Posted 2012-02-08 7:44 PM (#140658) Subject: trailriding in Arkansas
Veteran
Posts: 153
Location: Grant City, Missouri
Is there someplace close to the Missouri line to go trailriding? My husband likes to go to Arkansas fishing and I would like to find someplace to go where we could both do what we want!
Posted 2012-02-08 11:08 PM (#140663 - in reply to #140658) Subject: RE: trailriding in Arkansas
Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Arkansas
Don't know how close exactly you need, but there is camping and riding in very scenic areas at Devil's Den state park in NW Arkansas. Huckleberry is quite close and love that camp, hosts, and riding.
Posted 2012-02-10 5:05 PM (#140734 - in reply to #140658) Subject: RE: trailriding in Arkansas
Elite Veteran
Posts: 656
Location: Rayne, LA
Falling Waters in Pelsor, AR ( very northern ) has good riding but I don't know about fishing. I know Cedar Lake in Heavener OK ( extreme eastern near Poteau OK ) has good riding and GREAT camping and a lake for fishing. Good Luck
Posted 2012-02-12 12:14 AM (#140800 - in reply to #140658) Subject: RE: trailriding in Arkansas
Expert
Posts: 2614
Huckleberry is an OK place,but,there are not very many miles of trails there.Have friends that used to ride there all time,I think the camping places are scarce,too.
Posted 2012-02-12 12:16 AM (#140801 - in reply to #140734) Subject: RE: trailriding in Arkansas
Expert
Posts: 2614
Falling Water would be more in the north central part of the state.It is quiet a distance from Fayettville,and,all the way down highway 7 from Harrison,(then over to Dover) a stretch of road NOT for the faint of heart.
Posted 2012-02-14 9:53 AM (#140921 - in reply to #140658) Subject: RE: trailriding in Arkansas
Regular
Posts: 79
Location: Bonham, TX
Huckleberry is in Pineville, MO. Both Huckleberry and Falling Waters are small, family owned and oriented campgrounds. Falling Waters might have more miles of trails to ride but we have enjoyed both places very much. We do go to Huckleberry every April for a mule riders gathering and have a blast. Since my hubby does all the driving I haven't had to experience any white knuckle driving but have glanced over to look down into hollars and canyons....that Hwy 7 in Arkansas is um, very scenic....
Posted 2012-02-14 1:19 PM (#140940 - in reply to #140921) Subject: RE: trailriding in Arkansas
Elite Veteran
Posts: 656
Location: Rayne, LA
Originally written by bloodtrail on 2012-02-14 9:53 AM
Huckleberry is in Pineville, MO. Both Huckleberry and Falling Waters are small, family owned and oriented campgrounds. Falling Waters might have more miles of trails to ride but we have enjoyed both places very much. We do go to Huckleberry every April for a mule riders gathering and have a blast. Since my hubby does all the driving I haven't had to experience any white knuckle driving but have glanced over to look down into hollars and canyons....that Hwy 7 in Arkansas is um, very scenic....
Mary 3jmmules
I have traveled hwy 7 several times and enjoyed your description of "very, scenic". I am the driver and white knuckled driving is very accurate.
Posted 2012-02-15 10:53 AM (#140998 - in reply to #140940) Subject: RE: trailriding in Arkansas
Expert
Posts: 2614
I had that kind of experience on the way down the mountain from Jim's to Jasper.I wasn't the driver,but the passenger.Actually,I didn't really see anything as I had my ballcap pulled down over my face until it was over.Just had the sensation of being on a Ferris wheel or roller coaster with my eyes close.Maybe not quiet that fast.I'm glad that we don't have to travel down 7 to Falling Water camp when we do go!
Posted 2012-02-18 7:54 PM (#141194 - in reply to #140658) Subject: RE: trailriding in Arkansas
Veteran
Posts: 153
Location: Grant City, Missouri
Is it that bad pulling in from Missouri? I was afraid of that! My husband is deathly afraid of heights. We took the grand kids to Yellowstone last summer and when we left, we exited thru the East gate...I ended up having to take the wheel as he was driving on the wrong side of the road to avoid being close to the edge!!! Maybe I just won't tell him!!
Posted 2012-02-18 10:51 PM (#141199 - in reply to #141194) Subject: RE: trailriding in Arkansas
Expert
Posts: 2614
Well,it depends on how you go.If you're talking about Falling Water,you don't HAVE to go down 7 even tho it might be the shortest or more advantageous way in some respects.You can always travel I-40 from south of Fayetteville,or,from Conway headed east to Russellville.Then to Pelsor.
But if you're talking about Jim Culver's place (Buffalo River Ranch Resort) there's only two ways to it,it's near the top of the mountain above Jasper,and,neither way is mild.If you've been out west to Yellowstone,it won't be that bad.Just have to use LOW gear coming down! (and have very good brakes and enough truck to hold your load in case.)
Posted 2012-02-19 7:21 AM (#141205 - in reply to #140658) Subject: RE: trailriding in Arkansas
Veteran
Posts: 174
Location: Missouri
We drove Yellowstone for 2 days last year starting at the East entrance each day. We didn't think anything of the roads there. I think the roads in Arkansas are way scarier than that so you might should prepare your husband. lol You might want to check out Sheltons or Caney Mountain in Big Flat or Pine Grove trails in Leslie. The roads to those aren't near as bad as highway 7.
Posted 2012-02-19 9:28 PM (#141232 - in reply to #140658) Subject: RE: trailriding in Arkansas
Veteran
Posts: 109
Location: Bella Vista, AR
As others have said, both ways into Buffalo River Ranch near Jasper were white knuckle experiences for me. I live in Bella Vista, AR and drove over in the car before taking the trailer to check out the roads. I ended up going way out of my way to Harrison and down Hwy 7 rather than the closer way which was more scary to me. Ponderosa campground at Pineville is one of my very favorites, and no scary roads. Camp owner is the best and you can ride to Huckleberry State Forest which has LOTS of riding.
Posted 2012-02-20 8:07 AM (#141237 - in reply to #141232) Subject: RE: trailriding in Arkansas
Expert
Posts: 2614
Going down 7 from Harrison to Jasper isn't bad.It's going back down the mountain where we camped at Jim's that was.Steel Creek is just over the hill from Jim's,and,it's no picnic either.But there is primitive camping at Erby right on the Buffalo River.
It may be too far for some to drive,but,at Pleasant Plains Ar,there is a wonderful fairly new place called Rafter D.Shelton's is probably nice,but,most folks have to have a guide to get to all of the good places.Guides from that particular camp are pricey.Also,I have attempted to get in touch with them to no avail,as I have mentioned in a thread of my own.So I usually don't like to struggle with folks to stay at their place.
The man who owns Rafter D has 1200 acres with about 5 really pretty nice cut out trails.Is it as scenic as riding on the Buffalo? Well,no,not very many other places are,but,we really liked it there.He has a website if you'd want to look at it.
Posted 2012-02-20 8:09 AM (#141238 - in reply to #141237) Subject: RE: trailriding in Arkansas
Expert
Posts: 2614
Originally written by crowleysridgegirl on 2012-02-20 8:07 AM
Going down 7 from Harrison to Jasper isn't bad.It's going back down the mountain where we camped at Jim's that was.Steel Creek is just over the hill from Jim's,and,it's no picnic either.But there is primitive camping at Erby right on the Buffalo River.
It may be too far for some to drive,but,at Pleasant Plains Ar,there is a wonderful fairly new place called Rafter D.Shelton's is probably nice,but,most folks have to have a guide to get to all of the good places.Guides from that particular camp are pricey.Also,I have attempted to get in touch with them to no avail,as I have mentioned in a thread of my own.So I usually don't like to struggle with folks regarding getting info about staying at their place.
The man who owns Rafter D has 1200 acres with about 5 really pretty nice cut out trails.Is it as scenic as riding on the Buffalo? Well,no,not very many other places are,but,we really liked it there.He has a website if you'd want to look at it.
Posted 2012-02-24 9:38 AM (#141390 - in reply to #140658) Subject: RE: trailriding in Arkansas
Member
Posts: 14
Location: Milan, PA
That makes me laugh because we went to both Falling Waters and Buffalo River. I would go to Buffalo River by coming down from Harrison, AR to Jasper, AR on 7 but not the other side of the mountains. And we have a very big trailer. I like Buffalo River best but both were nice. Falling Waters had a sign saying road closed ahread so we were nervous on missing the turn and coming to a dead end road with this big trailer. But it was easy to find. I highly recommend both camps but don't come down Rt. 43. That is a scary road in places with a horse trailer.
Posted 2012-02-24 7:18 PM (#141398 - in reply to #141392) Subject: RE: trailriding in Arkansas
Expert
Posts: 2614
Well,all I know is: you'd better have everything in tip top shape,including tranny,if you're bringing a big trailer and load down from the top of the mountain into Jasper,from either direction.
Posted 2012-02-24 7:21 PM (#141399 - in reply to #141390) Subject: RE: trailriding in Arkansas
Expert
Posts: 2614
Originally written by Jroot on 2012-02-24 9:38 AM
That makes me laugh because we went to both Falling Waters and Buffalo River. I would go to Buffalo River by coming down from Harrison, AR to Jasper, AR on 7 but not the other side of the mountains. And we have a very big trailer. I like Buffalo River best but both were nice. Falling Waters had a sign saying road closed ahread so we were nervous on missing the turn and coming to a dead end road with this big trailer. But it was easy to find. I highly recommend both camps but don't come down Rt. 43. That is a scary road in places with a horse trailer.
where did you camp when you went to Jasper/Buffalo River?
the primitive camp at Erby is near the bottom of the mountain,right on the river.So coming out of Harrison to Erby would be no big deal if you want to primitive camp there.There are 2 ways in to Falling Water,either from Hector,or Dover.
Posted 2012-02-25 12:11 AM (#141408 - in reply to #141398) Subject: RE: trailriding in Arkansas
Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Arkansas
And have your trailer brakes properly adjusted at the wheel as well as the brake controller properly adjusted.... and be prepared to go slowly around the significant curves, and grades. It is very do-able, just don't take it for granted, so to speak.
Posted 2012-02-25 9:12 AM (#141415 - in reply to #141408) Subject: RE: trailriding in Arkansas
Expert
Posts: 2614
yes.We wound up in 1st gear before getting to the bottom.At that last big curve that is very sharp,people are coming up and you're trying to negotiate it with a trailer that swings out and you're afraid to get over close to the side of the mountain and scrape the sides off of it! LOL! The real issue is: from where we camped at Jim's Resort it is about an hour's ride of steep and challenging trail down to the Buffalo.Better have good shoes on your horse and both be in good condition.The trip back up's no picnic for either.
It's all beautiful scenery and worth it,just not for an infrequently ridden horse or soft rider.
Posted 2012-02-27 3:50 PM (#141513 - in reply to #140658) Subject: RE: trailriding in Arkansas
Member
Posts: 14
Location: Milan, PA
We stayed at Buffalo River Resort when we went there. I really liked it. I didn't think the hills to the river where really steep but it was a constant desend or climb out. It is rocky too but my horses are 100% barefoot and did wonderful with out shoes. The bottom was very sandy and pretty. We would go back here for sure. But I would not go west on the road that the resort is on. Way to windy and big drop offs. But we hope to get back again because we enjoyed the riding was really beautiful. We also trailered out one day with Jim's trailer that he lets you use. That was a big plus also to be to other trail heads.