What a super trip. Special thanks for sharing your pictures. Click on a picture for a larger view.
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October 29th, 2014. Left Ozark at 6:40 am and just before Jasper we swapped
drivers. Dave was looking like he might barf on Mark so I opted out to swap him
and Robs position. WE arrived at Richland Creek Campground
at 9:20 am. Rob's little suburrau flew down those roads as David said there is
sweet spot speed you have to find on these dirt roads and he found it. We made
record time! Temps were chilly 44 degrees upon arrival. WE came in from the West
side of Richland Creek from Lurton passing by the Lurton AOG church and then
loosing the pavement to gravel for 12 miles or so.
Some improvements to the campground were noted. It's a pretty campground. Very
remote over looking the Richland Creek. On the west end of the campground is
Falling Water Creek.
I could tell there had been quite a few visitors there since 3 years earlier the
trail was still pretty wild. This time the trail was much better. One could
still loose it as it often went over and through big rocks and you just took the
path of least resistance and soon picked up the trail again.
Gordon Draffen attends Ozark Assembly of God Church and we would talk in the
foyer often of trips and hikes. So He inspired us to do a Thursday trip as he
seldom gets weekends off so 4 of us made arrangements and shared this cool
unique place. I took us 2 hours to get to Richland Creek Water Fall as we
stopped several places along the way and took pictures here and there. The trail
was pretty good and the water was low enough to walk across rocks.
We enjoyed lunch over looking the 6' tall waterfall that went all the way across
the river. This time the water fall picked and chose where it went over the
falls. It was quiet with the flow of water falling and the various cascades
trickling here and there. After a short lunch we started back and Rob found a
prize rock he just had to have. I figured it at about 20 lbs. Along the way to
Twin Falls he opted out for a even cooler rock that was much lighter. We had
shed all our layers and were down to just shirts. It was a perfect temp.
Twin Falls is a place where everyone that see's it just goes wow. It's a must
see where two streams join at this place and as the water flows they form one
pool.
After a short stay we worked our way back. A few showers for about 10 minutes
and other than that it was a nice sunny - shady day. Jackets came out for a few
minutes and then were put back away as soon as the showers passed.
A quick trip back took us 1 hour and 30 minutes with no boot changes and almost
no stops. With River Crossings and backpacks on this trip can take 2.5 hours
easy. We were doing easy street on this trip.
At the vehicle they informed me they knew the way out....and I was not needed to
navigate.... pretty soon we came to a road crossing. They all stopped and made
their guess...pretty soon we rounded a corner and there was a Confederate Flag
waving front and center and it was a unanimous WRONG WAY! I laughed as with out
a GPS I would be as lost as they were. GRIN? WE had a good laugh and about the
time we got to Harrison our mind was on Western Sizzler and with a little
coaching to our driver Dave we were all eating and stuffing our faces with all
kinds of great food. It was very good.
At 7:00 pm we rolled into Ozark a hour late as we added supper to the list along
the way.
Great trip. Wonderful weather and we really enjoyed God's handy work down in
these Arkansas Mountains. I was told we have to camp upstream from Twin Falls.
So in December we will make the trip again. One thing we did note. Compared to
Indian Creek's Eye of the Needle this was a piece of cake but ole what a purdy
cake. It will be harder with backpacks on but we can't wait!
Mark Jones
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