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ARKANSAS TRAVEL: Hike along forest loop reveals stony wonders

Pedestal Rocks Scenic Area, in Ozark-St. Francis National Forests, is the site of rock columns formed over eons by water and wind erosion.
Pedestal Rocks Scenic Area, in Ozark-St. Francis National Forests, is the site of rock columns formed over eons by water and wind erosion.

BEN HUR -- Hiking can take serious effort, the more so when the trail is sometimes rough and sloping. But the huffing and puffing pay off on Pedestal Rocks Loop walk, where the intermittently tough going leads to spectacular geological formations that deserve to be better known.

That's the equation at Pedestal Rocks Scenic Area, tucked away in Ozark-St. Francis National Forests some 35 miles north of Russellville. These rocks rise like a parade of gargantuan mushrooms below the cliff edge of the 2.2-mile loop. It is one of two unpaved scenic paths that begin in a clearing along Arkansas 16, between the tiny communities of Pelsor and Ben Hur.

From the trail head, a single pathway extends for the first tenth of a mile. Then Pedestal Rocks Loop heads to the left. To the right runs King's Bluff Loop, a 1.9-mile route that leads to the top of a flat bluff overlooking a deep valley. When recent weather has been rainy enough, the highlight of the view is one of the tallest waterfalls in the Ozarks, dropping 114 feet.

Taking the Pedestal Rocks Loop on a recent sunny afternoon first led a senior-citizen visitor down nine stone steps. Then the path was level, passing through a dense pine forest, before descending slightly and leveling again as the impressive bluff line first came into view.

A short side trail soon led to the edge of the bluff, where a hiker with any fear of heights would happily heed the signs warning about the danger of falling to the rocky ground below. From bluff's edge the first of the pedestal rocks came into view. An agile and confident hiker could have clambered down to the base of the towering formations for a close-up view and a peek into two caves. But the views from above were dramatic enough.

The rocks, as the U.S. Forest Service website explains, are "massive natural stone columns or 'pedestals' that rise up from the valley floor. Formed by natural erosion of the rock bluffs, they took thousands of years to form and have attracted human attention almost since the first Native American hunters entered the mountains."

These prehistoric American Indians "used the natural caves and outcrops at Pedestal Rocks for shelter. Archaeologists have found several important sites within the federally protected area."

What hikers see, in the words of the website, is "layer upon layer of sediment that was deposited when the area was under water millions of years ago. After the water receded, the land raised to form a dome called the Ozark Plateau. Since then, natural erosion has been occurring to form the Ozark Mountains."

Once the stretch of naturally carved pedestals was admired and photographed, the more exhausting half of the walk loomed returning to the trail head. The route led back into the forest and mostly uphill. For a 74-year-old walker, it took a number of breath-catching rests before the parking area finally came into view.

In retrospect, taking along a bottle or canteen of water would have been a smart idea. That said, the views of the distinctive sculpted rock towers were well worth the huffing and puffing.

To reach Pedestal Rocks Scenic Area from the Little Rock area, take Interstate 40 west to Russellville and turn north at Exit 91 onto Arkansas 7. Continue 32 miles before turning right on Arkansas 16. Proceed six miles east to the trail head on the highway's south side. If you reach the unincorporated community of Ben Hur, you've gone too far.

There is no fee to walk the trails. A parking area and pit toilet are located at the trail head. For details, visit arkforests.com or call (479) 284-3150.

Weekend on 05/03/2018

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