Keep an eye on children and pets near the bluff edges. Thousands of visitors every year hike up the Whitaker Point trail to the beautiful rocky viewpoint. Some of them have steep drop-offs. We stood on the platform of rock to take pictures, but I had to get close to the tip to take a picture of the view and even then a nearby man photobombed my efforts. We hiked Whittakers point on a Saturday morning. That's because the views you'll catch from the road are breathtaking! The woman said she had hiked the trail as a child and pointed the way we had been walking, down the road that sloped gradually away from usthe wrong direction. There have been a number of deaths over the years associated with Whitaker Point: this is not a trail on which it is advisable to take children, nor would any risky stunts for the sake of a cool picture be wise. Follow CR 5 until you reach the trailhead. I had heard this trail gets overrun with people so we arrived at the trail at 7:30 am. Turn right onto gravel road #9560 and go about 6 miles. It would have been impossible to get a solitary snapshot, let alone try to take a series of careful photographs from different angles. Whenever we go into the Buffalo National River area, we always bring our National Geographic Topo Map #232, Buffalo National River West, to navigate. Adria English is a professional writer and a casual artist with a penchant for doodling. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. The hike is difficult in spots due to the steepness and rocks/tree roots, but much of the hike is not strenuous. Whitaker Point in the Arkansas Ozarks Youll know Whitaker Point when you see it. Many features won't work correctly, and functionality can't be guaranteed. Whitaker Point, also known as Hawksbill Crag, is a rock overhang in Northwest Arkansas offering a spectacular view of the Ozark National Forest. I love sharing travel tips to empower other to go any where. In this guide were sharing everything you need to know before hiking the Whitaker Point Trail to Hawksbill Crag in Arkansas, including trail stats, what to bring, and more!If you Google top hikes in Arkansas, there is about a 99.9% chance youll see Whitaker Point towards the top of the list. Are you interested in hiking to the famous Whitaker Point, also known as Hawksbill Crag, or visiting Buffalo National River in Arkansas? Created with Sketch. 25 Reasons to Visit Pulaski County This Summer, UA Professor Explores Rice in Beer Making, Owen Dyer: Arkansas Teen American Ninja Warrior, Mountain Home Feels the Love - Only In Arkansas, 15 Picture-Perfect Spots to Say "Yes" - Only In Arkansas. Plan Your Visit. Dont let other reviews of the rough drive discourage you from visiting. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Cookie Policy, 2023 Adventures of A+K. Also need good hiking shoes and be careful. Where to Experience the Best of Fall Foliage in Arkansas Terrains is very rocky but, usually not too steep. It was not a challenging hike, so the beauty of it seemed disproportionate to the energy we had expended. We cannot even imagine how busy it wouldve been on a nice weather weekend day! Upon arriving to the trailhead youll find a small parking area. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused! After an awesome morning exploring the Buffalo National River, eating a delicious brunch in Jasper at the Blue Mountain Cafe and Bakery, and seeing foggy views at the Arkansas Grand Canyon, we hit the road to the Whitaker Point Trail!We decided to go the long way there, taking Highway 16 to try to avoid the rough roads we had read about on AllTrails. There are so many other amazing hikes in the area. If it has rained recently, you may encounter several small waterfalls on the way. After driving for about an hour in rain and lots of fog (we could barely see in front of us! Went on my first anniversary, Glimpse of views when you get closer to the point. Disney filmed the opening to Tuck Everlasting here. Looking for more things to do in Arkansas? What attractions are near Hawksbill Crag? Hiking the Whitaker Point Trail to the famous Hawksbill Crag is one of the most iconic hikes in the Ozark National Forest. Get to know this 2.7-mile out-and-back trail near Pettigrew, Arkansas. Get a FREE Camping & Hiking Packing List! As for myself, morning is simply the best time of day. The Buffalo National River is a designated International Dark Sky Park, recognizing and protecting its exceptionally dark and starry skies. If you do bring food, make sure you have bags to put your trash in so you can pack out what you brought. Many great photo ops on the way. Awesome hike! To beat the crowds, avoid weekend hikes and plan a trip early in the day. As we hiked, this caused people around us to become excited time and again as they thought they had reached the famed Whitaker Point, only to have their excitement dim as they realized the trail continued. Whitaker Point is a fantastic trail to hike year-round, honestly. How to Reach Hawksbill Crag Hiking the Whitaker Point Trail, Fall Road Trip Idea: Camp & Hike to Hawksbill Crag in the, What to Wear Hiking: Perfect Spring Hiking Outfit Ideas for, Plan a Weekend Getaway to Mount Magazine State Park- the. Accepted file types: jpg, png, Max. You will go downhill at the beginning, on the way to Hawksbill Crag, and will go uphill on the way back to the parking area. Located just an hour and a half east of Fayetteville, Whitaker Point is amongst the most beautiful places in the state. Overall, I really enjoyed hiking the Whitaker Point Trail to Hawksbill Crag. The hike is downhill and moderately challenging with rocks, roots and crossing springs. It took us(me and my husband plus a 15, 13 and 10 year old) about two hours to complete and thats with a few water breaks and some time at the point admiring the view. The rewards are the Crag, the rock formations and the views at the end. When setting your GPS on this location, make sure to not drive on County Road 3605 unless you have a 4WD vehicle with good ground clearance. The average highs in the state are 93 degrees at their peak in July, but they do occasionally exceed 100 degrees. License plates read Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas, along with Colorado, Tennessee, South Dakota and Louisiana. Whitaker Point Trail (Hawksbill Crag) [The Ultimate Hiker's Guide] We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location. By Shiv508 " Amazing view " Jul 2021 . Today the river is floatable and some falls are flowing in the state. Several hikers with walking sticks. Hawksbill Crag (Ponca) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go - Tripadvisor You will also love these other hikes close by: Lost Valley Trail in Buffalo National River. The most popular hiking destination in the statethe Ozark Mountains looks astonishing in fall. 1. whitaker point, going for the first time - Arkansas Forum Great hike. Its actually a lot wider and less scary than it looks from the iconic side shot photo.After getting some cool photos, we headed back to the trailhead, stopping at the various other little nooks along the way. About a mile into the hike, you will cross a small stream and notice a fork, and you will have to make a choice. Even though you gain most of the elevation on the way back, its pretty gradual and definitely not too strenuous! Check out our other articles about hiking and camping in northwest Arkansas: Feel free to leave us a comment below, letting us know what your favorite part of the Whitaker Point Trail is or if you have any questions! 3 Miles Overview If Buffalo River lovers were pressed to name their favorite spot, well, this most scenic of Arkansas hiking trail icons might just take first place. But terrifying 5 mile dirt road to the trailhead. trail was easy to follow and very Theres about a 20 minute drive up a gravel road to get to the trail and there are no restrooms at the trailhead so go before if you can. Trail splits off in a few places, but they all lead the same way. As long as there hasnt been heavy rain or snow recently, you should be just fine getting up there! Many nearby attractions outside of the park are within short driving distances. Hawksbill Crag, is a rock overhang in Northwest Arkansas offering a spectacular view of the. locate We hardly saw anyone on the drive up, so we got hopeful that this popular trail would be empty on a gloomy Monday afternoon, but as soon as we approached the parking area, we saw about 20-25 cars parked and people starting their hike.We snagged a parking spot that our van could fit in and hit the trail! 8 am 5 pm | Nov Feb. Buffalo Outdoor Center is authorized to provide canoe rentals and transportation services within the Buffalo National River. Have you been looking for new camera gear to compliment your adventure travel photography? 12 Best Places to Experience Fall In Arkansas - Southern Trippers Both will take you to the crag. Hiking the Whitaker Point Trail to the famous Hawksbill Crag is one of the most iconic hikes in the Ozark National Forest. Had the rock to ourselves for like 20 minutes. This hike and view are amazing and Hawksbill Crag may be one of the most photographed spots in Arkansas. The hike starts with a descent, and there is little incline throughout the trail until the very end. The last bit of the drive up here is a 6 mile rough drive up a bumpy country road, took a while to drive up.. We were in a small SUV and did ok. Id love to hike here someday. One of the most photographed spots in The Natural State is Whitaker's Point. There is a little bit of a scramble up and down a rock wall to see the waterfall up close. Road in is rough but manageable. " Jul 2022 It took us one hour to get to the cliff overlook and another hour to return to the car.