Trailing around north central Arkansas

The day before Christmas Eve, Joey worked in Clinton and Shirley got a full day of Ivy, so I borrowed her keys and car and went for a little trip to Eureka Springs. I’d been there a few times before, but always on the way from Fayetteville and not from Harrison, so I had a particular highway in mind (412) for how to get there. Turns out that goes way south of Eureka, so I wound up taking a longer-than expected route into town up state highway 23, BUT that meant I went past the Withrow State Park area, including some trails along War Eagle Creek. Parking in Eureka was pretty much non-existent so the only place I was able to get out was the Crescent Hotel, which has an interesting history. I had never been in, so I went to check it out (and to say hello to Nature, who was calling me by that point). It’s very luxurious and has been restored to its 1880s glory. Quite impressive!

Back of the hotel:

Conservatory for the former Crescent College for Women inside the hotel:

So for the drive home, I went back past the same trails, and got out and took one under the highway – the War Eagle Hiking Trail. It was a nice easy hike with a couple of steep spots that required grabbing ahold of thick roots to scale up the hill. Overlooking War Eagle Creek, the dropoffs were sharp so one section of outcropped rock was roped off with steel cable. There was also a bat cave along the way, but hikers were no longer allowed in it, due to outbreaks of White Noise Syndrome. Bummer for the bats, and I wanted to go in there, but alas it was not to be.

Here are some photos from my short but enjoyable hike.