90 minute drive got us to the Centerpoint trailhead. Inside them are nice spots for some shade. 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. My wife and I drove down from Springfield Mo after friends told us how great this hike was. I never thought Arkansas had such beauty. fantastic, breathtaking and simply a must see! 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. Your email address will not be published. Thanks for reading. What a beautiful hike!! Published by on October 31, 2021. We hope yall have a blast! Big Bluff is actually the tallest sheer bluff face between the Rocky and Appalachian Mountains and once you reach it, youll understand why this hike is so popular. I would love to hike the Centerpoint to Big Bluff (Goat Trail) in Arkansas. Check out our channel to get outdoor adventure inspiration! Is Goat Trail over the Buffalo National River the most dangerous hike in the United States? Small gravel parking lot. Even if you dont make it to the narrow ledge this is still a super spectacular view! This campground is RV-friendly, clean, has fantastic bathrooms, and is open year-round. Awesome trail. Luckily, we started early, but definitely be cautious of the heat + humidity that hits the Ozarks in the summer. To get to the Goat Trail, start the hike from Centerpoint Trailhead. (Recommended). Absolutely incredible views but the return hike is challenging. The view at end is well worth it. Thanks for your support! Bring bug spray! And the highlight of our time there was hiking the Goat Trail to Big Bluff (watch our experience)! It was our first hike in the area and we started later in the day than we should have. ); { The trail is tight in places (where it gets the Goat Trail name) and not suitable for young children. . Don't ignore the climb back out. We booked an RV site here the night before hiking the Goat Trail to Big Bluff and while we didnt get to enjoy the amenities due to arriving late, the property is VERY nice, the bathrooms are clean, and they even have a store and restaurant on site. The trail is downhill all the way to Big Bluff, so the hike back to the parking lot is all uphill. You can watch our experience on the trail here to get a better idea of how the trail is. I have to add this to my list of my must-do hikes so I dont forget. A great hike for a group. Make reservations at recreation.gov online or on the app. I crossed the river 4 or 5 times from one side to the other and walked for an hour without finding anyone. 3. If you were to visit her, she'd try to feed you cornbread. Very muddy but the views at the end are worth it! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Theres also a dead tree on the bluff that has years upon years of buzzard stuff lacquered over it. It is important to note that Goat Trail is not a place for those afraid of heights. We had to hustle cuz we were cutting it kind of close, and the snow and ice that had refrozen overnight did make it precarious but we made it just fine and were well rewarded :). Check out our blog for more close by . We only saw about 6 people on our way back and ended up getting back to the van in about 3 hours. Nine of those deaths took place in 2014. Buffalo Outdoor Center is a proud recipient of the 2021 Tripadvisor Travelers Choice award. The Centerpoint Trailhead is located approximately 3 miles north of Ponca, AR, directly across Hwy. Again, avoid is a strong word. After soaking in the views for a bit and snapping tons of photos, we headed back on the Goat Trail to the Centerpoint Trail. It was so beautiful! Goat Bluff Trail | Map, Guide - Arkansas | AllTrails 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 youll be going all uphill on the way back.We had read reports beforehand that said it was a hard hike, but we didnt find the elevation gain to be that brutal on the hike back, but we did have a cooler, cloudy day, which helped!You start the hike at the Centerpoint trailhead in Compton, Arkansas before splitting off onto the Goat Trail, which takes you to Big Bluff, a cool, rocky bluff. forms: { It almost looks like a beehive. "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. This allows us to continue publishing free travel and gear guides. My papa bear on the trail to the right, and Matt is barely visible to the right. However, the Buffalo National River is just one of the many things to see and do in this area. YouTube, Travel Guides, Gear, & FAQs. 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. The Goat Trail to Big Bluff is just one of the many things to do in the Buffalo National River area! Be sure to continue on past the rock formation with the eyehole to access the Goat Trail. 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. Not only are they an incredibly diverse kingdom of organisms, but many are also very delicious. Happy hiking! Goat Trail to Big Bluff // Adventure Guide Tanner Burge Photography Youll hear and read the route called different names, but they all mean the same thing. How to Hike Centerpoint to Big Bluff (Goat Trail) in Arkansas The hike down to Big Bluff is relatively easy, though rocky. The Buffalo National River is a designated International Dark Sky Park, recognizing and protecting its exceptionally dark and starry skies. The Bluffs along Buffalo National River Flickr/Buffalo Outdoor Center Good grief, don't try to jump off a cliff into the river. Looking for more things to do in Arkansas? They camp in their Aliner often and love road trips and hiking. I looked back from the narrow, rock ledge part of the trail and captured this adorable photo. The most popular hiking destination from Centerpoint is Big Bluff, which features a panoramic vista of the Buffalo River and surrounding wilderness. I have been experimenting with easy hikes lately and I love being in nature. After getting b, Our beautiful home in Mrida! Come along with us as we start at the Buffalo Outdoor Center Cabins, wake up early to take on the Center Point Trial to the Goat Trail eventually reaching the site of interest, Big Bluff, and give you our takeaways from the hike.What is the most sketchy hike you have ever done? SUBSCRIBE TO NOMADIC WEEKENDERS ON YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/c/NomadicWeekenders?sub_confirmation=1Shoot location listed below: Buffalo National River, Arkansas, USA Ozark National Forest, Arkansas, USA Center Point Trail, Arkansas, USA Goat Trail, Arkansas, USA Big Bluff, Arkansas, USAEquipment and software used to make this video listed below: DJI Mavic Air Canon Rebel T6i iPhone XS GoPro Hero 7 Black Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2017Get to know the Nomadic Weekenders:Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomadicweekenders/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NomadWeekenders Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NomadicWeekenders/ Check out our blog: https://www.nomadicweekenders.com/ Big Bluff Goat Trail at the Buffalo National River You can choose from RV sites, a tent area, or a platform tent, where you can pay extra to have a bed. Big Bluff & The Goat Trail - Tripadvisor Even with a fear of heights I was able to navigate the narrower parts of the 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. Here are a few recommendations for lodging near the hike, as well as the other activities nearby! 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. This hike is not recommended for children under 12 years old. I think this is my favorite Big Bluff photo because it really shows just how big thisbluff is. big bluff goat trail deaths - casessss.com This hiking seems fun in Arkansas. Hike to Big Bluff - National Park Service 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. And now back to the bluff There are a few caves where thebluff overhangs. We hiked here mid-week during early December, and the weather was perfect. Website built with love byDreamworthy Design. 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. In her spare time she enjoys driving to the nearest creek to sit a while. Twenty campers died in a flash flood in 2010. Hiking back was no joke! 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. It was muddy but oh so worth it! Hike the Goat Trail to Big Bluff | Buffalo Outdoor Center This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The side trail that leads to an outcropping on the bluff is called the Goat Trail and is about 350 ft. tall. What you should actually avoid is engaging in risky behavior. This website contains affiliate links from websites such as MileValue.com, Amazon.com, Booking.com, and Rentalcars.com. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher.