David's Trail: Robinson Point Toward Panther Bay -- mid-April

Getting to David's Trail at Robinson Point

From downtown Mountain Home take US-62/US-412 east for 10 miles. Turn right on Robinson Point Cutoff and then turn left onto Robinson Point Road. Follow the road for about 2 miles until you see the trailhead on your right.

From the East follow US-62/US-412 until you cross the bridge over Norfork Lake. Continue 1 mile and then turn left onto Robinson Point Cutoff and then turn left onto Robinson Point Road. Follow the road for about 2 miles until you see the trailhead on your right.

Note: Clicking on any of the icons in the embedded map below will also open an information window. Within the red bar in that window, you can click on the ↱ to get Google driving directions from your current location.

The Trail

David's Trail will eventually extend from Robinson Point to the Missouri border. The section to Panther Bay is 4.3 miles one-way. It closely follows the lake shore, providing lovely lake views throughout the winter months. The trail is wide and well-maintained but there are multiple steep hills that make it a moderately challenging hike. Total climbing is approximately 800 feet.

By mid-April wildflowers are becoming abundant along the trail. We saw lots of Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides), scatterings of various species violets (Viola pedata and Viola sororia), some Orange Puccoon (Lithospermum canescens), and some Rose Vervain (Glandularia canadensis). The real show should begin in another week or so when the vast areas of Mayapple (Podophyllum potatum) and Wild Comfrey (Cynoglossum virginianum) begin to bloom.

Click on this link to see an interactive map of the trail showing the elevation changes.

The Map

Clicking on this link will open the embedded map below in a separate window and allow you to use Google's My Maps app on your phone. 

Clicking on the various icons in the embedded map below (or in My Maps) will show you photographs of a few things you can expect to see. 

The Big Bluff Trail and The Oakridge Mountain Bike Trail, in April

Spring is nearly here and soon it will be time to get out into the woods and look for flowers. These are a few of the kinds of wildflowers you may expect to find in the Ozarks. All of these wildflowers are found in Bull Shoals White River State Park in April (sometimes March and May as well). Of course, wildflowers move around as conditions change, and they are possible to find in many more locations than those marked on the embedded map at the bottom of this page. Getting to Bull Shoals White River State Park From downtown Mountain Home take AR-5 north for 6.1 miles. Turn left on AR-178 and head west for 7.3 miles. Turn left on Powerhouse Road and drive 1.5 miles to the park.  From Yelville head east on US-62/US-412 for 4.5 miles. Turn left on AR-178 and head east for 12 miles. Turn right on Powerhouse Road and drive 1.5 miles to the park. Note: Clicking on any of the icons in the embedded map below will also open an information window. Within the red bar in that window, you can click on the ↱ to get Google driving directions from your current location. The Trails The Big Bluff trail is the 1.5-mile loop on the northern portion of the map below. It is a relatively easy hike with about 260 feet of total climbing. The bluff overlook is strikingly pretty, but it is also unfenced. Children should be supervised closely. The Oakridge Mountain Bike trail is a 2.8-mile loop trail through typical Ozark forest of mixed oak and hickories. You'll find patches of meadow and a wide variety of trees and native plants. The trail is rocky (like most of the Ozarks) but easy hiking with about 260 feet of total elevation gain. Click on this link to see an interactive map of both trails showing the elevation changes. The Map Clicking on this link will open the embedded map below in a separate window and allow you to use Google My Maps app on your phone. Clicking on the various icons in the embedded map below (or in My Maps) will show you photographs of a few things you can expect to see.