Exploring Arkansas May 2012

>> MOST OF THE WATERFALLS WE EXPLORE YOU EITHER HAVE TO HIKE TO THEM OR THERE IS WALKING INVOLVED TO GET TO THEM, BUT THERE IS ONE WATERFALL YOU DON'T NEED TO GET OU YOUR CAR TO EXPERIENCE. YOU DRIVE RIGHT THROUGH IT. WE HAVE -- YOU GUESSED IT, CAR WASH FALLS. NOW GRANTED THERE ISN'T ANY HIKING INVOLVED GETTING THERE THE DRIVING MAKES UP FOR IT. THIS WATERFALL IS LOCATED IN THE OZARK NATIONAL FOREST AROUND DEER FROM HIGHWAY 16 AND 1202 AND LOCATED NEAR THE SCHOOL AND TURN LEFT AND WHICH IS FOREST ROAD 1,002. YOU WILL DRIVING AROUND BIG PINEY CREEK. GO TWO AND A HALF MILES ON THIS ROAD AND YOU WILL DRIVE RIGHT INTO CAR WASH FALLS. NOW WE MUST ADD THAT THIS 21-FOOT WATERFALL IS AT ITS OPTIMUM DURING SPRING SEASON AND AFTER A GOOD RAIN AND THAT IS WHEN YOU CAN REALLY EXPERIENCE IT WITH ITS FULL CAR WASH FLOW FORCE. AND IF YOU JUST HAPPEN TO HAVE A BRUSH HANDY AND THE URGE STRIKES YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION THEN BY ALL MEANS HAVE AT IT. CAR WASH". "WORKING AT THE CAR WASH YEAH". "COME ON. SING IT WITH ME". "CAR WASH". "CAR WASH YEAH". "WORKING AT THE CAR WASH". "CAR WASH YEAH". >> IF YOU ARE EVER LOOKING FOR A ADVENTURE THAT ISN'T TOO STRENUOUS AND WE HAVE JUST THE CAVE FOR YOU. ONYX AS IN CALIUM CARBONATE AND YOU HAVE A GUIDE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE VARIOUS CAVE FORMATIONS. >> THESE HEAD PHONES. >> GREEN BUTTON INFORMATIVE STATIONS ARE IN THE CAVE AND DETAILING THE CAVERN THROUGH THE HEAD SETS. >> NOTICE THE STUDY DRIP OF WATER AND IT IS DOUBT THERE IS A SPRING IN IT SECTION. AND A FLOWER AND IF YOU FIND NEEDLES YOU LOCATED A SPECIALTY LOCATED IN THE CAVERNS IN VIRGINIA AND WE CAN BEST DESCRIBE THIS AND BECAUSE OF THE BEIGE COLOR AND THE WATER. TO THE LEFT NOTICE MORE CEILING BREAK DOWN. >> YOU CAN ALSO CHOOSE TO LEAVE THE HEAD PHONES BEHIND AND WALK STRAIGHT THROUGH AND YOU CAN SEE THE CAVE IN THE LESS THAN 30 MINUTES TOUR TIME. ONYX CAVE IS LOCATED SICK MILES EAST OF EUREKA SPRINGS AND A TOURIST ATTRACTION AND THE OLDEST SHOW CAVE IN ARKANSAS. ACTUALLY DOESN'T CONTAIN ONYX BUT CAVE ONYX AND HAS A SIMILAR APPEARANCE AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS ONES CALLED ONYX CAVE AND BONDED AND SLOWLY AND DEPENDS ON THE PIGMENTS AND IRONOXIDE BROUGHT IN BY WATER AND TRANSPARENT BANDING AND MUCH RARE IS COLORS AS BLUE AND GREEN AND ONYX LOOKS SIMILAR BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS ONYX IS COMPOSED OF QUARTZ AND CAVE ONYX IS MADE UP OF CALSIGHT. ONE OTHER INTERESTING NOTE ABOUT ONYX CAVE IN 1969 IT WAS USEDS AS A MOVIE SET AND" IT'S ALIVE" WAS FILMED HERE AND THE ONLY THING ALIVE HERE ARE A FEW BATS AND A FEW OTHER THINGS AND THERE IS ONE PARTICULAR CAVE MAN BUT PAY HIM NO MIND. WE HEARD ABOUT THIS BRAND-NEW BIKING TRAIL IN ARKANSAS CALLED BLOWING SPRINGS TRAIL AND I HAVE BUDDIES HERE TO CHECK IT OUT WITH ME SO ASHLEY LEAD THE WAY. >> LET'S GO. BLOWING SPRINGS MOUNTAIN TRAIL IS LOCATED OFF OF BELLA VISTA AND TURN RIGHT AND GO TO BLOWING SPRINGS ROAD. THE PARKING IS ON YOUR RIGHT. SINCE THIS TRAIL SYSTEM IS MORE THAN 6 MILES THE RIDING CHOICES ARE MANY. WE MANAGED TO DO THE INTERMEDIATE LOOP OFF OF TRAIL HEAD. THE NEAT THING ABOUT THIS TRAIL IS IT'S GREAT FOR BEGINNERS TO MORE EXPERIENCED RIDERS. >> THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS TRIAL IS BECAUSE UNLIKE SOME OF THE OTHER PARTS OF ARKANSAS WHERE IT'S MORE TECHNICAL THIS TRIAL IS REALLY FAST AND FLOW, SO JUST LIKE YOU SAID ANYBODY CAN COME OUT HERE AND RIDE HARD OR TAKE IT EASY AND GET A FEEL FOR IT, BUT ANYBODY CAN RIDE OUT HERE AND IT'S A GREAT TRAIL FOR THAT. IT'S BOTH ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM AND GET A GOOD RIDE OUT OF IT AND IT'S FAST AND FLOW AND NOT TOO TECHNICAL AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL SO YOU CAN'T GO WRONG. >> DO YOU HAVE SPECIAL PARTS THAT YOU LIKE? >> TO BE HONEST SINCE I HAVE BEEN BACK I HAVE RIDDEN IT A NUMBER OF TIMES AND THERE IS A CLIFF'S EDGE HERE AND ONCE YOU COME UP AND IT'S PRETTY AND ON THE EDGE AND HIGHER, BUT THE WHOLE THING I ABSOLUTELY LOVE RIGHT NOW. >> THEY DID A GOOD JOB OF BUILDING THESE. I LIKE LONG DISTANCES AND YOU CAN GO A WHILE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND STUFF WHICH IS A LOT OF FUN. >> THERE IS I GUESS EASY PLACES AND KIND OF NOT SO EASY. >> YEAH. I WOULD SAY EASY TO MODERATE. YOU CAN GET A LOT OF STUFF IN ONE DAY AND A VARIETY OF TRAILS. >> HOW ABOUT JUMPS? >> YEAH. AND HERE THEY HAVE EASY TO MODERATE JUMPS AND ROCK DROPS THAT ARE REALLY FUN. >> WITH THE BLOWING SPRINGS TRAIL SYSTEM LOCATED CLOSE TO A RESIDENTIAL AREA IT ALLOWS FOR QUITE A FEW MOUNTAIN BIKERS TO ENJOY IT. >> EVERY MORNING BEFORE WORK. IT'S AWESOME. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MOUNTAIN BIKE SINCE I LIVED IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND IT'S CONVENIENT, SAFE, SINGLE TRACK AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE AND NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC YET AND CONNECTED IT TO BENTONVILLE DOWN THE ROAD. >> AND THE FEATURES AND THE WATERFALL AND QUITE A SCENIC TRAIL. >> IT'S BEAUTIFUL. THEY HAVE DONE A REALLY NICE JOB AND REALLY PUT SOME TRAIL IN WHERE THERE IS SOME SCENIC AREAS AND BEAUTIFUL SWITCH BACKS AND RIGHT BY THE WATER SO IT REALLY MAKES A NICE TOUCH. >> AND IF YOU WANT TO DO THE WHOLE ROUTE IT ONLY TAKES YOU ABOUT WHAT? 45 MINUTES. >> YEAH. 45 MINUTES FOR JUST A CASUAL RIDE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DO A FEW LOOPS AND NOW THAT YOU CAN GO INTO SLAUGHTER PEN IT'S GREAT. THERE ARE RECREATIONAL VEHICLES PARK HERE AND TAKE THE BIKES WITH YOU AND RIDE AROUND AND BE DONE IN 45 MINUTES. >> AND IT'S RATED EASY TO MODERATE? >> I WOULD SAY EASY TO MODERATE. THERE ARE A COUPLE DICEY AREAS AND YOU SAW THE ONE GENTLEMAN THAT WENT FAST AROUND THE HILL. IT'S BEAUTIFUL. THEY HAVE EASY TO MODERATE JUMPS FOR THOSE THAT ARE MORE ADVENTUROUS. I STICK TO THE TRAIL THESE DAYS BUT YOUNG ONES LIKE TRISTEN WHO WORKS WITH US AND HE LIKES THOSE JUMPS. IT'S GREAT. >> I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT WAS COMPLETE AND MY FRIEND BROUGHT ME OUT HERE AND IT'S JUST SO BEAUTIFUL. YOU WILL GO THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS WHERE THERE IS ROCK AND WATER AND TREES AND IT'S JUST REALLY NICE. SOME OF IT IS A LITTLE CHALLENGING BUT THAT'S WHY I LIKE MOUNTAIN BIKING. IT'S A CHALLENGE, GETS YOUR ADRENALINE RUNNING AND FEELS GOOD ONCE YOU COMPLETE IT AND HAVE A GREAT EXPERIENCE HERE. >> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MOUNTAIN BIKING? >> JUST A FEW WEEKS. >> YOU'RE JUST A BABY AT IT. >> YEAH. IT'S ALMOST ADDICTING AND SO MUCH FUN. I HAVEN'T HAD A WIPE OUT YET AND I AM EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND I HOPE TO CONTINUE THAT WAY. >> BLOWING SPRINGS ITSELF IS A GOOD PLACE TO STOP AND TAKE A BREATHER. SO IF YOU'RE STILL CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT TO PICK UP THE SPORT OF MOUNTAIN BIKING THE BEAUTY OF THIS TRAIL WITH ALL OF ITS CHOICES SHOULD BE CONVINCING ENOUGH AND NOT TO MENTION THE NUMBER ONE DETERMINING FACTOR, GREAT EXERCISE. >> YES, OF COURSE HEALTH IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I LOVE IT SO MUCH. STAYING HEALTHY AND ACTIVE IS IMPORTANT WITH YOUR EVERYDAY LIFESTYLE, BUT ALSO ONE OF THE GREATEST THING IS GETTING A GROUP OF FRIENDS OUT HERE AND RIDING AND HAVING A GREAT TIME TOGETHER. IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I LOVE IT. PROBABLY THE MAIN REASON I DO IT IS TO BE WITH FRIENDS AND HAVING A GREAT TIME TO DO IT AND I PLAYED ON TEAM SPORTS AND NOW THAT IS OVER I HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING AND MOUNTAIN BIKING LANDED IN THERE PERFECTLY AND HANGING OUT WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND THEM PUSHING YOU AND MAKING YOU FASTER. IT'S A GOOD TIME. I LOVE EVERY ASPECT OF IT AND OBVIOUSLY WHAT YOU SAID THE HEALTH PART IS NOT A BAD THING BY ANY MEANS SO -- >> IN THE PAST ON EXPLORING ARKANSAS WE FEATURED DIFFERENT DESIGNATED WATER TRAILS. WELL ADD ONE MORE. BAYOU DE VIEW IN THE AREA OF BRINKLEY AND IN FACT THIS IS THE AREA WHERE THE WOOD *** WAS SPOTTED. LOCATED WEST OF BRINKLEY IN THE DAGMAR MANAGEMENT WILDLIFE AREA IT'S FAIRLY EASY TO GET TO. ON HIGHWAY 70 GO NORTH AND TAKE THE FIRST RIGHT AND ROCK ISLAND ROAD AND TO BAYOU DE VIEW AND THE BOAT LARCH RAMP. JOINING US IN OUR FLOAT IS DEBBIE DOSS AND KRISTEN BARTLOW WITH THE WILDLIFE COMMISSION. >> THIS IS ONE OF THE NEWEST WATER TRAILS AND IT'S ABOUT 15 MILES LONG BUT AS YOU CAN SEE FROM LOOKING AROUND THERE ARE INS AND OUTS AND 20 MILES AND IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WILDLIFE FOLKS AND TRAVELS THROUGH ALL THREE OF THE PROPERTIES. THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL TREES IN THIS AREA. WE DATED TREES IN THIS AREA AT 850 YEARS OLD AND HARD TO IMAGINE THEY SPROUTED 500 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS LANDED AND THIS IS A WETLANDS OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE . IT WAS THE WOOD *** WAS CITED AND DEPENDING WHAT CAMP YOU'RE IN AND WAB HERS AND LOTS OF SPRING MIGRANTS COMING THROUGH. IN THE WINTER IT'S A GREAT AREA TO SEE WATER FOWLAND MINK AND OTTER AND BEAVER ARE THE MAMMALS THAT YOU SEE AND SPECIAL SPOT AND YOU NEED TO BE GOOD WITH A MAP AND COMPASS. WE ARE HAVING IT SIGNED TO HELP FOLKS OUT AND YOU NEED A MAP AND A GPS AS WELL. >> I REMEMBER ONCE WHEN WE WERE IN DEVIL SWAMP AND THERE WAS A GUY WE WERE WITH AND AFTER A WHILE EVERYTHING LOOKS THE SAME, THE TREES, AND IT'S EASY TO GET LOST IN AN AREA LIKE THIS. >> RIGHT AND THE WATER LEVELS DIFFER AND THEY TOO CAN GET FAST WATER IN THEM AND FLOOD DURING CERTAIN TIMES AND ESPECIALLY THE SPRINGTIME AND KEEP THAT IN MIND AND YEAH ALL THE TREES CAN LOOK SIMILAR. >> THE ARKANSAS CANOE CLUB IS ONE OF THE PARTNERS INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING THIS CANOE TRAIL, AND WE'RE ESSENTIALLY PROVIDING A VOLUNTEER LABOR. WE WORKED OVER THE LAST -- PROBABLY LAST YEAR OR MORE JUST MAPPING, AND WE'VE GOT -- WE'VE LAID OUT MAP AND FLAGGED THE TRAIL. WE'RE STARTING NOW IN ON PUTTING UP PERMANENT MARKERS TO MARK THE MAIN CHANNELS. IT DOES GET CONFUSING OUT HERE, AND WITHOUT A GPS OR A COMPASS YOU WOULD BE PRETTY MUCH LOST A LOT OF THE TIME, SO ESPECIALLY IF YOU GET OFF THE MAIN CHAN WHERE THE WATER IS AT A HIGHER LEVEL AND IN THE TREES AND COMPLETELY LOSE YOURSELF. THIS IS JUST AN ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE AND BEAUTIFUL AREA. ARKANSAS HAS A NUMBER OF TREASURES. ARKANSAS HAS A NATIONAL TREASURE IN THE BUFFALO RIVER. THIS IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER ONE. THIS IS GOING TO BE AS WELL KNOWN SOME DAY AS THE BUFFALO RIVER AS A NATIONAL TREASURE. IT IS THE LARGEST BOTTOM LAND FLOOR IMPACT IN THE UNITED STATES. IT HAS *** TIMBER IN IT. SOME 800 TO NEARLY A THOUSAND YEAR OLD TREES. IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND IT CHANGES WITH THE SEASONS. RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY GLORIOUS WITH THE LIGHT -- >> DIFFERENT SHADES OF GREEN. >> ALL THE DIFFERENT SHADES OF GREEN. THE BIRDS ARE ALL OUT. EVERYBODY IS GOING CRAZY. JUST THIS MORNING I SAW AT LEAST FIVE BIRD OLDS CAME AND FLEW OVER ME AND SAT AROUND ME AND TALKED TO EACH OTHER FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND IT WAS JUST AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE. THIS IS A GREAT HER REN RORK REE UPSTREAM AND IT'S NOT MARKED ON THE TRAIL, BUT IT CAN BE FOUND SOMETIMES BY FOLLOWING THE BIRDS. THERE IS PROBABLY OVER A HUNDRED NESTS AND THEY'RE INVOLVED IN CARRYING IN THEIR NEST BUILDING MATERIALS RIGHT NOW. WE ARE INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH A THING AS THIS. THAT THESE WETLANDS WERE PRESERVED IS A MIRACLE. PEOPLE LIKE REX HANCOCK FROM THE CASH RIVER HELPED TO PRESERVE THESE LANDS, AND IT'S HERE FOR ALL OF US TO BENEFIT FROM. IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY MARVELOUS AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE SO INTERESTED IN THIS TRAIL, AND WANT PEOPLE TO COME SEE IT BECAUSE YOU WON'T BELIEVE YOUR EYES. IT'S JUST MARVELOUS. >> IT REALLY MAKES ARKANSAS WHAT IT IS. >> YES, IT IS. ARKANSAS IS A UNIQUE PLACE WITH SO MANY VARIED ENVIRONMENTS, AND WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE ALL OF THEM IN ITS NATURAL STATE. >> SO GRAB YOURSELF A KAYAK OR CANOE AND HEAD OUT TO THIS AREA. AND FOR MORE ON THIS DESTINATION AND OTHERS AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE. AND WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN THE NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER EXCITING ADVENTURE ON EXPLORING ARKANSAS.