Things to do

Top hiking trails:

w/ Waterfalls:

  • Lost Valley/ Eden Falls, 2.2 Miles R/T
  • Hemmed in Hollow, From Compton Trailhead: 5 miles R/T
  • Twin Falls, 70 Yards
  • Hideout Hollow, 2 Miles R/T

All day adventures:

  • Big Bluff, 6 Miles R/T
  • BRT Trail, Varies
  • Hemmed in Hollow, From Compton Trailhead: 5 miles R/T

Other Trail Adventures

  • Hawksbill Craig/ Whitaker Point, 3 Miles R/T
  • BRT-Ponca-Steel Creek, 2 Miles / One Way
  • Steel Creek Overlook
  • Cherry Grove Cemetery, 2 Miles R/T

Other fun things to do & see in the area

  • Self – Guided Elk viewing – Watching and photographing herds of majestic Rocky Mountain Elk is one of the finest wildlife experiences you can have in Arkansas! The elk along the Buffalo River were introduced into the area to replace the now extinct Eastern Elk and have since thrived and roamed wild along the Buffalo National River. Although they are wild you can usually see them grazing in Boxley Valley during the hours right after sunrise and right before sunset. While you are in the area visit the Elk Education Center in Ponca for more information!
  • Swimming – Late spring through early fall, you will find the swimming holes at Ponca and nearby Steel Creek to be among the prettiest in the state or just a great place to sit and enjoy a picnic lunch.
  • Fishing – The Buffalo National River is a clear waterway, which makes it a great choice as a place to fish for bass, Perch and Catfish, and fishing holes can be found all up and down the Upper Buffalo River.
  • Mountain Biking – Offering about 40 miles of single-track surrounding the highest point in the Ozark Mountains, the Upper Buffalo Mountain Biking Trail is the gem of a MidWest. The ride laces through the headwaters of the Buffalo National River on a mixture of narrow, hand-built single-track and machine-cut flow trails. Featuring some of the best experiences available, the Epic trail offers some stunning scenery past steep cliffs, turquoise waterfalls, abundant wildlife and old-growth hardwood forests.
  • Horseback Riding – This is horse country and riding is a great way to see the landscape. If you have your own horse the Centerpoint Horse Camp is a great basecamp as well as the Steel Creek horse camp and the Erbie horse camp.