponca and back before it turned dark. Making it back, I drove into Ponca and filled up on gas and stopped at the General Store. I realized the General Store had open wi-fi and I connected. After looking at maps, I decided to stay overnight in Steel Creek. The price was right, free, and I had hoped to photograph the stars at night. It would be nice to be away from the sounds of traffic.
Back at Steel Creek, I began to setup camp. Two guys stopped by and asked where I was from. They saw the out-of-state license plate. “You’re a long ways from home the driver commented”. They asked about the mountain bike on top of the car and then told me about all the great trails nearby. They gave me an overview of how much money the Walmart Walton family has invested in mountain biking in Arkansa. They lived nearby and were there to look for rocks with holes in them. I looked up “stones with holes in them” and found HAG Stones.
Shortly after they left, my neighbor at the other end of the camping area dropped by to welcome me. His name was Alex and he had a very friendly dog with one brown and one blue eye. He told me he had done mushrooms last night. I told him I hadn’t done that in a long time, since the dessert in California. He was on a path of discovery, looking for the meaning of life. We talked about Ram Das and other topics. He was an engineer and researcher working on some interesting things. It was nice chatting with him and as we departed he wished me safe travels.
I was hoping to do some night time photography, but Alex told me that the forecast called for rain. I could see the clouds forming above. I made dinner, cleaned up and climbed into the tent. It was extremely peaceful. I read for about an hour and couldn’t keep my eyes open. It was only 8:00 pm, but I drifted off.