Lake Norfork Adventures: Buffalo Point -- Indian Rockhouse Trail

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Buffalo Point -- Indian Rockhouse Trail

About a week ago Sue and I made the two-hour drive over to Buffalo Point on the Buffalo National River. This is one of the most develop parks along the river with wonderful camping sites, several rustic cabins, and a spectacular little snack shop on a high bluff overlooking the entire river valley.

Perhaps the biggest attraction in the park is the Indian Rockhouse Trail--a 3 1/4 mile loop that descends about 500 feet into the valley and then heads upstream along Panther Creek, past a variety of attractions to the Indian Rockhouse Cave. We took the loop in a counterclockwise direction. The first labelled attraction comes about 1/4 mile in: the "Sinkhole Icebox." Sink holes are fairly common in these limestone mountains, and this one is fairly typical. It is much larger than -- but not nearly as deep and impressive as -- the sinkhole on the Gunner Pool segment of the Sylamore Creek Trail. Perhaps another half-mile along there is a nice waterfall. There was a mere trickle of water flowing when we were there, but I'm sure it is impressive in the spring. The high flat ledge towering above and the rocky bluffs were somewhat similar to the even more striking waterfalls in the Leatherwood Wilderness Area of the Ozark National Forest.

Then the trail heads upstream along Panther Creek for about 3/4 of a mile. There are a number of unusual features of the streambed. At one point you can see the remains of an abandoned Zinc Mine. A little further along there is the "Small Cave," which is really quite large and liveable. There is a natural skylight on one end and ample sleeping space for back-to-nature types. One spot further upstream is called the "Natural Bathtub" for reasons that are obvious. Another spot ("Sculptured Bedrock") is a miniature version of the impressive bedrock sluices of the Lost River Gorge in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

At the half-way point in the hike we reached the Indian Rockhouse Cave itself. Apparently there is evidence that Indians resided in this cave and one can easily understand why they would do so. The cave itself is very spacious with a tiny stream providing a source of pure water at one end and plenty of room for campfires and even teepees beneath the towering roof of the cave. I climbed through a hole at the upper end of the cave and was able to make my way to a path allowing the adventurous to hike along the ledge that forms the rim of the cave opening.

Apparently, there is a side trail that leads up a steeper hillside to a third cave ("Bat Cave"), but we failed to notice it, so that bit of adventure awaits us on some subsequent hike in this lovely area.