nw
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goat trail & big bluff If you aren’t afraid of heights or a workout, you’ll love the Goat Trail to Big Bluff (an offshoot of Centerpoint Trail) for its expansive view of the Buffalo National River below.
difficulty
length
Moderate
6 miles out and back
kid friendly
dog friendly
No
84
Ponca on Arkansas State Highway 43. Follow the Centerpoint Trail until reaching a camping area. The Goat Trail spur to reach Big Bluff goes to the right of a firepit. Until now, the trail has cut mostly through forest. From here along the Goat Trail, you’ll start seeing rock formations as you head toward Big Bluff, about a quarter of a mile away. At the bluff, an expansive view of the river unfolds. You can stop here or continue along the narrowing bluff ledge, high above the river. (Some people camp out nearby and go back to the bluff for night sky viewing.) Look for century-old Juniper trees clinging to the rocky bluff. Most importantly, take your time: Big Bluff is a great place to sit back, ponder the world and soak in the view for a while.
417 MAGAZINE • 417MAG.COM
No
time commitment
Make it a day trip
location
1 hour and 40 minutes south of Springfield, in Compton, Arkansas
Photo by Joshua Beecher
W
hen you float the Buffalo National River and stop to gaze up at Big Bluff—at more than 550 feet, the tallest vertical bluff between the Appalachian and Rocky mountains—you might notice ant-like movement along a high narrow ledge. Yes, those are hikers along the Goat Trail seeking a different kind of Buffalo River experience. If you can’t do heights, skip this trail. It’s rated moderate as much for the narrow bluff area as for the return-hike incline (take plenty of water and snacks for the trek back up and out). But many say it’s their favorite hike in the upper Buffalo area. The Goat Trail is actually a spur from the Centerpoint Trail, located 3 miles north of