It seems like every Arkansas Summer has a stretch of drought sometime between July and September. When the float rivers dry up and waterfall hikes become… well, just hikes. This summer (2021) has been especially dry and hot, making it difficult to get out and do these things. So what can you do when you just gotta get out there? How about a vista hike? Well that’s exactly what I did one Sunday in August. I hiked the Riverview Trail at Tyler Bend Recreation Area on the Buffalo River.
There are a lot of high bluffs along the Buffalo River with trails leading to some great views. I like to hit those trails this time of year. Last Summer I did the most popular, Centerpoint/Goat Trail to Big Bluff near Compton. So this time I chose something closer to the Lower Buffalo. There are plenty of options, but I chose the Riverview Trail at Tyler Bend for two reasons. Because I wanted to follow it up with a dip at the Shine Eye swimming hole on the Buffalo. And I wanted to stop in at Coursey’s Smokehouse.
Quick Glance
Distance: 2.0 miles out and back (2.6 including Collier Homestead)
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Trail Head Coordinates: 35.986021, -92.763685
Directions
This one is very easy to find. Coming from the south, take Hwy 65 north through Marshall. Keep going until you see Buffalo River Outfitters on the left. Just past that, look for the sign for the Tyler Bend Visitor Center. Turn left on Searcy 241 Hwy and follow the signs to the Visitor Center. Coming from the north, take Hwy 65 south through St. Joe. After the bridge crossing the Buffalo River, continue for almost 1 mile. Look for the sign for the Tyler Bend Visitor Center and turn right on Searcy 241 Hwy. Follow the signs to the Visitor Center. The trailhead is next to the Visitor Center.
What to Expect
Riverview Trail
The Riverview Trail at Tyler Bend is a 2-mile round-trip hike, out and back. It is a clear path and well-marked. No map or GPS is needed. But I do recommend a hiking stick for this one. Not for balance or because of the terrain, but for spider webs. This trail doesn’t get a whole lot of traffic and there were a lot of spiderwebs across the trail. Don’t let that deter you. Just take a hiking stick to knock them down with. I thought the hike was pretty easy, but AllTrails rates it as moderate. Maybe that’s due to a couple of uphill sections. But those are short and gradual, not that difficult.
Overlooks
There are actually two overlooks on the trail. The first overlook is at the 0.8-mile mark. This is a really high bluff overlooking the Buffalo River. There are several clearings on the bluff where you can walk to the edge and get a view. There are no safety rails here, so be careful! Do not let kids close to the edge. I don’t recall if pets are allowed, but if they are, they should be leashed. (Most trails in the Buffalo River NPS do not allow pets). If you do this hike, hang out here for a while and keep a lookout for bald eagles. I saw one fly right by as I was getting some video. You can see this in the video below.
The second overlook is only about .25 mile further up the hill. This one is a wooden platform with rails overlooking Arnold Bend. This is a great view of the Buffalo River as it takes a turn to the west. From here you can see Calf Creek to the left, and several of the large bluffs that line the Buffalo just upriver. I definitely recommend stopping at both overlooks. I’ve included them both in the video.
Collier Homestead
Continuing on up the trail will lead to Collier Homestead. This is an early 1900’s era farm that has been preserved and maintained. There is an old log cabin, smokehouse and well, all surrounded by an old picket fence. You can walk inside it and look around. There’s really not much else to say about it. I mean, it’s an old log cabin. But it’s worth a look. There is a shorter trail that leads to the homestead. Follow the signs along the main road through the park to the Collier Homestead parking area. From there, it’s only a 0.1 mile walk.
Plan Your Trip
If you hike the Riverview Trail at Tyler Bend in the summer, I recommend some bug spray and a hiking stick for the spider webs. It’s not a bushwhack at all, but I did get some bug bites. As with any other hike in the Summer, take some water! There are no creek crossings on this trail. Give yourself at least a couple of hours to do this hike and spend a little time at the overlooks. Please pack out any trash you take in and leave no trace.
If you can’t live without a cell signal, don’t worry – there’s a decent signal here. There are restrooms at the visitor center and throughout the campground. If you want to hike more, you can find two other hiking trails in the campground area of Tyler Bend. But I don’t recommend those in the Summer. This is one of the most popular areas around the Buffalo with plenty of options for spending a night or weekend. There are campgrounds at Tyler Bend and Gilbert, and tons of cabin rentals along Hwy 65 between Marshall and St. Joe. Food, drinks, and supplies can be found at one of the local outfitter shops. And don’t forget Ferguson’s Country Store and Coursey’s Smoked Meats.
Swimming Holes
I can’t end this article without mentioning this! The best way to finish hiking the Riverview Trail at Tyler Bend in the Summer is with a cool dip in the Buffalo River. Even if it’s too low to float, there’s always a few pools deep enough to cool you down. Tyler Bend is a popular access point for floating the Buffalo. There is a decent swim hole there. Just follow the signs to the river. My day ended with a dip at Shine Eye Campground, just up the road. Thanks Gez Rogers with Waterfalls in Arkansas for the tip on that one. It’s really not much of a campground, but the swimming hole there is top-notch. It’s a deep pool with some rocks and cliffs you can climb on. There is good parking, easy access, and not crowded. See map below to find this one. Enjoy!
