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Arkansas Adventure Mom

Latest from the Blog

Pigeon Roost Lake Overlook: A Trail Review

Trail Reviews· Trails

One of my favorite trails to do with the kids is the Pigeon Roost Overlook at Hobbs State Park. It’s an 8.5 mile loop with several backpacking campsites (currently closed due to Covid-19. I will update as soon as they are open.) But if you are looking for a shorter distance, the 1.2 mile hike to the lake & back…
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‘Tis the Season of Motherhood

Motherhood

We have a kiddo who isn’t sleeping. Says there’s scary noises in their room. Doesn’t matter what we’ve tried there’s no convincing them it’s safe. Which leaves Todd & I basically back on the newborn schedule of being up every two hours. We’re exhausted, kiddo is exhausted, & the family is exhausted. Nights feel hard right now. ‘Tis the season….
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The Best No Bake, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie

Food· Recipes

Lots of people have some sort of a no bake, peanut butter chocolate cookies in their recipe index. But no one has Grandma Byrd Cookies. I think most families have that one recipe that is so special & sacred, they are sure their family was the one to come up with it. That’s exactly how I felt about Grandma Byrd…
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Colorado Fourteener for a First Timer

Tips· Trails

“Climbing my first 14er was one of the hardest but most amazing outdoor experiences of my life!” I got it in my head that I wanted to finish a Colorado 14er but honestly thought I wouldn’t be able to make it happen any time in the near future. I live several hours away & it was going to require lots…
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Shaddox Hollow- A Trail Review

Hiking With Kids· Trail Reviews· Trails

Shaddox Hollow Nature Trail in Rogers, Arkansas is a trail our family loves to hike! We have hiked it so many times we could probably hike it in the dark. It’s a quick hike at 1.4 miles, which is perfect because sometimes we don’t always have time to do a massive trail but we still want to get out in…
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Hello! I'm Kate. I'm a native Arkansan, wife, mama to 3, poodle mom, storyteller, & a nature enthusiast. I love to share Arkansas trails, tips for hiking with kids & how this outdoor adventure lifestyle has led my family on a beautiful journey we never could have imagined for ourselves. My biggest passion is cheering on families who want to get outside with their kids!! Because trust me when I say, if I can do this, you can too! You can find me on Instagram @KatePantier & Facebook: Kate Pantier- Adventuring Arkansas or you can read more about me here.

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✨Is this a comprehensive Arkansas hiking list??? ✨Is this a comprehensive Arkansas hiking list??? NO! But man, it’s a good place to start. Arkansas has over 600,000 acres of lakes & rivers, over 200 waterfalls, 2 mountain ranges, 52 State Parks, 7 National Park systems including the United States’s FIRST National River. 😍 Come hike, boat, canoe, mountain bike, rock climb, explore with us!✨
I was going to make one reel answering all the con I was going to make one reel answering all the concerns moms had sent me over DMs this week. And I started typing & realized each concern can be it’s own reel. So that’s what I want to do! I can’t solve all the obstacles, but I can share how I got started going outside with my kids & hopefully by sharing my experience, you’ll feel like you can overcome anything to get you & your kiddos outside on the trail together! 

But first, if your concern isn’t on my reel, leave a comment (or send me a DM) telling me what your biggest obstacle is & maybe it’s something we can talk about! 

👇🏻 Leave your comment below 👇🏻
Feel the fear. And do it anyway. True confession, Feel the fear. And do it anyway.  True confession, there was a point in time a few years ago where I was too scared to go to a local state park to hike their trails with the kids solo. Like terrified. I texted Todd while he was at work asking if he thought I’d be safe. I laugh about it now, but I know that fear is very real for so many of us— whether it’s Ted Bundy’s psycho twin brother we’re scared of or all the critters. 

But I decided the benefits of the hike outweighed allowing myself to give fear all the control over my decisions. My mom raised us on “Feel the fear & do it anyway” & that’s how I try to approach most things. 

Things I do to keep us safe: I message Todd with location details, trail info, & what time I plan on starting the hike & what time I think we’ll be done. I’m always aware on the trail & constantly evaluating our surroundings & the people we see on the trail.

I always make sure I have a full tank of gas, plenty of water (or an emergency life straw), first aid kit, & lots of snacks. We’re mostly day hikers, so I carry less things in my bag than a backpacker would, but I do try to be prepared in case a true emergency happened. At this point, I’m more worried about an injury preventing us from getting back to the car than anything else. 

I’m also *NEVER* hesitant to show up to a trail, check it out, & if I don’t feel safe (something/someone weird in the parking lot or something just feels off) then I will reroute to somewhere else. Our instincts are there for a reason, trust them.

Typically, I’m the most anxious in the build up to the adventure but once I’ve got us going, I realize how safe we are & we have a blast. It’s always been worth it!

What are you most nervous/scared/anxious of about going out on your own with your kiddos???
Let’s talk poison ivy! Not my favorite plant out Let’s talk poison ivy! Not my favorite plant out there to be honest. I always thought I was the most allergic in my family & then Todd (for the new peeps, that’s my husband) got it last year & it was brutal. Lasted for almost 2 months! 😨😨 I am happy to give him the 1st place trophy on being the most allergic to poison ivy! 

How to identify poison ivy: Leaves of 3, Leave them Be! The leaves grow in a cluster of 3, so watch out for that. Some edges might be smooth while others have a jagged side. Poison Ivy can flower or also have vines (these are usually hairy.) So if you see a hairy vine anywhere near a poison ivy cluster, assume it’s also poison ivy!

How I avoid it: When we are going on a trail that I know isn’t well maintained regularly, I wear tall socks with my hiking boots. Do I look ridiculous?? YES. 😅 Does it make the hike worth it since I didn’t come home with poison ivy?? Also, yes! 

How I wash it off: if I know or even *think* I brushed up against poison ivy, as soon as I’m done with my hike or outdoor outing, I take a shower. I have noticed I can go a few hours from exposure & not break out. For the shower, I make sure I have a clean washcloth, where I make sure I scrub over the areas with soap the leaves might have touched. Just running soap over it has never washed off the oil from the leaves that causes the itchy rash for me, I’ve got to have a wash cloth to get it off.

How I treat it: typically I can get away with using a Benadryl anti-itch cream or a cortisone cream. Todd’s poison ivy was so bad he used Zanfel & did regular washes on it to get relief. I have had poison ivy so bad I’ve had to get steroid shots from the doctor to get it to calm down. I’m not a doctor, so I’m going to tell you, if you or your kids get it while out hiking this summer, call your doctor to talk about treatment. Don’t listen to a lady on the internet.😁

And to give credit where credit is due, it was @blackadventurecrew who inspired this reel with their poison ivy info reel!
It’s #NationalTrailsDay! Where are you hiking??? It’s #NationalTrailsDay! Where are you hiking??? If you happen to be in the Northwest Arkansas area or you want to head to the Buffalo River, here’s some good hikes for you & the fam! 😍 Have fun, be safe, & practice Leave No Trace! 🤍 And most importantly, tell me where you end up!
Ok, so this isn’t a swimming hole but “Here’ Ok, so this isn’t a swimming hole but “Here’s your sign to find a really awesome spot on the river to go swimming” didn’t fit on the reel. So… 😅😝

📍This is Steel Creek, one of our favorite spots on the Buffalo River. It’s cold, it’s great for kids, & there’s a rope swing near by. 😍

I will be moving…. AGAIN this weekend. Hoping to wrap up the last of everything, if you make it out anywhere fun, please share in the comments, I need to live vicariously through you! 🤣
And the rest of the quote says, “and also, by th And the rest of the quote says, “and also, by the way, in our own).” Invest your time in nature with your kids, with yourself, with your spouse, & you won’t regret it.

PS you don’t have to take your kids backpacking in the middle of nowhere to invest in nature, a city park, your backyard, a walk in your neighborhood, it all counts.🤍
Okay, Arkansans, don’t come for me! This is not Okay, Arkansans, don’t come for me! This is not a comprehensive list!! 😝 I already have Part 2 made & a list of hikes made for a Part 3! So send me your favorite waterfall trails so we can explore them! Arkansas has over 200 falls & we are ready to find new favorites! 

1) Hemmed in Hollow: AllTrails says it’s 5.7 miles, I feel like it’s longer than that. It also has a 1400 elevation drop. Its claim to fame is it’s the tallest waterfall between the Rockies & the Appalachians! After you see the falls, hike over to the Buffalo River & go for a swim. 😍

2) Triple Falls in Jasper, AR is a 0.3 mile hike & I’ve featured it here a ton. I love this hike cause the falls are amazing, it’s a short hike that almost anyone can do, & you feel transported to the middle of the a tropical oasis!

3) Cedar Falls at Petit Jean Mtn. State Park in Morrilton. This is probably my first central Arkansas hike to be featured here! I grew up at this state park, was a camp counselor here, & looooove this waterfall. It is very trafficked, you aren’t disappearing into the wilderness here, but it’s a short hike with a great view. Plus, the lodge is right there & it’s fun to visit too!

4) Glory Hole Falls is a 2 mile hike in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest. This is really one of the coolest natural waterfalls you’ve seen because of the way the water comes through the mountain. We love to set up a cook stove at the base of the falls, have lunch, & play. 

5) Eden Falls is the 2nd largest waterfall in Arkansas & is located on the Lost Valley Trail. This trail has it all, a natural bridge, multiple caves, a waterfall, a creek, & more. It really is so so much fun!

Like, Save, & Share for the Part 2! And send me your recs on your favorite waterfalls from your state!

As always, remember nature is fun, but hike safely!
Cheaper than a paddle board, simpler than renting Cheaper than a paddle board, simpler than renting a canoe, & it’s a very fast, last minute water activity. You can buy these for $6.98 a tube at Walmart, it’s the Ozark Trail brand.

We bought ours a few summers ago, I was filling up my gas tank to head to the Buffalo River & the kids saw the tubes stacked outside. They asked if I’d buy them (thought I’d say no 😬) & I grabbed one for each of us. We keep them in a tub in the garage & load them up once water season hits.  They are so much fun, cheap, & a great way to enjoy the water more.

I also keep an electric air pump or a battery powered air pump to blow them up once we get to the water.

PS not an #ad. We just really like our inner tubes. 😝
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