terrapin branch

[dwilson]

Where is the closet parking for access to terrapin branch? Is it the Cassiville Church on back in behind the cemetery or the next road north that is bout 2/10 of a mile? We went down the road and found a wilderness access parking sign but when we got off down the trail a ways we come across keep out private property signs. Looking at my map and compass things didn't seem ta be in the right place. I know it couln't be this Okie turned around. There was also a house on the right about 1/2 mile down the old abandon road that we was hiking on.

[dwilson]

Surely somebody has some info on this place or is this one of those secret places. Come on Rodger K.I know ya been there. Seen the pictures of you leading a group into the area.

[Fish]

I haven't been up there in more than 15 years, but the place you're talking about is the access we used to use I think. I remember it being down a small road that led to a house or something and there's a wilderness access sign there. Get a good USFS boundary map or Upper Buffalo Wilderness map and you can figure out where the private inholdings are up in that area. I've seen a few instances where landowners posted public property I guess to scare folks off. If in doubt, call the NPS or USFS offices and ask them about the access. Also, I think Ernst's upper Buffalo hiking book describe the access to Terrapin Br., but the info may be out of date a bit. Worth getting the book if you don't have it already, and go to Ernst's web site and you can email him to ask about access there too.

Good luck,
Fish

[dwilson]

Thanks for the info Fish. Seems that area is covered by USFS. The gentleman that I talked with tells me there is no close way of getting into Terrapin because of landowners getting there feelings hurt by ungreatful hikers. He was telling me of a spot past Beon Gulf on the same dirt road that would get us there. Might add 2 miles of hikin. I do believe we will be waiting for late fall and winter to do this.I think it's time ta put up the hikin stuff and get out the canoes. We carried out a bunch of ticks and chiggers. He did mention bout coming in from Dixon would be another way. Might add 5 miles to the hike.

[Fish]

If you think you want to come from Dixon, you could go down Adkins (from the Dahl Memorial access) and back up Terrapin (or vice-versa). Adkins is really even a better "canyon" to hike than Terrapin in my opinion, though it's full of deadfalls right now from ice damage (want to have extra fun: why not take a saw and move some wood out of the creek! :-) ). If you can hike a loop that starts and ends at Dahl where you go down into the valley via Adkins, come back up via Terrapin, and stay (roughly) on top of the ridge going back to Dahl (without trespassing), that would be a pretty long brushwhack hike, but with a lot of bang for your buck in terms of exploring creeks and waterfalls.

Good luck with it.

- Fish

[dwilson]

That's funny how one side of a ridge got drilled with damage and the other looks as if nothing ever happened. Thanks for your time responding to my question.

[cpresoz]

Let us all know when you cleared all the deadfall out of Atkins Creek so we can creek it! My buddy Grant went last week down into Terrapin and took a bunch of great photos. You might contact him and ask about where to park, what path is best, etc. Tell him Curtis sicked you on him.
gscarsdale118@mail.northark.edu
He's a local and would know about the property owners' feelings. You can see his photos on his Arkansas Waterfalls group site on Facebook.