Pedestal Rock

The Pedestal Rock Trail is located in the Ozark National Forest in northern Arkansas. The trailhead is located about 60 miles south of Jasper, Arkansas just off Route 7. This trail offers a short hike through a hardwood forest to a long ridge which offers excellent views of the forest below. As you reach the ridge or as it is called in Arkansas, the bluff, there are many short trails that leave the main trail. Many led to beautiful sunset views which our Jack Russell Terriers insisted we investigate. As we travelled the ridge trail we noticed the strange rock pedestal standing next to the ridge. When sediment that formed the pedestals were deposited millions of years ago, a mineral called iron oxide was more abundant on the top and bottom layers of sediment. This mineral is harder making these areas more resistent to erosion. As the softer inner sediment weathered and eroded, cracks developed further eroding the softer sediment. This eventually seperated the bluff line creating the stand alone pedestals. This process is still going on today.

The pedestal areas are dangerous for small children because the gaps are wide open, making falling to the forest floor far below possible. Nitro played chicken with evey crack or hole, believing creatures or varmits were surely hiddening down below. The area below the bluff line is great for exploring. Bluff shelters that have not yet seperated from the bluff, makes walking along the bottom of the bluff as interesting as the top. The JRT's loved it. Besides falling off the bluff, other dangers are also present. Arkansas has copperheads and rattlesnakes which are poisonous. Although they pose only a small threat to adults, anyone under eighty (80) pound bitten would be at great risk. This makes Jack Russell Terriers at great risk. Although we didn't see any snakes, the terrian was excellent for sunbathing and hidding. Another danger, there is very little water availble. Take plenty of water, our JRT's drank alot on the trail and alot back in the Jeep. This 2.5 mile trail is well marked and easy to follow and an excellent hike for Jack Russell Terriers. There is also the Kings Bluff loop trail which is 1.7 miles that can be combined to make this hike 5.2 miles. Both trails leave from the same trailhead. There is also a nice toliet facility and picnic area at the trailhead with plenty of parking. Buzz and Bandit picked up a couple of very small brown wood ticks, but the ticks were not to bad. This is a great easy to hike short trail with excellent views of the Illinois Bayou Drainage and the Ozark Mountains. Arkansas Route 7 is also a designated scenic drive so the ride to the trail is also quit rewarding.