Butterfield Trail

Hike Name: Butterfield Trail Location: northwest AR Length: 15 Submitted by: Jimmy McNaughton Date Submitted: 0/0/00 Rating:	more Arkansas trail reviews Arkansas national parks Arkansas state parks
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Description
The Butterfield Trail is a 15 mile loop that begins and ends in Devil's Den State Park (a great place to overnight before you begin the hike, but get a reservation). Fairly well-marked trail that partly coincides with a horse trail (watch your step). Hardwood forest with some cedar. Rocky trail. Excellent detailed description of the trail available at
http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/images/pdfs/DD-BFHTRLside1.pdf

and

http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/images/pdfs/DD-BFHTRLside2.pdf

This was a first hike for me, and has whetted my appetite for backpacking. The trees were just beginning to bud, but there was some color, redbuds and dogwoods maybe? It's got to be beautiful in the fall, and I'd like to do a fall trip there. Be cautioned that the suspension bridge at the trailhead was washed out, and you can either walk across the Lee Creek Dam if the water level permits (I'm not sure the rangers would approve) and follow the trail to the bridge, or walk the asphalt past the playground and cross the bridge. Either way, you walk asphalt back to Area A to begin the hike, assuming that you're going clockwise as we did. Be sure to get the free permit from the Visitor Center before you hike out. There are two primitive camps with fire rings on the trail. The Rock Hole camp is at mile 7. We camped at the Junction Camp next to Blackburn Creek, with water running over the rocks and a nice little fire (yeah, it was great). This is the second primitive camp, at about 9.5 miles, about a quarter mile down a hill that will be a good warmup when you leave the next morning. Great views all along the trail, and watch that descent those last couple of miles. We beat the mosquitoes out, but I did pick up a tick, so take your bug spray from March on. We packed our water in since we were not familiar with the creeks, but we would have had plenty had we had a filter. I'm not so sure it's as plentiful in the summer.

Directions to Hike
To reach the park, travel eight miles south of Fayetteville on I-540 to Exit #53 (West Fork), then go 17 miles southwest on Ark. 170; or I-540 at Exit #45 (Winslow) and go 7 miles west on Ark. 74 (TRAILERS LONGER THAN 26 FT. SHOULD USE CAUTION WHEN USING ARK. 74 DUE TO MOUNTAINOUS ROAD.)

Contact Information
Devil's Den State Park
11333 West Arkansas Highway 74
West Fork, AR 72774
(479) 761-3325

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