Things to do & places to visit in Ponca, Arkansas, United States

Ponca city in Arkansas, United States. Timezone: America/Chicago, current date and time: Tuesday, May 07, 2024, 17:32.

Top things to do (6)

Top places to visit

5.0 Hawksbill Crag (220 reviews)
- Easy hike to whitaker point besutiful view on 10/22/20
Hiking Trails

We have been hiking all around Buffalo National River Park this week, today was along Hawksbill Crag to whitaker point. Its a fairly easy hike after driving ~6 miles up a gravel road from the paved highway. Today there were many other people also onnthis hike to the point, but not too difficult to navigate around everyone. I have attached several pictures going to and at the point. The scenery is fantastic!! See more..
5.0 Buffalo Outdoor Center (64 reviews)
- Buffalo River professional outfitters
Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Gear Rentals • Sightseeing Tours

The online booking, easy check in to our cabin, the selection at the outdoor center and the level of service throughout the experience makes BOC a must use to experience the Buffalo River. We launched on a rainy day, no problem. They gave us all the information we needed to undertake this raw, wild experience including a map, verbal advice and cues to look out for. We ended up needing to come off the river a day earlier than arranged due to a terrible storm. I called the office when they opened and again, they walked me through the forecast for the weather and the river. They drove our car to us before the storm hit and hit us safely out of there. Great facilities including the cabins, nice kayaks, and excellent service. See more..
4.5 Lost Valley Trail (194 reviews)
- Fantastic after a good rain
Spent 2-3 hours Hiking Trails

We hiked this trail quite a few summers ago during the drought. It was interesting for sure, but not as memorable as it could have been. This time we hiked in the fall after a series of good rains, and WOW the experience was so different. The first part of the trail is very accessible, even for wheelchairs for a bit. The trail up to the cave is a bit steep, but have good shoes and you'll be fine. There was just one great water feature after another. The trail is very well-maintained as is the parking lot at the trailhead. The pit toilets were out of paper... which is common. Just be prepared. We even enjoyed a tailgate picnic lunch in the parking lot - very pleasant people watching and setting. See more..
4.5 Ponca Elk Education Center (52 reviews)
- Good Information
Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM Speciality Museums

This small museum/information center in Ponca, Arkansas is a wealth of information. It is free and the staff is extremely helpful. They will advise you on the river, float trips, local trails, caves, campgrounds, overlooks and the best places to see the elk. They also have a small museum where the kids can get hands on experiences with the local plants and animals. If you are going to get away from the more touristy areas of the Buffalo National River, this is the place to go. See more..
4.5 Lost Valley Canoe Rental (26 reviews)
- Great float trip!
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Self-Guided Tours & Rentals • Kayaking & Canoeing

The staff at Lost Valley were super helpful in planning our trip. I called several weeks before our visit, trying to figure out what a two day float would look like, having never done one before. They were patient and helpful each time I called with questions. In the days preceding our trip, the rain was causing high river levels. We camped at Erbie Campground and even though it is super isolated with no cell service (roughly a 30-40 min ride down a dirt pot-holed rough road), and the campground is primitive, there was at least an emergency phone by the bathroom at the river. The phone would dial to a few emergency numbers, and also to Lost Valley Canoe. So we were able to stay put with camping and hiking in the days before, and still call Lost Valley daily to see what river levels were looking like to plan when we would float. They were super helpful every time! We will definitely use them again! See more..