Posted by Mike Spivey on September 1, 2009 at 2:41 PM
I've heard that there is an iconic sunrise location at Calico Rock. Does anyone know where it is and how to get there?
Thanks
Posted by Don Kurz on September 1, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Mike,
I Googled "Calico Rock, AR sunrise" and found this:
http://www.arkansas.com/photo-gallery/default.aspx?s=1&city=Calico%20Rock
This photo looks more like a sunset photo to me but it could be decent in the opposite direction for sunrise. You could also Google the Chamber of Commerce or Tourism Office or some source there and ask by phone.
About 15 years ago, I vaguely remember a local telling me of a scenic spot but I couldn't find it. I was working on my Scenic Driving the Ozarks book and thought it would be good to include it. I went down a very remote sandy road that dead-ended at a farmstead. The extended family was sitting under a large shade tree and were quite surprised that I picked their spot on a Sunday morning. The men started walking to the farmhouse (probably to get their shotguns) and I nervously waved and beat a hasty retreat in my truck. I didn't dare look back in the rear view me as I retreated. I noted that there was not a mailbox or any vehicles and it was a "Deliverance" kind of setting. I didn't stay around in the area and took that experience as a sign to moved on...
Good luck!
Don
Posted by Mike Hall on September 1, 2009 at 5:01 PM
It's been about two years since I was up there, but there is a small park along the paved road and you can drive down the dirt road about one hundred yards to where the cliff line starts.This image is with a point/shoot. The fog is very thick in the mornings. You might have to wait it out a few hours to get the right amount of fog.
Posted by Bill Dark on September 1, 2009 at 7:43 PM
Wow, what a beautiful sunrise, Mike! Great color in the sky, and lots of mood caused by the fog. I generally don't care much for water towers in the frame, but this one fits right in with the rest of the scene. Great shot!
Posted by Mike Hall on September 1, 2009 at 8:52 PM
Thanks Bill! Someday I plan to revisit that spot with a real camera instead of the point/shoot. But, it still comes down to framing,timing, and little knowledge.
Camera was a Nikon Coolpix 5megapixel- Tons of memories thru that camera and sadly it was dropped in the water and never powered up again.
FYI Mike Spivey: We had time to eat breakfast in town and stop off at this park to shoot the scene, and make it down to the river in time to trout fish. There are cabins for rent near the park. You may find a cabin with a similar view from the deck. I don't have any names, but plan to rent one myself someday. I just now did a search and couldn't find the one next to the park. But there are several in the area.
Posted by Mike Spivey on September 2, 2009 at 3:48 AM
Great shot, Mike. That looks like it might be the spot. This is an actual park? I drove down that road several years ago and didn't see the park. With that geolocation I might be able to find it.
Great story, Don.
Thanks for the replies.
Posted by Gale Rainwater on September 2, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Mike H a beautiful sunrise image and thanks for the google map. I'm glad Mike S posted the question. Ed Cooley had also posted a beautiful fall image from "little hawksbill crag" from last fall.
His shot was at sunset. So both sunrise and sunset have good potential.
I would love to check this spot out also. Ed if you could give some directions to this spot that would be great.
If anyone wants to shoot a sunrise or sunset there let me know I would be glad to meet ya there.
Posted by Mike Hall on September 2, 2009 at 12:25 PM
A park maybe an over statement. There is a field with either a small outbuilding or community center and a few small trees. That's really all I remember. If you are on top of the ridge and start going downhill, then you you've gone too far. At the end of the dirt road is a turnaround. Go to your left (towards town) follow a short trail to the overlook. It's not much of an overlook. The shot shows trees all around. Hopefully they haven't grown much. Back at the parking lot, go to the right and you have another view thats worth checking out.
Maybe I remember more than I think! Have fun and show us the pics!
Posted by Bill Dark on September 2, 2009 at 1:54 PM
In looking at Don's Google result, it would seem that there are lots of possibilities in the area - for taking pictures that is. I don't think I would linger too long after sunset though...
Posted by Ed Cooley on September 4, 2009 at 1:43 AM
There is also a spot on the other side of the river. Just take the first right after the bridge and you will find it on the right hand side about 1/2 mile down the road. I think the locals call it bluff rock.
Posted by Don Kurz on September 4, 2009 at 6:58 AM
Ed, I think that was the feature that I was trying to find but a local resident didn't give me very clear directions and I ended up down a road that still remains vivid in my memory.
Best,
Don
Posted by TIMERNST on September 4, 2009 at 7:08 AM
One of the locations is called Rock City Bluff (some call it City Rock Bluff), and its main claim to fame was that they shot a scene in the movie Bootleggers there back in 1973. I was working for the forest service at Blanchard Cave at the time (this was just before we opened the cave to the public), and we got to see some of the filming - one of the stars from Charlie's Angels was in it, which caused quite a stir in the county, actually in two counties (Izard and Stone). The greater Calico Rock - Sylamore Metroplex is a very nice place to visit for sure, especially when Jaclyn Smith is there in the river wearing a pair of tight cutoffs...
Discussion
11 repliesThanks
I Googled "Calico Rock, AR sunrise" and found this:
http://www.arkansas.com/photo-gallery/default.aspx?s=1&city=Calico%20Rock
This photo looks more like a sunset photo to me but it could be decent in the opposite direction for sunrise. You could also Google the Chamber of Commerce or Tourism Office or some source there and ask by phone.
About 15 years ago, I vaguely remember a local telling me of a scenic spot but I couldn't find it. I was working on my Scenic Driving the Ozarks book and thought it would be good to include it. I went down a very remote sandy road that dead-ended at a farmstead. The extended family was sitting under a large shade tree and were quite surprised that I picked their spot on a Sunday morning. The men started walking to the farmhouse (probably to get their shotguns) and I nervously waved and beat a hasty retreat in my truck. I didn't dare look back in the rear view me as I retreated. I noted that there was not a mailbox or any vehicles and it was a "Deliverance" kind of setting. I didn't stay around in the area and took that experience as a sign to moved on...
Good luck!
Don
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=36.118316,-92.154275&spn=0.003987,0.009377&t=h&z=17&msid=108378296763948649352.00047289ce2304981598c
Camera was a Nikon Coolpix 5megapixel- Tons of memories thru that camera and sadly it was dropped in the water and never powered up again.
FYI Mike Spivey: We had time to eat breakfast in town and stop off at this park to shoot the scene, and make it down to the river in time to trout fish. There are cabins for rent near the park. You may find a cabin with a similar view from the deck. I don't have any names, but plan to rent one myself someday. I just now did a search and couldn't find the one next to the park. But there are several in the area.
Great story, Don.
Thanks for the replies.
His shot was at sunset. So both sunrise and sunset have good potential.
http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=35892&CGISESSID=25921eeb73d55514836d8149af975c69&u=11211
I would love to check this spot out also. Ed if you could give some directions to this spot that would be great.
If anyone wants to shoot a sunrise or sunset there let me know I would be glad to meet ya there.
Maybe I remember more than I think! Have fun and show us the pics!
Best,
Don