Hiking Arkansas' Buffalo River: An Easy Nature and Historical Walk

For some, visiting the beautiful Buffalo River in Arkansas means a canoe trip full of scenic bluffs, breathtaking foliage and the occasional spotting of a deer or elk. Most do not explore the outlying areas of the river, unless they are prepared to backpack the National Park trail heads.

The trail at the Pruitt landing, located south of Harrison, Arkansas, is referred to on the map as The Mill Creek Trail. It is a non-strenuous, 2-mile walk through the beauty of the Ozark Mountains. The only strenuous piece is the slight incline that takes you out of the parking lot.

Many visitors and canoers are sometimes curious about the history that surrounds the Buffalo River. Trail heads that lead to old homesteads and abandoned family cemeteries are hiking trails that should be attempted by experienced hikers or hikers who plan on camping out along the way, the Mill Creek Trail is much different. The Mill Creek Trail is a 2 mile loop that leads right back to the parking lot at Pruitt. If a hiker chooses to only walk half of the trail and not walk to see the historical home, there is a trail head to the left of a low-water bridge that takes you right back from whence you came.

Before starting on the hike, Pruitt is equipped with nice restroom facilities. There are no outhouses or port-a-potties anywhere on the two-mile trail. Just down from the parking area, on the bank of the Buffalo River, you will find the trail head that is labeled "The Mill Creek Trail". On the information sign, it gives a brief description of what you will find as you take your walk through the forest. The trail will eventually lead to a quaint cabin that was built in the 1930s. The cabin was constructed from pre-civil war era logs.

The first spot of beauty that hikers will reach is the intersection of Mill Creek flowing into the Buffalo River. The path takes you along Mill Creek and past beautiful flowers in the springtime and a breathtaking rainbow of colored foliage in the fall. The trail does get a little narrow just before you get to the low water bridge, but it is nothing to worry about. On parts on the trail, the National Park Service has strategically placed rocks for stepping stones, which make the trek uphill or downhill that much easier.

As you reach the low water bridge, you will come to the county road. While this road is not a main thoroughfare, it is traveled by vehicles, so please use caution while walking on the road. If you will take a right onto the country road and walk up just a little way, you will get to the a gated path on the right hand side of the road, down that path is where the historic cabin is located. As you visit the cabin, take in the wonder of what it was like to live there in the 1930's. You will no doubt leave the homestead with a greater appreciation for the modern conveniences of today.

As you back-track to the parking lot from the homestead, you will take a left on the country road. When you get to the low water bridge, you will cross the bridge and immediately to the left, there is a trail marker. (If water is flowing over the bridge, please do not attempt to cross it by foot or car) Following the bank of the Mill Creek trail until you reach what can best be described as the "enchanted forest". While walking under a canopy of trees, you can easily picture yourself as a character in the Chronicles of Narnia or perhaps even Hansel and Gretel as they walked through the forest dropping breadcrumbs behind them. Follow the trail through this "enchanted forest" and take in every minute that you are there! Just past the "enchanted forest" is the exit of the trail and the entrance to the parking lot. Again, exercise caution when leaving the trail because it is a well traveled area with drivers who may not be expected to see hikers emerge from the woods.

The complete trek will take approximately an hour or so, just depending on your speed. There are not any "real" places to picnic while on the trail, unless you want to eat a snack on a rock along side of the creek bed. However, there is a beautiful park located on the opposite side of Highway 7 and it is within walking distance of the parking lot. The best thing about this location, is if you are not wanting to hike or if you are physically unable to do so, you can still drive to visit the historic homestead, as it is located just off of the county road.