Sunday 3-27 to Tuesday 3-29 Leaving Oklahoma & Hello Arkansas

 

No Internet

During our stay at Mount Magazine we had very little cell signal/internet. At times we could check our email and maybe the weather but that was about it. I didn't get to play my computer games.

 Sunday 3-27 Mount Magazine State Park Cameron Campground

After spending a week in Oklahoma visiting two magnificent state parks, Beavers Bend and Robbers Cave it was time to move on. While visiting Oklahoma we did eight hikes with a total of 33.5 miles. I walked around the camping areas for an hour to an hour and half, which was between 3 and 4.5 miles per walk. When we weren't hiking we read and I played computer games. We met some wonderful people and their dogs.  

Our next destination was Mount Magazine State Park, which was 140 miles away. The drive was mainly two and four lane highways through small cities. As we drove we saw a lot of ranches and farms. We stopped at a Walmart to pick up a few things we were getting low on. After shopping we ate lunch in the parking lot.

Mount Magazine State Park is at the top of a mountain requiring you to take a narrow and curvy mountain road.

We stopped at the Visitor Center to check in. Arkansas State Parks gives a 25% discount to seniors who camp during the week, very nice. While there we walked around the museum and store. The museum told the history of Mount Magazine. Mount Magazine use to be an actual town but in the 1930s the residents couldn't pay their taxes so they had to give up their homes. During the Great Depression the WPA built the park. In 1971 the lodge burned down and the National government didn't have money to rebuild the lodge so the state of Arkansas paid to have it rebuilt. The park is now a state park but the Federal government still owns the land. 

Mount Magazine Visitor Center

Cameron Campground is the only RV campground on the mountain. It only has 18 sites and they all have full hook-ups, picnic table, tent pad, fire ring and trees. There are restrooms with showers and a dump station. The hiking trails are walking distance from the campground. You can get internet at the lodge.

Once we set up the Minnie we went on an hour walk for 2.5 miles. We hiked the Signal Hill Trail to the lodge. The trail was very easy except you have to be careful of the rocks. It weaved up the mountain. Once at the lodge we walked around the grounds. It was gorgeous and looked over the valley and river. The lodge has a restaurant that looks over the mountain. The entrance to the lodge had a beautiful fountain. We hiked a short trail to where the lodge use to be until it burned down. The view there was beautiful. We walked the park road back to the campground. While walking the road we walked by some of the cabins. They looked over the mountain. When we got to Brown Springs picnic area we stopped and rested. It was only about a .25 mile away from the campground.

Waterfall at the lodge entrance

 

The back of the lodge

 

One of the cabins

 

 

 

A view of the area around the lodge

 

After dinner I walked around for an hour. I walked to the Cameron Bluff Overview and the WPA Amphitheater. The overview had beautiful views of the surrounding area. The original amphitheater was built by the WPA in the 1930s, it was rebuilt by the park in 1971. It was left abandon for many years and weeds were taking off. It looks over the area and is gorgeous. By the end of the day I had done 26,500 steps, which put me in 4th place in my group.

 

 

The steps at the overlook 

 

A view from the overlook

 

 

 

WPA Amphitheater

 

 

 

Camping at Cameron Bluff Campground

 

Monday 3-28 Camping & Hiking 

 

The day started out at 42 degrees with high winds out of the east, which made it feel colder. The wind died down a bit in the afternoon. It got to 67 degrees.

Larry made cinnamon rolls for breakfast. After breakfast we went on a 2.5 hour hike for 5 miles. We walked to Brown Springs picnic area and picked up the trail at the end of the parking lot. The trail isn't marked but it's on the park trail map called West End Trail. The trail is 1.8 miles one way along the rim of Mount Magazine. The terrain was flat and easy to hike. We hiked through trees and saw magnificent views of the surrounding area. The trees didn't have any leaves and the wind was wicked and cold. We had to put our hoods up to protect us from the wind. There were some wet areas so we had to walk around them. We didn't see any wildlife, I believe that is because they had a controlled burn recently. Once in awhile we had to cross over a creek. One area we used a small foot bridge and the other areas we used rocks. Occasionally we stopped and looked at the rock formations and the beautiful views of the area. There was an A-frame building at the end of the trail, which was part of a communications tower. We found a boulder to sit on and rest. It was a great place to rest because the view was outstanding and Larry had internet on his phone. There were two ways to go back, either the utility road or the way we came. We did the trail because it went through the trees. When we were almost at the picnic area we met two guys and their beagle. When we got back to the picnic area I went to the restroom and Larry rested at a table. After resting we went back to the Minnie. By the time we got back we were tired. We rested and then we had lunch.

 

 

A-frame building

 

 

A view from the trail

After lunch we went on an hour hike/walk. We walked across the road to Signal Hill trail, which is .4 mile trail to the highest point in Arkansas. There were a lot of rocks but an easy trail uphill. We started at 2600 ft and ended up at 2753 ft, which is the highest point in Arkansas. There was a great sign to tell you where you were. In front of the sign the ground had a magnificent rock slab in the shape of Arkansas. There was a board that had a map of the surrounding states and their highest point. The idea was for you to compare the shape on the ground the shape on the board. The shapes matched perfectly. We hiked back down the trail to where the trails Yd off towards the lodge and Highest Point. I was trying to read a trail sign and I tripped over a rock and fell. I was lucky I fell where I did because there were no sharp rocks I hit the packed ground. I hurt the palm of my hands, they ached for bit but they’re ok. Larry was happy I didn’t break or bruise anything. I just dirtied my pants. During our short hike we met a couple and their two dogs. We also saw a few other people. When we got to the campground we continued walking. We walked over to Cameron Bluff Overlook and the WPA Amphitheater. When we were at the amphitheater we met a couple with a dog. Afterwards we went back to the Minnie.

The rock slab in the shape of Arkansas

I made it to the highest point in Arkansas

In evening I walked around the campground for about an hour to finish my 27,500 steps. This put me in 2nd place in my group. Good start for the week. We spent the rest of the evening reading.

 

Tuesday 3-29 Hiking and Moving On

We woke up to temperature in the low 50s and wind.  After breakfast we went on a three hour hike for 6 miles. We started out by taking the North Rim trail from the campground to the visitor center, which was 2.7 miles one way. The trail was challenging because it weaved up and down the mountainside and through trees. At places you had to be careful because of the rocks. We stopped occasionally to look at beautiful views of the area. We were about a mile from the visitor center when a group of 12 ladies met up with us on the trail. We all said our hellos and continued our hike. When we got to the visitor center we rested for a bit before walking across the street to Greenfield picnic area where we picked up the Mossback Ridge trail. The trail took us up and down the mountainside. The first .5 mile was challenging because it went up 200 ft. By the time we got to the top we were sweaty and tired. We hiked Mossback Ridge for 2.2 miles and there was a Y, we weren't sure which way to go. We saw a gentleman hiking and Larry asked him about the trail. He said continue on the the trail we were on straight ahead. The other trail went back down the mountain and then back up and would take a long time. Larry thanked him and we continued our hike. We met up with the group of ladies right before the Y, they were headed back to the visitor center. They said hi to us again. About a mile later we passed where I fell yesterday. There were three signs; Lodge, Campground and Highest Point. We took the campground trail, which was about .5 mile. We had a super hike.

When we got home we rested and then had lunch. It's suppose to rain all day tomorrow and there was a high wind advisory, here at the top of the mountain the wind can really blow. We decided to leave and move on. We had already paid for the night but we decided it was better to move on. Larry knew there was some Corp of Engineer Parks not too far away. At the bottom of the mountain we stopped at Paris, Arkansas where we had a cell signal, Larry found a place for us to stay for a couple of nights or even longer if we want. It was Ozark Lake Corp of Engineers Campground. It was only 16 miles away from Paris. 

When we got to the office Larry asked how to check in. We are finding more and more campgrounds where the only way to get a site is to go online and that is what we had to do here. We found a beautiful site right by the river. I have the Senior America The Beautiful card so the site only cost $10.00 a night. We reserved the site for two nights and set up the Minnie. I barbecued sausages for dinner. After dinner I walked around for an hour and a half to get my steps. I ended up doing 27,000 steps, which put me in 4th place in my group. We had a wonderful day.

 

 

Camping at Ozark Lake Campground

 

 

 

The dam on the river

 

Lock on the river

 

Yesterday, when I fell I damaged my camera. The lens cover wouldn't open or close all the way. Larry looked at it. He cleaned the lens and the cover but it still wouldn't work. Upon further inspection he saw the cover had a very small bend, he was hesitant about trying to straighten it because he was afraid he could damage it worse. It took him a bit to decide how to repair it but he got it figured out and it works. Thank you Larry.