BLUFFTON PRESERVE: A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

One hour north of Conway is a place designed for both the permanent preservation of an amazing natural resource and for the enjoyment and accessibility of area visitors. The Nature Conservancy of Arkansas’s Bluffton Preserve offers visitors almost 1,000 acres of unspoiled Ozark paradise. The bluff line you see when entering the property makes it clear how the preserve got its name. To truly capture the beauty of the bluff line, visit the preserve in the afternoon when the sun has moved from behind the Bluff line to behind your back lighting up this breathtaking formation. While the bluff line is worth the trip, it barely scratches the surface of what all the preserve has to offer. Bluffton is perfect for hiking, camping, fishing, mountain biking, geocaching, kayaking, swimming or just exploring; the preserve provides a little something for everyone.

This hidden treasure of nature is nestled right along the Archey Fork River making it perfect for swimming, fishing, and kayak launch spot. There are a number of large swimming and fishing holes easily accessible from the road and with camping within walking distance of the river, you can take the time to experience all Bluffton has to offer, if you wish.

Bluffton serves as the upper kayak launch for the Archey Fork River with the next pickup area, 9.5 miles in the Clinton City Park. This float will take roughly 4 to 6 hours depending on river conditions and pace of the group. This secluded float will let you reconnect with nature and provides a number of rapids. This float is not advised for most beginners due to the length and the presence of narrow rapids and high current when water levels are up and rocks exposed in the rapids creating a boney affect making for a longer paddle time when water levels are down.

The Bluffton Preserve is still relatively unknown, making for less distractions, letting you truly experience nature. With a number of established trails and more in progress, there is a hiking or biking trail for all experience levels. The trail development system is single track in format and with some true backcountry trails and views you are guaranteed no to be disappointed.

The neighbors along Watergate Road and volunteers with Float VBC help manage and maintain the property. Camping is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The hunting rights are leased, so please refrain from hunting and be sure to wear hunter orange when exploring during hunting season. Horseback riding and ATVs are prohibited in the area to help reduce the amount of sediment entering the river.

Editorial provided in part by www.ExploreClintonAR.com

Jason Hayes is the director of the Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce. Hayes is a native of the Greers Ferry Lake area and an expert river guide. He has represented Clinton and the surrounding area on a number of boards and commissions working to create economic opportunities for rural Arkansas — particularly in the field of outdoor recreation.

In 2015, Hayes helped found Float VBC, an organization whose mission is to “provide public kayak and canoe launches on the floatable rivers in Van Buren County and to provide the information necessary to ensure that visitors and locals alike can have a safe and enjoyable trip exploring our county and local rivers.”

What is a sample itinerary for someone wanting to visit the Clinton area?

HAYES: With the variety of outdoor activities we offer, it would be hard to fit everything in one day or even a weekend. Day-trip visitors would need to choose between the lake (year-round), mountain biking or hiking (available year-round), or kayaking (available the winter months through the early part of June with spot availability during the summer and fall months).

What is Float VBC?

HAYES: In 2015, when the Nature Conservancy of Arkansas opened the Bluffton Preserve, we recognized the possibility of floating the Archey Fork of the Little Red River. That initiated Float Van Buren County, or Float VBC. It started as an effort to establish public kayak launches to better establish Clinton as a destination to complement Greers Ferry Lake. This effort would be followed by Bike VBC where we were able to work with The Nature Conservancy to establish a series of trails on the Bluffton preserve and better promote the Ozark Grinder Trial.

Through the process of enjoying the Archey Fork, I began to look to our other tributaries in our county and explore them. What we learned through this process was that the Archey Fork and the Middle Fork are amazing rivers that offer seasonal floating. While they are typically only floatable in the spring and winter months, if we developed and educated kayakers on how to access these rivers, we could help visitors better explore Clinton and Van Buren County’s natural beauty and drive tourism.

How would someone without much experience on the water take advantage of what the Clinton area has to offer?

HAYES: The best source to learn how to experience our outdoor activities is to visit our website — www.ExploreClintonAR.com — where we have laid out how to access the rivers, lakes, and trails. We have some video up of the trails to let visitors know what to expect and will always be adding more videos of attractions.

What do you most want area residents to remember about Clinton and Van Buren County?

HAYES: Clinton and Van Buren County hold a treasure trove of outdoor activities that you can experience. Greers Ferry Lake, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Bluffton Preserve, the forks of the Little Red River, and more are all here for exploring.