If I had to pick my happy time and place, I suppose it would be on a hiking trail meandering through the woods on a beautiful fall day somewhere right here in our corner of the natural state. There is no finer way to enjoy the last splash of autumn color than to walk in the midst of it.
Last weekend I had the good fortune to do just that when Earl and I joined a small group of Ozark Highland Trails Association members for a six-mile hike on the “Goat Trail.” This aptly-named trail in rugged Newton County starts on an old road bed high above the Buffalo National River and descends until it becomes a narrow path near the edge of a bluff that overlooks a large horseshoe shaped bend in the river. The scenic view is quite impressive and not easily forgotten.
Although on my wish list for a while, I hadn’t had a good opportunity to hike this particular trail before now. Saturday was the perfect time.
We met with the small, friendly group at the trail head near Ponca and headed out for what turned out to be one of our most memorable hikes ever. For starters, the folks we joined were an enjoyably interesting mix of friendly folks. We had never met any of them before but, by the end of the five-hour hike, we felt we had made new friends.
The first section of the trail is an easy, relativelylevel stroll that afforded plenty of opportunities to take in the beauty and surprising abundance of remaining fall foliage. Blazing red, shining gold and vibrant orange sprinkled the landscape both along the trail and on the blue cast mountain vistas.
The beginning portion of the trail might lead some to erroneously assume that the “diffi cult” rating for the hike was inaccurate, but there was more to come. After a while, the trail began one of several downhill descents. Making it a little more challenging to be sure-footed was the multitude of large loose stones along the path. We were glad, especially at this point, to have the hiking poles that Earl had remembered to bring. Their extra support and balance saved a spill or two, no doubt, and maybe a turned ankle.
Eventually, the trail narrowed and began running along the bluff’s edge. The path was still wide enough to feel safe in most places but there was a spot or two where travel was a little more tedious and took some extra care.
At one point, we had the choice of either climbing through a three foot hole in the bluff wall or taking a lower path that required walking closer to the edge. The trail was getting increasingly narrow and, soon after the climb through the hole, we all agreed we had gone far enough. We found the perfect spot under a bluff overhang to sit on large rock seats and take our lunches from our backpacks. As we ate, our eyes feasted on amazing views of the bluffs and mountains in front of us and the meandering blue and green river far below.
Along with the eagle that soared over our heads, we watched with a bird’s-eye view as a tiny red kayak made its way downstream and, later, as riders on horseback forded the riverat a trail crossing far below. No fine dining establishment anywhere could have offered a grander view.
We lingered a long time at this spot, then began to make our way back the mostly uphill walk to the car. The needed rest stops along the way made perfect opportunities to take photos and visit more with our hiking companions.
I can’t think of much that could have made this day any better. Goat Trailis definitely a “must see” for those who want to get off the beaten path and observe firsthand some of the most striking natural beauty Arkansas has to offer.
Annette Rowe is a freelance writer from rural Gentry and a speechlanguage pathologist at Siloam Springs High School. She may be reached by email at [email protected].
Opinion, Pages 5 on 11/13/2013