Had a close call with a washed-out bridge on the Eagle Rock Loop in Arkansas

I was hiking the Little Missouri trail section last spring after heavy rain, and the main river crossing near Blaylock Creek was completely gone. The water was moving fast, way over my knees, and the old footbridge debris was piled downstream. I had to backtrack almost two miles to find a safer spot, which added hours in the dark. Has anyone else run into a major trail feature just being gone like that, and how do you check for that stuff now?

3 comments

3 Comments

phoenixd972mo ago

What's your go-to source for checking trail conditions now, like a specific ranger district number or website?

wades761mo ago

Honestly, have you tried calling the ranger station directly? I read a forum post last week where a guy said the websites are often out of date. He swore by just picking up the phone and talking to the front desk, they usually have the most current info from field crews. I started doing that and it's been way more reliable for me. They can tell you about recent weather damage or trail work you won't find online yet. It takes a few minutes but saves a lot of hassle later.

linda_kelly172mo ago

So you backtracked in the dark, that sounds rough. Did you have a backup plan for crossing or were you just hoping to find a spot?