Good spot at Kyles.

[Monsoon]

I don't suppose there is anyway to reserve that nice private-ish spot below the Bluff at Kyles....Does anyone know?

[Jim Krueger]

Monsoon,

I suspect all of the campsites at Kyles are on a' first come, first served' basis. I querried the membership, years ago, about why the park service didn't have a hot shower at Kyles either,(considering how nearly hypothermic folks could be after a float from Ponca...). Kyles is such a popular campground, along too with that portion of the Upper Buffalo, that it's one solution to encourage paddlers to stay at the lesser-used facilities downstream.

Jim Moose

[Owl]

Accouding to the NPS website it's first come/first serve and $10 per night. Link below.

http://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/f ... ations.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[FarPastGone]

Awesome place to camp. Plus you can do some deep water soloing right there in the Buffalo.

We took kids from camp out there a couple of times to camp for the night after climbing at Horseshoe. Good open space and wasn't ever crowded when we were there. Actually were able to get some soccer going in the middle of the place both times we were there.

What is the name of the creek near the entrance of Camp Orr? Has anyone ever run it, or at least that drop on the right-side of the road going into Camp Orr?

[Monsoon]

Yes! it is a great place to camp. I like that its ont he river.
I am trying to find the trail head from there that will take me to Hemmed in Hollow. I've seen the Boy Scout take it but it was awhile back and I can't remember.

[Zach]

Trail should be on the quad for the area.

You can search for it HERE.

Basically you head out of the campground like you're heading up Indian Creek (West end of the campground). Take a right after a short while and you're on the trail. There are wood posts with directions on them. Basically head up river along the trail till you get there, but pay attention at horseshoe bend; when the river it dry you actually have to know which way you are going since there is no water to tell you which way is up river. From Hemmed in Hollow is it only a little farther to get on top of Jim Bluff (almost more of a road than a trail to the top).

[FarPastGone]

We never hiked out to Hemmed in Hollow, but this website has pretty good trail descriptions, http://theozarkmountains.com/hiking_trails.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . Sounds like you need to cross the Buffalo to access it from the campsite.

This map won't help at all, but it sure is cool...
http://data2.itc.nps.gov/parks/buff/ppM ... 5567%2Epdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Zach]

Sounds like you need to cross the Buffalo to access it from the campsite.

I think you need to cross the Buffalo at least 4 or 5 times to get there, but if the water is low, you'll only get your feet wet.

[Richard]

What is the name of the creek near the entrance of Camp Orr?

Shop Creek. Twin (Triple) falls is about a hundred yards or so upstream of where the road crosses the creek.

[FarPastGone]

That would explain it dropping like 350+ ft in about a mile.

[Owl]

The National Geographic Trails Illustrated map of the West Half of the Buffalo National River shows the hiking trails in the area as well as the river. It's great for finding HiH, the goat trail to Big Bluff, Indian Creek, etc. The outfitters up there usually have the map and it's available online.

[Jim Krueger]

Some years ago, I made a solo hike from Kyles to Big Bluff and the Goat Trail, then back to Kyles. Leaving Kyles I followed the Buffalo River Trail upstream past Indian Creek and on to the point where a side trail to the right took me down the mountain to the river crossing directly in front of Granny Hendersons cabin, from there, on up the other side past the cabin and on to The Goat Trail. On my return trip, I elected to follow the Old River Trail back. Although the ORT will have you ford the river several times, the walking is much easier on the flat and there's the added benefit of the new scenery through the old river farms.

Best Regards
Jim Moose

[Roger]

Shop Creek action:



Photo of Shelby Johnson on Fish's page.

[FarPastGone]

Roger I don't believe they are the same Shop Creeks, although they are located close to one another. Here is a screen shot from Google Maps of the one I am talking about.



Here is the area map of the one from fish's site:
http://www.ozarkpages.com/whitewater/maps/shopmap.gif" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I don't know that it would ever get enough water or anything but the drop on the right-hand side of the road going into Camp Orr looks like it could be interesting. Under the creek and surrounding area is Rattlesnake Cave, but I am not sure how much water leaches into the cave from the creek bed. We did go into the cave after a decent size rain (probably in the inch to two inch range) and the cave had plenty of water in it (enough water that if you could get a boat down there you could maybe run the first waterfall/drop you come to in the cave).

[Roger]

Never mind then!