[title subtitle=”WORDS Lydia Dobbins
IMAGES courtesy Lydia Dobbins and Arkansas Department of Tourism”][/title]
From the beginning, those that inhabited the Ozarks were resourceful and leaned on the natural surroundings for food, solace, and inspiration. This past year has shown us the importance of unplugging and taking time to rediscover nature’s abundance, which is plentiful in Arkansas! My family has found a sense of peace in a year of uncertainty as we foraged local edibles, floated numerous creeks and rivers, and enjoyed the beauty of surrounding highlands.
This spring, our children were home full-time. I was homeschooling, working, and trying to keep my sanity, when I found myself making jelly for the first time. We ran across a patch of honeysuckle on a hike one day and the kids and I gathered some honeysuckle flowers to enjoy for later. Much to our surprise, we discovered honeysuckle makes a very fragrant jelly! Gathering edibles turned into a mission. We turned long, three-to-five-mile, arduous hikes, into foraging adventures that involved snacking along the trail and making goodies for later. From dandelion greens, blueberries, wild bergamot, violets, and raspberries, we ate our way up and down trails during the summer, always referencing our Foraging the Ozarks book by Bo Brown.
We have found that hiking with kids becomes more about the discovery of things, than about reaching the destination. We specifically search out hikes that are 1.5 to 5 miles, rated easy to moderate, take a lot of snacks and water, and understand that we will be stopping for rock hopping and tree climbing all along the trail. There are many apps available for reference, but our favorite is All Trails. It is a great resource to locate trails in your area and gives a good description of the length and intensity of the trail. I always like to read through some of the reviews as to things to look for along the trail, like missing trail markers, little quirks each season of hiking that trail, and of course reviews about finding the location of the trail. Always keep in mind cell service in the area of your trail and either makes notes in case you lose service or buy a great map that breaks the state down by region, so your county roads and markers will be easier to find. I have maps of Arkansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho in my car for the specific purpose of trails and use them often.
Some of our favorite hikes close to town are:
Oak Savannah Trail, 1.7 miles – Janet Huckabee Nature Center, Fort Smith
Field and Forest Trail, 1.1 miles – Janet Huckabee Nature Center, Fort Smith
Cemetery Loop Trail 1.3 miles – Lee Creek, Van Buren
Homestead Trail, 3-mile loop – Lee Creek, Van Buren
Crack in the Rock Trail, 1.5 miles – Lee Creek, Van Buren
Lake Alma Trail, 4-mile loop – Lake Alma, Alma
Warren Hollow Trail, 1.5 miles – Lake Fort Smith, Mountainburg
Shepherd Springs Loop 3.6 miles – Lake Fort Smith, Mountainburg
For those looking to adventure further out, I’ve included a list of our favorite hikes in the highlands and hollows of the Ozarks. We try to always hike some of these trails with waterproof hiking boots, as creek crossing and muddy bottoms are abundant, and don’t forget wool socks to prevent blisters, and hiking poles. As the trails go deeper into the highlands, bluffs and crags will be abundant and sure footing and additional hiking poles will come in handy as you cross this terrain. Hiking these trails are fantastic adventures with the kids but always be aware of drop-offs and crumbling rock as safety should always be a priority for the whole family.
Yellow Rock, 2.7-mile loop – Devils Den, Winslow, AR
Buckhorn/Lee Creek Trail, 2 miles – Devils Den, Winslow, AR
Glory Hole Waterfall Trail, 1.8 miles – Ozark National Forest, Deer, AR
Lost Valley Trail, 2.1 miles – Ozark National Forest, Ponca, AR
Indian Rock House, 3.3-mile loop – Buffalo National River, Yellville, AR
Indian Rock House is a fantastic hike that leads to the Indian Rock House Cave the Native Americans sheltered under and has a spring at the base of the cave, making it very cool in the summer. If you are hiking this trail in the summer, bring appropriate swimming attire to hop into the many swimming holes for a cool down. We like to hike together as a family and let a parent be the leader to watch for narrow parts on the trail and hidden critters that may be moving across the trail. Consider turning your hiking adventure into a weekend retreat and pack up the tent for a relaxing weekend in the Ozarks or stay in the Buffalo National River cabins for an early settler’s experience. Make sure to drive over to Mountain View to explore Blanchard Spring Caverns, Craft Village at the Ozarks Folk Center to experience artisan’s heritage skills and stay for the music performances at the Ozark Folk Center. Each spring our family makes the trip, and the kids love every minute of the Ozark highlands experience!
The Ozarks are a hidden jewel and the locals relish in them in all seasons. If you are interested in searching out your next adventure and unsure where to start, always source your local outdoor store for expert advice from those who have a passion for their sport and the outdoors. Most often those working in an outdoor store have extensive knowledge about your interests and often will divulge some local secrets to the hidden gems that may often go overlooked. Whether your interest is foraging, photography, hiking, kayaking, flyfishing, or mountain biking, the Ozark highlands are beckoning! Will you answer the call?
Planning your next outdoor adventure? Visit The Woodsman Company in Fort Smith, Arkansas for all your adventure needs!
5609 Rogers Ave, Suite D, Fort Smith, Arkansas
479.452.3559
thewoodsmancompany.com
