Radiant Stoney Ridge

In search of a little sunshine after a few days of rain led to location only a little north of Sedalia in Missouri.  Originally named Stonyridge Farm, Bothwell Lodge State Historic Site is home to one of a few castles that dot the landscape in the state. 

The lodge stood shuttered on this particular visit, but is regularly open to tours, for a small fee. Constructed at the turn of the twentieth century, using limestone quarried on site, the structure is perched upon a bluff overlooking the valley that also hosts US-65.  It is unique in that it attempted to leverage a natural cave, discovered at the time of construction, to provide air conditioning to the home. Access to admire the exterior of the stately home, along with a grand view of the valley below, remains available during all daylight hours.  

The only touring available on this round involved stomping through the forests and fields associated with the property.  The first, warmed things up for the second of only two trails on the site.  The Stonyridge Trail is just under a kilometer and wanders a relatively wide trail near the lodge, visiting a couple of points of interest to visitors of a bygone era.  

The second path is a bit more demanding, but only length.  Clocking in at just over 5 kilometers, it meanders around the forest and fields related to the site.  It is a narrow packed earth trail most of the time, rolling along, widening here and there, though never enough for a side-by-side stroll.  A small, quiet pond offers an opportunity for mosquito infested reflection about half way along.  The pathway also crosses a few meadows filled with tallgrass, wildflowers, and ticks at this time of year.  Only three of the tiny hitchhikers were found on this occasion, before they had dug in for an extended stay.  Generally, it is a good route, likely enhanced in the late fall, after everything dies off, or in the early sprint before the insect population becomes too active.

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Further Reading

Bothwell Lodge State Historic Site

Missouri State Parks

Bluffton and the Gold Star Highway to Warsaw

It was decided that the route back to Kansas City would include a stop at nearby Blufton Preserve to examine the potential for future expeditions.  This first intrusion investigated the purported waterfall.  Double Drop Falls displayed not much more than an array of trickles on the lower drop, and not much better on the upper.  A good look at these would likely require a visit immediate after rains passed through.  Other trails offered interesting things to discover too, but those would have to wait for the next round.

The road stretched out mostly uninterrupted on this occasion, excepting a detour north through Warsaw.  It had been suggested that US-65 went all the way there now, but that turned out untrue.  The road narrowed back to two lanes somewhere near Buffalo. 

It was good to check in on the old town though, which had undergone extensive renovations during the past 10 years.  Everything was as it was before mostly, with an array of new businesses and fresh paint.  The park at Drake Harbor seemed to be the most changed, with quiet an extensive pairing of walking trails, playground equipment, an amphitheater and other outdoor activities.

Cloudy to partly cloudy skies filled most of the journey, collecting in mass more in Missouri than in Arkansas.  The rain that had been left in Kansas City persisted, in spite of efforts of the sun to break through.  It never really rained though.  

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Further Reading

Bluffton Preserve

The Nature Conservancy

Warsaw, MO

Drake Harbor

Benton County, Missouri

A Woolly Hollow and a Mossy Bluff

The Huckleberry Trail at Woolly Hollow State Park stood as the primary objective for the morning.  It promised to be a rather hot day, so an early start on the 5 km trek seemed the most reasonable thing to do.  In spite of recent rains, the cascade trickled more than anything else and most of the wildflowers that had been poking through earlier in the spring were mostly absent.  After sweating it through that minor wilderness, a dip in the cool waters of Lake Bennett put things back in the proper perspective.  A stroke of luck found the fee waived due to a lack of lifeguards.

Obtaining sustenance at Cafe Klaser, the other half of the party headed out to a wild and unruly evening at the local bingo hall.  This afforded the opportunity to do a little late afternoon exploring of Jim Kress Wildlife Management Area.  There is no telling why this region has not been explored more, as many occasions have been available to do so.  

Dry Fork was found to be equal to its name, though one of the myriad of old logging roads that shoot off of Warren Mountain Road offered up peaceful surroundings and astounding late afternoon views of the surrounding mountains.  That silence was broken by a load of folks in a pickup that just happening down the same round, seemingly out of nowhere.

The remainder of the evening offered little hope for any other activity beyond another hike.  Returning to the quiet solitude of Mossy Bluff back in Heber, at a slower pace than usual enabled reflection on the day.  A return to Jim Kress Wildlife Management Area is definitely on the horizon.  There are so many things left to explore in that little corner of North Central Arkansas that many folks would probably just ignore.

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Further Reading

Huckleberry Trail - Woolly Hollow State Park

Arkansas State Parks

Jim Kress Wildlife Management Area

Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

Along the Mossy Bluff

Mossy Bluff National Nature Trail in Arkansas

jusTodd on Medium

Rainy Bridge to a Massacre

Rain finally rolled into the area of Heber Springs overnight, leading to to a soaked Thursday.  It was not heavy, but definitely persistent.  After a good breakfast at the Arrow, inspiration to connect with an old friend from a previous story led to Beaverfork Lake Park .  The success of the relocation of the Springfield-Des Arc Bridge found it proudly serving traffic once again.

With little else to do, it seemed reasonable enough to hunt down Cadron Settlement Park.  A relatively new blockhouse had been restored on the site of a previous similar structure.  There is an odd array of history associated with the location.  The settlement itself only lasted about 30 years in the early 1800's, hosting the last stand, and eventual surrender, of Confederate troops north of the Arkansas River.  It is also the site of the "1814 Rock of Ages Massacre," of which no information is currently available.  

The rain finally began to let up a little late in the afternoon.  It had not soaked the ground too much, enabling a late evening hike along the Tonawanda Trail around the base of Sugarloaf Mountain.  The situation could not have been more peaceful and surprisingly, relatively dry.

Thinking there was still some time to race down to Sandy Beach and catch the sunset proved inaccurate.  The burning orb had already dune its duty, but proved out another secluded and quiet walk along the water of Greers Ferry Lake in the fading light of mostly clear skies.

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Further Reading

Arrow's Cafe & BBQ

Heber Springs, AR

Beaverfork Lake Park

Conway Parks & Recreation

Endangered Bridge in the Brush

Historic Springfield Des-Arc Bridge Preservation Efforts

jusTodd on Medium.com

Cadron Creek Settlement

Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Sugarloaf Mountain

Sugarloaf Heritage Council

Sandy Beach

City of Heber Springs

Lingering about the Heber Trails

Weather showed up hot and steamy in north central Arkansas.  An early start ensured heat would not cause too much distress.  Intent on warming up the lost art of hiking, most of the spaces encountered on this occasion were of the local variety, beginning with Josh Park Memorial Trail out on the edge of town.

Mossy Bluff showed off deep Arkansas spring tones.  A few flowers continued to litter the floor of the forest, though most of the other seasonal flowers had passed on.  The burn-off from earlier in the year proved barely visible, but the benefits lingered in a reduced insect population and a lusher growth.

Activities of the morning ended with dipping toes in the cool waters of the Collins Creek Cascade out by the dam.  The clear, cold waters rejuvenated ankles and brought ambient temperatures down to refreshing levels. Lounging about the water at Sandy Beach followed for a time, finishing the day in good company and a late hike around the Sugar Loaf.

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Further Reading

Josh Park Memorial Trail

American Trails - National Recreational Trail Database

Along the Mossy Bluff

Mossy Bluff National Nature Trail in Arkansas

jusTodd on Medium.com

Collins Creek Cascade and Trout Stream

jusTodd on Atlas Obscura

Sugar Loaf Mountain in Heber Springs

Arkansas.com