Ponca Arkansas

Born and raised in the Ozarks, I can tell you, there's no prettier season than fall (autumn). Every fall season, we take a trip to somewhere in the Ozarks to capture it's beauty. It's often hard to decide where to go as there are so many choices. For the fall season 2020 during the Covid Pandemic, we were ready to get away! We drove down and stayed the weekend in Harrison, Arkansas (there's wasn't anything available in Ponca). I had heard about the wild Elk herd that roam Boxley Valley near Ponca, Arkansas. Fall is mating season and the male bulls are very active in fighting others for their mate. I also wanted to photograph the Buffalo National River.

The first day we drove into Ponca to check out Boxley Valley so I can scout the area. I was planning to get up early the next morning to capture the herd in the morning when they are at their most active state. It was fairly warm that day and we saw the herd laying around a tree line near the Buffalo National River.

The fall color's were so beautiful around the river even though it wasn't quite peak color weekend yet! They also were in need of some rain so the river was lower than normal but still beautiful. Buffalo River is a 153 mile National River. It's also, America's first National River! It's mostly known for it's steep bluffs that can be as high as 500 feet.

Near Boxley Valley is Lost Valley Trail. If you like to hike, this is the most popular hike in the Buffalo National River area. It's a 2 mile round trip hike if you take it all they way to Eden Falls, a 53 foot waterfall. The first 1/2 mile of the hike is easy, but then the hike gets more challenging as you go along and even more so around Eden Falls. There are many sites to see along the trail along with several waterfalls, a natural rock bridge, large limestone bluffs, and a cave. Due to the lack of rain, the waterfalls weren't really flowing when we were there. It's best to see those during the spring season. But the bluffs and scenery don't disappoint.

The next morning we got up early to watch the Elk and boy was it a show! The males were very active. It was fun watching them fight and play while the females were like, "What ever." They actually tried to stay away from them. The morning was just a little chilly so there was a slight fog behind them from the river which added some mystery to some of the photos!

I was able to get really close but yet, I kept my distance as they are wild. I made sure I knew my surroundings at all times. There was a time when the females come up in the woods I was in. I had to back away to keep a safe distance. When you watch wildlife, please be respectful and smart around them so both you and they don't get hurt!

We watched them for hours as there was never a dull moment. I couldn't tell you how many there were but there were a lot (close to 100). Was worth the trip to go down and see them and get away from all the pandemic crude. The weather was perfect and the views were breathtaking. I'll have to do a separate blog on Buffalo National River, but you're welcome to view some of those photos here in the meantime: https://5-jennifer-white.pixels.com/art/buffalo+national+river

If you haven't been there, you'll have to make the trip when you're in the area.