07/05/12 Featured Arkansas Photography–Night skies over the Narrows on the Buffalo River

Night skies over the narrows on the Buffalo River in Arkansas

Taken with a Canon 5D MKII, Canon 14mm lens, iso 250, F 5.3, for 35 minutes.  Not the easiest place to get to now, due to the flooding that occurred in 2010.  The Narrows is a unique part of geography in Arkansas.  On one side you have the Buffalo River and off in the distance, Richland Creek.  Richland runs into the Buffalo not far from here, but way back hundreds or thousands of years ago, Richland ran right up along the other side of the Narrows and the two streams almost met!.  The ledge is only about 2 feet wide in places and it’s quite place to walk.  The view downstream featured Skull bluff and then around the bend is Woolum Ford.  Be careful if you try to get to the narrows or “nars” as the locals call it by crossing the Buffalo at Woolum ford.  The actual ford has changed quite a bit over the past few years and is deeper and a bit tricky at most water levels.  Due to the excessive drought Arkansas has going right now, it may dry.  Once you cross the ford be VERY CAREFUL IN THE SAND. This is great place to get stuck!.  The best way is to use 4 wheel drive and go straight up the hillside and cut across the field, don’t try to stay in the ruts as they are now full of sand and very tricky.  Even with four wheel drive.

You can also come down from Dicky Junction and make the crossing of Richland at Moore, it will dry right now.  Then take the turn to Woolum ford, (left) the right goes out to Hwy 65 and Snowball.  You will have one more crossing of Richland. If the creek is running at all, this is another dangerous crossing since it’s deep and many are fooled into dropping in and then get stuck.  Not a place you want to get stuck, in the middle of Richland Creek.

Enjoy.