Caney Creek - Buckeye Mountain Loop (summer 2008)

Hike Features:

State: Arkansas
County: Polk
Location: Off FR38
Length of hike shown:  ~ 10.5 miles
Trail: On-trail (but not always obvious)
GPS: Helpful but not necessary 

31 photos in OHJ Photo Gallery
Reaching Trailhead:    We reached the starting point by driving north out of Athens Arkansas on a small paved road (hwy 246).   After a short distance, there was a sign pointing to a dirt road (right turn) onto Shady Lake Rd. There are actually plenty of signs pointing the way to the Caney Creek East trailhead.  The coordinates for the parking area are 34.39673° N, 94.02259° W.   This is the Caney Creek East trailhead.   We parked here and then walked up the road to the Buckeye trailhead (about a mile north),

Description:  These trails can be hiked in many variations.  The "classic" Caney Creek - Buckeye loop typically uses the Buckeye Trail to connect with the Caney Creek Trail about midway along its 9.5 mile length.  You can park at the Caney Creek East trailhead or the Buckeye trailhead, which is about 1 mile north and ~500 feet higher elevation on FR #38.   We parked at the Caney Creek trailhead and walked up the road to the Buckeye trailhead, which put the ~500 feet climb on the road at the beginning of the hike, rather than the end.

The Buckeye trailhead also has room for several cars and there's a typical trailhead sign.  On the day we were there, a relatively dry August 31st, there were two springs bubbling out of the ground not far from the trailhead.  Shortly thereafter, there's an old road trace going up to an old mine.  We didn't check out the mine, but I've read that its an old open pit manganese mine.   This first section, prior to the summit, is really special for the Ouachita Mountains; it is open in many places, with great views and is even mountain meadow-like in a few places.  After reaching the summit (a bit over 2300 feet), the Buckeye trail heads west until it reaches East Hannah Mountain.   There are numerous "stepover" downed trees across the trail the whole way.

The ridge trail is not that easy to follow during the summer.  Its overgrown in many places with tall plants with daisy-like flowers or, much worse, with brambles and briars.  The 'daisy-like' flowers are a variety of wild sunflower.

In addition, there are several specific points where one can lose the trail.   The area on the map labeled "switchback A" is the first of these segments.   The trail seems to be following the ridgetop and then just suddenly ends.   With some searching, it becomes more apparent that the trail actually drops steeply down the ridgeline to the south, down a small cliff and then heads west again.   Especially in summer, because of the overgrowth, you have to hunt for traces of the trail in thick briars.   Similarly, in the area labeled "trail branches here", there is clearly a branch of the trail continuing along the ridgeline, but the real trail actually drops down and does a switchback or two before continuing west below the ridgeline (again).

There are also spectacular rock outcropings and numerous views.   The Buckeye continues due west until it reaches "switchback B" (see map), where it starts to drop down along the southeast flank of East Hanna Mountain.   This part of the trail has a distinct "western" feel to it and is really beautiful.   As it winds down along East Hanna Mountain the trail turns due south, heading for its junction with the Caney Creek Trail.   Just before reaching the Caney Creek Trail, there is a large rock cairn, which marks the spur over to Katy Falls (see photos).   I'm convinced that there's another waterfall up in there, more upstream.  When we were still at least a mile back up on the side of East Hanna Mountain, a loud roaring sound of water was audible.   Considering how dry it was, the sound must have been made by a hidden waterfall.   I'm going to check it out on a future visit.

After joining the Caney Creek Trail, we turned left (east) and headed back towards the Caney Creek East trailhead.  The trip back is relatively flat, following the creek bank in some places and, in others, rising a bit up on the hillside.   Overall, the Caney Creek trail is easy and presents no difficulties.  The water was so low that the creek crossings were easy and could be done (dry) just by stepping rock-to-rock.

See photos to get a sense of what these two very different trails are like.

I first hiked this loop in the 1970's, the last time in 1978, so this was a "30 years later" return visit for me.   Little has changed in 30 years.   The old camping area by the trail junction, where Buckeye Trail meets Caney Creek Trail is closed, but otherwise it looks about the same.   The portion of the trail descending East Hanna Mountain is different, but I read somewhere that it was re-routed because the original trail was too steep.

Elevation change:  The total gain in elevation on this hike is about 2,000 feet.   In the first 2 miles there is a 1,000 foot gain in elevation.  The up/down on the ridge gains another several 100 feet cumulatively.  After descending to Caney Creek, there is a slow climb out, plus several more up/downs that cumulatively adds at least another 600 feet if not more.  The (Garmin 60csx) reported an ~ 2,300 foot cumulative gain in elevation for the whole hike.  Even a fairly conservative climbing analysis (Topofusion) came out at ~ 2,100 feet total gain in elevation.  See profile in photo gallery.

Trail quality:  Both the Buckeye and Caney Creek trails are very good trails.  The Buckeye is rugged in places because it traverses a craggy ridgeline for many miles.  It's also exposed to the sun, so some degree of summer overgrowth is inevitable.   There is no blazing but the route is obvious in most places (see above).   The part going down East Hanna Mountain is well constructed, considering the steepness of the slopes.   The Caney Creek trail is also well-delineated and easy to follow, although not blazed.

Trail condition as of Aug 31, 2008:  Both of these trails had numerous trees fallen across the trail.  Most of them were rotten and clearly had been there a long time.  A few were fresh.   None posed major obstacles.   When we were there, somebody had just taken a horse up the Buckeye trail and there was quite a bit of damage.   I can see horses on the Caney Creek Trail, but the Buckeye is too fragile for horse travel without damaging the trail.

Water:   On the Buckeye, except for the possible spring at the east end, there is no water source until you reach Katy Creek.  Its almost all on the ridgeline and can be quite hot in summer.   The Caney Creek Trail has water along the whole way.

Notes:    The Caney Creek crossings are likely 'wet crossings' at any substantially rainy time of year.   Its rated "moderately difficult" as a dayhike, only because of being ~ 10 miles and the elevation gain over Buckeye Mountain. 

Cautions:     The usual...  snakes, poison ivy, etc.   No unique dangers.

Navigation:   The GPS was not necessary but it did come in handy to track our progress. 

Hikers:   jc, kz

Buckeye-Caney Creek Loop links to other websites:

OuachitaMaps - OuachitaMaps has a nice description of this loop, photos and even a short video

Ouachita National Forest website - PDF of Caney Creek Wilderness area