complex currently closed by the National Park Service due to a disease affecting bats. The parking area is 0.7 miles up the hill. History buffs might enjoy knowing the cave played a role in the Civil War, supplying saltpeter that Confederate forces used to manufacture gunpowder. The next is Whitaker Point, quite likely the subject of more posters, advertisements, book covers and post cards than any other locale in The Natural State. The Flickr website alone includes over 260 shots of this fascinating geological anomaly. Parking is on the right at 6.1 miles at a sign marked “Wilderness Access.” The easy-to-moderate trail begins across the road and takes a mostly downhill course for about 1.5 miles before the distinctive bluff known as Whitaker Point comes into view. Pay close attention to children and acrophobia sufferers.
The Glory Hole on Highway 21 between Fallsville and Edwards Junction.
lands (and loses its scenic byway status) before dropping into what’s known as Boxley Valley. As the road begins its descent, the Smith Creek Nature Preserve will be in the deep valley to the right. This 1,226-acre tract protects one of the Buffalo River’s beautiful spring-fed tributaries. The Arkansas Nature Conservancy regularly leads field trips where participants can explore the watershed’s fascinating collection of rock formations, cascades and native plants (check out www.nature.org/arkansas). At the bottom of the 2.8 mile-grade into Boxley Valley, the highway crosses the western section of the Buffalo River Trail, a popular hiking and backpacking trail that essentially parallels the mountain stream. The trailhead for this 36-mile path is immediately to the left a short distance before the highway passes over Smith Creek. With several relatively short segments in the area, the trail offers opportunities for just about any skill level. A little over a mile beyond the “Boxley Valley Historic District” signage, Highway 21 crosses the Buffalo National River. Established by an act of Congress in 1972, the park protects a 135-mile riparian corridor encompassing nearly 95,000 acres. The stream is not far from its headwaters region at this location and resembles a creek more than a river – although skilled paddlers negotiate its rapids when water levels are appropriate, most often in the winter and early spring months. Famed View For those desiring an off-the-beaten-path experience, take a turn onto Cave Mountain Road at the north end of the bridge – and set your odometer. A narrow, graveled route, it quickly climbs up the steep hillside and leads to a couple of points of interest. The first is Bat Cave, an underground 20 | Arkansas Wild Spring 2013
Seven-tenths of a mile north of the Buffalo River bridge, Highway 21 passes through what remains of the Boxley community. Off to the left is the Boxley Baptist Church, one of the most photographed churches in the state. Next to it is the Walnut Grove Cemetery, which includes graves of members of the families that settled here generations ago. Down the road and on the opposite side is the former general store/post office and beyond it are the remains of an old steam-powered sawmill. Settlement in the Boxley area began around 1830, mostly with families moving in from Tennessee and the Carolinas. The town is named for William Boxley, a merchant from Springfield, Mo., who relocated into valley about a decade later. The National Park Service acquired most of the properties within the valley during the mid1970s as a part of its charge to preserve the landscapes and cultures of the Buffalo River. Some landowners sold their tracts outright and others retained title but deeded conservation easements to the federal government. A short distance north of Boxley, Highway 21 swings sharply to the left and begins a long climb out of the valley while Arkansas 43 continues north toward Ponca. This 4.3-mile stretch of Highway 43 is famous for elk herds grazing in pastures along the river, particularly during the winter months – and is a worthy detour. It also passes the entrance to Lost Valley, a former state park and now a campground and trailhead operated by the National Park Service. With its caves, waterfalls and looming bluffs, the two-mile roundtrip hike in Lost Valley is a special treat. Food and gasoline can be purchased at Ponca, at the junction of Highways 43 and 74, and visitors will also enjoy the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission’s Elk Education Center. The Ponca low-water bridge has been a traditional put-in point for Buffalo River canoeists for over half a century. Now, back to Highway 21. Approximately four miles north of its junction with Highway 43, gravel roads angle off on both sides of the highway. A right turn (to the north) and a one-third mile drive will lead travelers to the Elkhorn Church, a handsome and photogenic structure dating from 1900. The other option, the left-hand turn (to the south), goes to Sweden Creek Falls Natural Area, a 136-