October may be almost over, but fall is just beginning for us here in the Ozarks; the leaves are just starting to change. It’s a beautiful day here at Big Springs (False, it’s a miserable, rainy day, and Misha kitty is outside on the front porch begging to be let in). But that hasn’t stopped us girls from thinking about some of our favorite fall activities!
Our community is just coming down from the hype of Falling Water (a yearly trail ride to Falling Water on Richland Creek), and JunkFest (would not recommend 2/10, but the idea is yard sales! Yard sales everywhere!) So we’re looking forward to some of the calmer fall things, like fall hikes on the Buffalo National River and our favorite fall/wintertime visitors, the elk.
We’re even looking forward to the Pumpkin Patch at the St. Joe School, where you can pick out your own pumpkin from their patch or buy one pre-picked for $5 or less - and it support the FFA, who planted these pumpkins during the summer specifically for this fundraiser.
We think they did a pretty good job.
Whether you’re new to the area or just visiting, you’ll definitely enjoy some of the great views that we have here on the Buffalo National Park this time of year. If you’re looking for a short hike to enjoy some of the beautiful autumn scenery, we here at Big Springs recommend the Collier Homestead Hike, a two mile trail that is handicap accessible up to the homestead. It has plenty of great opportunities for all of those fall pictures that we just that know y’all are itching to take, and has a pretty overlook that’s worth checking out.
If you’re not up for a hike, there’s another place in the area that we’re sure would make for some great pictures of the fall leaves in Arkansas - Red Bluff, off from Tomahawk Slab Road on Mercy Lane. You can drive straight to it, and it’s only about 5 miles down a gravel road.
Do you see it? Because we see it. Might wanna go get your eyes checked!
But if neither one of these things really puts the sweet in your tea, we also have plenty of wildlife out this time of year. And the best part is, you really don’t have to look that hard to see deer or even elk! They come out just about every night around dusk, and our elk take great pictures! Their favorite spots are in the fields near Bear Creek just north of Marshall on US Highway 65. If you’re extra lucky, you can get the elk and the Smith Barn all in one photo. If you miss them right on the highway, you might also see them grazing in the fields along the Buffalo National River.
Whatever it is that you like doing, we hope you’ll consider doing it in the Buffalo River area - and if you’re out our way, stop by and get a sandwich for whatever you have planned!
What are some of your favorite fall activities?