Buffallo River Trail

The Old River Trail criss-crosses back and forth across the Buffalo National River from Ponca to Pruitt. Long before this was a national park, the river was home to pioneer families who moved up and down the river by horse-drawn wagon and eventually automobile or truck. You can still see skeletal remains of some of these abandoned vehicles as you travel the Old River Trail. This trail is for those who don't mind getting their feet wet, as even in summertime low water there's just some places that always offer a wet crossing. The trail is most commonly used by trail riders, however, it is not unusual for a backpacker to travel the Old River Trail as well. The advantage to this trail is it keeps you in the riverbed where you can enjoy the scenic beauty of the Buffalo River closeup and personal. In contrast, the Buffalo River Trail traverses the eastern upper mountain benches above---and oftentimes out of sight---of the river below. In summer, the trail can become more than a bit gnarly as the undergrowth, along with assorted ticks, chiggers and mosquitos, can keep you challenged in between river crossings. For this reason, fall and winter are glorious times to enjoy the Old River Trail with the main challenge being that of keeping your feet warm and dry, at least for part of the time.