Outdoor Adventure Meetup

The campground is a recreation.gov campground in New Site, MS named Piney Grove Recreation Area in New Site, MS. https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232673. These are primitive sites only accessible by water and are first come first serve so no reservations necessary.

What to bring: you will need to bring a tent, your own food, kayak, lifejacket, snacks, beverages and comfort items. There is NO bathhouse so come prepared with toiletries, TP and a small shovel.

Come experience the meaning of unplugged with this kayak island campout adventure!

Mount Nebo State Park
16728 West State Hwy. 155
Dardanelle, AR 72834

We will meet at the Bass Pro Pyramid north parking lot off Front Street (the smaller parking lot close to auto bridge over to Mud Island) at 8:45 am for those who would like to carpool. We will leave at 9:00 am.

About this park:
This is one of my favorite places to hike. We will meet at the Visitor Center at the summit of the mountain, and hike the Rim Trail.

Situated in the Arkansas River Valley just 45 minutes from Arkansas Wine Country, this state park sits atop the 1,350-foot Mount Nebo. The 1930s-era Civilian Conservation Corps constructed many of the rustic-style cabins, pavilions, bridges, and 32.6 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails.

Mount Nebo offers panoramic views of the Arkansas River from the Rim Trail.

Arkansas State Parks list:
https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks

Planned Hike: Rim Trail
Trail Type: Day Hikes
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 3.5 miles
Time: 2 to 3 hours hiking time
Hiking times may vary.

WHAT TO KNOW
The 3.5-mile Rim Trail circles the mountain top and provides access to all of the park's 14 miles of trail. Originally blazed in the 1890s, the trail was fully developed by the CCC in the 1930s with the addition of stone steps and retaining walls. Spectacular views spread over 100 miles of the Arkansas River Valley before you, including the 1830s water route of the Trail of Tears and 34,000 acre Lake Dardanelle. Accessibility:at the visitor center and other locations around the mountain Blaze color: yellow

Food: Old South Restaurant
For those who would like to join us for a meal, we are planning on eating at Old South Restaurant BEFORE the hike, 105 E Harrell Dr, Russellville, AR 72801

Head of the Crow State Park
17 Lake O'Donnell Rd
Sewanee, TN 37375

Head of the Crow State Park is one of three parks that were formerly known as South Cumberland State Park. As South Cumberland grew to protect more than 30,000 acres, Tennessee State Parks took steps to ensure each area of the park receives the dedicated management, resources, and conservation it deserves.

That vision led to the creation of three distinct parks:

• Savage Gulf, established as a new park in 2022
• Fiery Gizzard, which adopted the name of its nationally recognized trail in 2025
• Head of the Crow, the newest Tennessee state park, opened in October 2025

Head of the Crow State Park, located in Franklin County, spans 4,258 acres. The park contains the headwaters of Crow Creek and offers a karst landscape sprawling with hardwood forests, caves, sinkholes, and rare wildlife. Highlights include the Sewanee Natural Bridge, a 50-foot sandstone arch that frames Lost Cove, and Buggytop Cave, one of the largest cave openings in Tennessee. The park is also home to the extremely rare Painted Tigersnail, found only within a 10-mile radius of the area.

Natural Bridge Trailhead
591 Natural Bridge Road
Sewanee, TN 37375

Natural Bridge State Natural Area (1 acre) a 25-foot-high natural sandstone arch spanning 50 feet that provides guests a scenic overlook of Lost Cove and nearby wet-weather spring.

We will gear share so sign up for gear share items...
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044CA8AD2CA7FCC25-62952941-arkansas

Sleep under the stars and paddle the Arkansas Buffalo under the sun! Arkansas Buffalo River Steel Creek to Kyle's Landing 11 miles.
Steel Creek to Kyle’s Landing 11 Miles

Outfitter Information:

Buffalo Outdoor Center
https://www.buffaloriver.com/float-the-buffalo/boat-rental-shuttle-rates/](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.buffaloriver.com/float-the-buffalo/boat-rental-shuttle-rates/&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw0tZ_8V7o9Mus9CO1zQr8mp

Contact us to book your canoe(s) and/or kayaks. For weekend rentals, you’ll want to book in advance as we are always 100% booked on Saturdays, oftentimes a month ahead of time.
Boat rental rate includes boat(s), life vests, paddles, and mesh trash bag. (Please note that vehicle shuttle service is not included in boat rental rates; see below for shuttle rates.)

Friday, May 1, 2026
We will camp Friday night at the National Park Service campground Steel Creek. Reservations for Steel Creek are done online at Recreation.gov. GFA will be on tent site #4 Friday night.

Saturday, May 2, 2026
Saturday we will paddle 11 miles down the AR Buffalo River from Steel Creek to Kyle's Landing. Saturday we will camp on the water at Kyle's landing campground.
Kyles Landing Campground
Download a map of Kyles Landing Campground
GPS Coordinates: 36.0557563, -93.2812997
Kyles Landing is about half way between Ponca and Jasper, Arkansas, off of Highway 74. The entrance road into Kyles is gravel and very rough, so a 4 wheel drive, high clearance vehicle is recommended. The campground has 33 sites and is open year round on a first come, first served basis. All sites are $20 per night. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and lantern hook provided.
Trash pick-up provided. Drinking water faucets are available, as well as pit and flush toilets.

Sunday, May 3, 2026
We will kayak to Pruitt take out. (13 miles)
We will shuttle back to Ponca to the outfitter and head home.