The plains of the Springfield Plateau sit at an elevation of approximately 1,800 feet. The National Park Service maintains the Buffalo National River in Arkansas. It is home to a network of trails, including the Buffalo River Trail at Whitely Cemetery in Boxley Valley. Hikers can walk the bluffs, gravel bars and banks along the approximately 40-mile trail. The Old River Trail connects with the Buffalo River Trail and features several river crossings. Thirteen campsites are available in the park for fees between $10 and $53, at the time of publication. In Ponca, Arkansas, the Buffalo Outdoor Center (buffaloriver.com) is a lodging and outfitting resort, and an authorized concession of the National Park Service. Outfitters are also available in Springdale and Rogers, including Lewis and Clark Outfitters (gooutandplay.com).
The Ozark National Scenic Riverways in southern Missouri offers free camping from mid-April to mid-October, and primitive campsites are free year-round. Developed and backcountry campsites during other times are available for fees starting at $14 and $5, respectively, at the time of publication. The park is home to more than 300 known caves and springs. All dirt roads and old traces, as well as some maintained trails, are open to hikers. Visitors should not bring firewood with them; purchase it from roadside stands, stores and canoe rental shops near and in the park. Visitors can also gather dead and down wood around the park. Float camps accessible by boat are available at the nearby Eleven Point National Scenic and Wild River. Fishing is permitted and visitors can also explore the scenic hills and bluffs by canoe. Outfitters and guides operate on the Eleven Point National Scenic River and provide canoes and life jackets. A list of outfitters with permits is available from the Forest Service.
Also known as the Boston Plateau, the Boston Mountains in northern Arkansas reach elevations of up to 2,600 feet. The mountains are the highest of the Ozarks and run parallel to Interstate 40. Camping and trails are available at Devil's Den State Park, the White Rock Mountain Recreation Area and the Lake Wedington Recreation Area. Campers and hikers can purchase supplies at Alma and Fayetteville, where lodging and dining options are also available. Devil's Den features a range of camping options from cabins to campgrounds, and hiking trails ranging from easy to strenuous. The 15-mile Butterfield Hiking Trail is a backpacking trail named after a stagecoach that operated in the area from 1858 to 1861. White Rock Mountain features cabins and campgrounds and trails with scenic views, including a 1.5-mile trail around the rim of the 2,260-foot mountaintop.
The rugged St. Francois Mountains near Farmington includes Taum Sauk Mountain, the highest point in Missouri, and Mina Sauk Falls, the tallest wet-weather waterfall in the state. The Taum Sauk Section of the Ozark Trail and the Mina Sauk Falls Trail provide access to the base of the falls and to Devil's Tollgate, an eight-foot-wide passage through 30-feet high volcanic rhylolite. Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, which encompasses the waterfall and Taum Sauk Mountain, features basic campsites and a special-use camping area for tents only. East of the park, camping and hiking supplies, lodging and dining are available in Arcadia and Ironton.
