I am an amateur photographer from Amarillo, TX. A photographer friend of mine suggested a trip to Arkansas for fall color. After seeing the work of Bill Dark and Tom Kennon on this forum I have researched a few areas that I am interested in and the Richland Creek area tops the list.
I have ordered Tim Ernst's "Ozark Highlands Trail Guide" but since the trail by-passes the Richland Creek Wilderness area he doesn't cover much in the way of specifics about the wilderness. I also purchased the map of the Richland Creek Wilderness area available on his website.
I have a few questions about access into the Richland Creek Wilderness area:
1. I have read from searching previous posts that the Richland Creek Campground is closed - is this still correct?
2. I have the impression from Tim's book "Ozark Highlands Trail Guide" that there really aren't developed trails that go into the Richland Creek Wilderness area. I also don't see any marked trails on the map that I purchased. Is this the case or am I misunderstanding?
3. Can you recommend any specific areas within the wilderness to visit? Are there any resources that you know of that provide more information specific to the Richland Creek Wilderness?
4. I would most likely be planning my trip around the week of Oct 22-26. Based on what I have read in previous forum posts this seems like the best time to go - obviously with some uncertainty as to the timing of peak color. My main interest is in seeing some of the vibrant red and orange color that I have seen in photos on this forum. Can you confirm if this is the best time?
I appreciate any help you can provide. Hopefully I can come back with some images to share to help get this forum going again. I have to admit that before my friend mentioned going to Arkansas for fall color I really knew very little about it. Now that I have seen images from some of the photographers on this forum Arkansas is somewhat of an undiscovered country as far as photography is concerned. I am excited to see the opportunities for fall color.
You have a great start with the Tim Ernst guide and the Richland Creek Wilderness map. You may want to look into a couple more books books by Tim Ernst. Tim's latest Waterfall guidebook has many waterfalls that can be accessed in the Richland Creek Wilderness with routes to them. The waterfalls may not be running in late October but you never know?
The other guide book by Tim Ernst is the Arkansas Nature Lover's Guidebook. Page 68 details the Falling Water scenic drive. Falling Water road runs along the boundary of the Richland Creek Wilderness area. It is one of may favorites and you get easy access to many areas.
The good news is Falling Water road and Richland Campground are open again.
In additions to Falling Water Road, there is a old road that runs along Richland Creek below Richland Campground on river left. You can access it from the low water bridge at FS1205. The road runs at least a mile and parallels the creek. Richland Creek upstream of the campground can be accessed via a trail along the river right side of the creek ( campground side) . When the water is low I usually just hike up the creek bed.
The time frame you have selected should work pretty well. I have seen the colors peak a week earlier and a week later over the last few years.
Many of us will be in the area during that time frame, so maybe we will cross paths.
Thanks for the detailed response, Tom. I will look into those other two books by Tim Ernst. I'm glad to hear that the campground is open again. It would be great to cross paths while I'm up there.
I've also enjoyed looking through your gallery of images. You have some great work and it has also been helpful to identify places that I want to see.
Discussion
2 repliesI have ordered Tim Ernst's "Ozark Highlands Trail Guide" but since the trail by-passes the Richland Creek Wilderness area he doesn't cover much in the way of specifics about the wilderness. I also purchased the map of the Richland Creek Wilderness area available on his website.
I have a few questions about access into the Richland Creek Wilderness area:
1. I have read from searching previous posts that the Richland Creek Campground is closed - is this still correct?
2. I have the impression from Tim's book "Ozark Highlands Trail Guide" that there really aren't developed trails that go into the Richland Creek Wilderness area. I also don't see any marked trails on the map that I purchased. Is this the case or am I misunderstanding?
3. Can you recommend any specific areas within the wilderness to visit? Are there any resources that you know of that provide more information specific to the Richland Creek Wilderness?
4. I would most likely be planning my trip around the week of Oct 22-26. Based on what I have read in previous forum posts this seems like the best time to go - obviously with some uncertainty as to the timing of peak color. My main interest is in seeing some of the vibrant red and orange color that I have seen in photos on this forum. Can you confirm if this is the best time?
I appreciate any help you can provide. Hopefully I can come back with some images to share to help get this forum going again. I have to admit that before my friend mentioned going to Arkansas for fall color I really knew very little about it. Now that I have seen images from some of the photographers on this forum Arkansas is somewhat of an undiscovered country as far as photography is concerned. I am excited to see the opportunities for fall color.
You have a great start with the Tim Ernst guide and the Richland Creek Wilderness map. You may want to look into a couple more books books by Tim Ernst. Tim's latest Waterfall guidebook has many waterfalls that can be accessed in the Richland Creek Wilderness with routes to them. The waterfalls may not be running in late October but you never know?
The other guide book by Tim Ernst is the Arkansas Nature Lover's Guidebook. Page 68 details the Falling Water scenic drive. Falling Water road runs along the boundary of the Richland Creek Wilderness area. It is one of may favorites and you get easy access to many areas.
The good news is Falling Water road and Richland Campground are open again.
In additions to Falling Water Road, there is a old road that runs along Richland Creek below Richland Campground on river left. You can access it from the low water bridge at FS1205. The road runs at least a mile and parallels the creek. Richland Creek upstream of the campground can be accessed via a trail along the river right side of the creek ( campground side) . When the water is low I usually just hike up the creek bed.
The time frame you have selected should work pretty well. I have seen the colors peak a week earlier and a week later over the last few years.
Many of us will be in the area during that time frame, so maybe we will cross paths.
Tom Kennon
I've also enjoyed looking through your gallery of images. You have some great work and it has also been helpful to identify places that I want to see.