Buffalo National River--- developing a New General Management Plan—

If you have just hiked from Lake Fort Smith State Park 165 miles to Woolum (the mouth of Richland Creek), you feel like you ate the whole thing.  Well, not quite, but you have made a good start.  The OHT hasn’t just ended at Woolum for years!

Before crossing to the north side of the Buffalo at Woolum, cross Richland Creek instead and head east on the BNR/OHT 15 miles to Tyler Bend, but don’t stop there. Kick up your heels for another 1 ½ miles, (did you notice that old whiskey still as you went by?) duck under Hwy 65 thru a seven foot box culvert, and take a break at Grinders Ferry access point.

The next 26 miles of the BNR/OHT is under construction with seven miles completed and opened to hikers from Dillards Ferry back west toward Tyler Bend.  The route, all on the south side of the Buffalo, is mostly flagged in hard to see blue, but some sections are impractical to bushwhack.  No, Dillards Ferry access/trailhead is not the end of the OHT!

For the next 15 miles, 12 of which are grown over old roads, use the maps and GPS waypoint list in the guide book Ozark Highlands Trail Route, Lower Buffalo Wilderness, to bushwhack past Buffalo Point, thru the Ducks Head neck (access) at Toney Bend, head southeast to Tilting Rock (access), cross Big Creek near the old mill site, and keep going to Spring Creek Trailhead to pick up the OHT Sylamore Section.  Did you know proceeds of the sales of OHTR, LBW are donated to the OHTA?

For the next 32 miles you’re on OHTA built trail ending at Matney Knob near Norfork, AR.  Due to a temporary shortage of leadership, volunteers, and cooperating land owners, you must stick to public highways for eight miles to reach Norfork Dam.  Head for the west end of the dam to pick up the Ozark Highlands Trail again for 3 miles along the west shore of Lake Norfork.  Finally you have done all there is, 223 miles of built trail!  

Additionally, there are 21 miles of “under construction”, 15 miles of GPS bushwhack route, and 8 miles of public road.  That is 267 miles. There are also 65 more miles approved by the Corps of Engineers for construction, but waiting for leadership and volunteers, to cross the Missouri line at Tecumseh where hookup to the Ozark Trail to St. Louis is not a long way up the Norfork River.

Hikers, especially OHTA members, have a big stake (sorry--- not a steak) in the Buffalo National River Management Plan development.  Nearly 58 miles of the OHT is within the Buffalo National River!  Should it be multi-use?  Should permits be required?  Should 15 miles of GPS bushwhack be built trail (see the history of promises presented in the guide book)?  Should it be blazed?  What about backcountry camping?  Leave no trace, or outhouses? Should a spur continue the rest of the way to the mouth of the Buffalo per the very first management plan?  Should the BNR become a major vacation destination?  A horse mecca?  An RV haven?  ATV playground?  Should the lower River become part of the Wilderness?

This is your big chance to help decide.  Get on the BNR contact list Now:  870-741-5443,

http://parkplanning.nps.gov/buff or NPS Denver Service Center, Buffalo NR Planning Team, PO Box 25287, Denver, CO 80225-0287.

Duane Woltjen