Buffalo National River, Hot Springs National Park, and Pea Ridge National Military Park

March 2, 2019 P-TParaD Comments 0 Comment

Over Labor Day 2018 weekend we took a trip to the Diamond State. We linked up with another great family and floated the Buffalo National River and then drove further into Arkansas to visit Hot Springs National Park. On the way home we popped into Pea Ridge National Military Park for a quick visit as well.

30 August 2018 – Kansas City to Buffalo National River – Buffalo Point Campground

We had the fortune that the kids were off Friday and Monday, so we set off for Arkansas on Thursday afternoon. We encountered the usual knife fight to get through Kansas City rush hour and drove through the winding two-lane highways in Northwest Arkansas. We arrived to Buffalo Point Campground around 9 pm. Our friends beat us to the campground by a few hours. The kids (our two and their four) violated quiet hours with a boisterous reunion. We set a rough agenda for Friday morning and our friends departed for bed. We continued to set up Patty minimally so we didn’t keep our neighbors up.

31 August 2018 – Floating the Buffalo

I woke up first in the camper, when it was still dark. I quietly got dressed and got outside without waking anyone. The campground was completely still. I found a marked trail from our campground loop down to the river. Down at the river I found beautiful, cool rushing waters. A nearby rock made a great place to watch a great blue heron fish for a few minutes and witness the woods come to life. I love sharing the outdoors with family, but I also cherish times I have to observe nature alone.

I wandered back to the camper and found a swarm of children ripping around on their bikes asking for food. We had some quick donuts. After corralling the kids into their river gear and loading the van, we headed out to get on the river.

We planned a float from Dillard’s Ferry to Rush Landing. Our friends had two kayaks and we rented a canoe from a local outfitter, Wild Bill’s Outfitter. We also used Wild Bill’s to drive our car from Dillard’s Ferry to Rush Landing for us. We left an extra key with them and they hid the key and locked the door, so it’d be waiting for us when we got to Rush. We put in at Dillard’s Ferry around 10 am and headed downstream.

“Established in 1972, Buffalo National River flows freely for 135 miles and is one of the few remaining undammed rivers in the lower 48 states.” -National Park Service

We floated lazily down the river, stopping often for swim breaks. We found a nice sand bar with shade to set up and have lunch. We packed in sandwiches and fresh fruit in a couple of coolers. You can bring pretty much anything you want with you on the river except for glass. After about an hour munching and playing around we got back on the river.

Though beautiful, the river flattened out and slowed the further we went along. This called for maximum paddling

As the heat of the afternoon set in, the kids started to get a bit disinterested and were ready to get back to the campground. We were off the river around 4:30 pm and back to the campground by 5 pm. Everyone showered up and settled into the campground. The kids tore off all over the campground bike riding, working on Jr Ranger books, and just having a great time.

Working on those books. Gotta get those badges.

After dinner and s’mores, the kids slowed down. As the campground got quiet, the stars came out. Buffalo National River is applying as an International Dark Sky Park. We need to work on our night photography so no pictures for you, but it is was an amazing summer sky. There were also Ranger programs about stargazing, but the day on the river took all of our motivation to get down to the amphitheater.

01 September 2018 – Good bye to friends and Buffalo National River and arrive at Hot Springs, Arkansas

We woke up around 7 and got moving. After a heaping pile of pancakes, eggs, and bacon we took the kids up to the visitor center to get their Jr Ranger badges, our kids’ favorite part of a park visit.

Our oldest also worked on and earned a “Night Sky Ranger” badge

The kids said their goodbyes four or five times, Patty stopped off at the dump station, and we headed south.

The route we took to Buffalo National River to Hot Springs was winding with lots of elevation changes and took us through many small towns. It was a pleasant and pretty couple hour drive.

Stretching our legs on a pull out with a view

We arrived to Hot Springs National Park KOA in the mid-afternoon. After checking in we had enough time to run down to the Hot Springs National Park Visitor Center. The park is woven into the middle of Hot Springs, AR. It is an odd feel. On one side of the street is a touristy, Branson-like atmosphere and on the other side of the street is Bathhouse Row and National Park offices. Parking is also tough downtown. I dropped off mom and the kids. They ran in to get Jr Ranger books and asked for some trails to hike and I drove in circles waiting for them to come back out.

They came out with their books and we drove up to the quieter and more natural side of the park on Hot Springs Mountain Drive. The drive takes numerous switchbacks up the side of the mountain to some overlooks and the Hot Springs Mountain Tower. After driving to the top, we drove down and headed over to the campground.

Back at the campground the kids had fun playing and enjoying activities from the campground.

02 September 2019 – More Hot Springs National Park

We woke up and grabbed some breakfast. We headed over to the Gulpha Gorge Campground (the only campground within the Park) to hit the Goat Rock Trail trailhead. The Goat Rock Trail was a recommendation from a ranger at the Visitor Center because of its short distance, but worthwhile views.

The trail crosses this stream just past the trailhead

Learning about how walnuts grow

Up on Goat RockAfter the trail, we headed back to Bathhouse Row and toured the visitor center, which is a very well preserved bathhouse. The self-guided tour has plenty of signs and information to get a good feel of what a visit to a bathhouse in the heyday was like. It was an odd time for medicine. After we finished up the tour, we got the kids their badges and started moving back to the campground.

03 September 2019 – Hot Springs, AR to Pea Ridge National Military Park to Home

We woke up early in the morning to get moving back home. On the way north, we stopped in Pea Ridge National Military Park. The Battle of Pea Ridge is interesting and can be studied for much longer than a few hours. However, our younger kids were pretty happy with a roughly 1.5 hour tour. The Civil War is still a bit heavy for them, but it’s a place to revisit when they’re a little older.