Hi, All~
We are planning a trip in a camper-type motor home leaving from Austin beginning Nov. 21 and returning Nov. 27/28. The first part of our route is projected as north through Texas and into Arkansas for hiking/state parks. The return route is still undecided. We have two kids, 9 and 12 and 2 dogs. We are looking for interesting family friendly things to do and see north out of Texas and into Arkansas. Returning, we may go through Louisiana, but are not sure.
Any routes, sights, parks, camping suggestions would be very much appreciated!
Ideas Austin to Arkansas RT Nov. 21-27/28?
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I hike Arkansas all the time(once a month). The big kicker here, you need rain for the great hikes which lead to waterfalls and at the time you are coming all the leaves will be gone and everything will be brown. Arkansas is a great great place to hike.
My very favorite places and hikes in order
Glory Hole Falls-near Fallsville(population 50)
Lost Valley-Buffalo River
Kayak/Canoe the Buffalo-then hike to Hemmed in Hollow Falls and Diamod Falls(you can hike there, but kayaking is more fun)
Pedestal Rock/Kings Bluff Loop Trails
Petit Jean State Park- nice lodge, restaurant, and nice waterfall, great hikes with overlooks, do the owl calling ranger program if available.
Mount Magazine State Park- New very nice lodge, indoor swimming pool, hike to tallest point in Arkansas, normally not waterfalls here
Mt Nebo State Park- Great hikes with overlooks
Triple Falls at Buffalo River
check out www.buffaloriver.com(Bill Clinton stays here)
be sure and by a book by Tim Ernst for hiking or waterfalling
Lake Quachita or Lake Dardenelle- you might see some eagles.
If you go around the Buffalo River area, take plenty of food, etc. There is really nothing to eat or buy there. You will most likely see Elk in the Valley.
WOW! What helpful and thorough information. Thank you!
Pedestal Rock and Glory Hole would be fine with dogs. The Buffalo River is National Park Service, so dogs are usually limited on trails within NPS(not sure about this particular park). I don't know the policy of state parks in Arkansas. Weekdays you might see just a few people. Weekends are busier, but not crowded. rafting the Buffalo is a great experience, but might be better suited in warmer weather, although we did it last March in pretty cold weather.
If you decide to visit any of the areas I mentioned, let me know and I can give you further details. There are some really amazing falls in the Upper Buffalo, and the hikes aren't that hard, some of them super easy. Hemmed in Hollow is the tallest falls between Appalachians and Rocky MTS. The second tallest waterfall in Arkansas is about 200 yards from it, as well. If you catch them just after a rain they are impressive. Glory Hole is the most Unique waterfall I have ever seen.
Another good one I failed to mention is
Hawksbill Crag/Haley Falls AKA Whitaker Point
The crag was the photo on front of the Rand McNally Road atlus a couple of year back.
for me to say Glory Hole is Unique is really saying something. The first set of pics is my daughter and me in Oregon, we are serious serious waterfall people.
http://www.photoworks.com/slideshow/album/A4F2C632106F?source=pw980
Glory Hole Falls
http://www.photoworks.com/slideshow/album/A9FDEF21928F?source=pw980
Petit Jean State Park
http://www.photoworks.com/slideshow/album/A194BD218D97?source=pw980
Buffalo River/Lost Valley Trail
http://www.photoworks.com/slideshow/album/AD8698218D96?source=pw980
The lost Valley Hike is about 1.5 miles. At the end of it you will need a flashlight to go back into the short cave(100 feet or so). At the back of the cave is a waterfall inside the cave-very very cool.
The Glory Hole is slightly hard to find, I can give you very very detailed directions if you go there. It is decent trail, but there is no sigh telling you where it is. This is one of those things that isn't in many books or state park or anything like that. search youtube and you can see a lot of the places i mention. sorry to load you with so much info, but it really is an undiscovered place, so it is great and there aren't many people that go there. Not really anything to worry about(it would be super rare to see a bear). main worry would be a snake.