Buffalo River Trail

November 17, 2018

Buffalo River Trail. Steel Creek to Villines Homestead.

10:35 am on a crisp morning. Most trail enthusiasts would assume that the premier prime fall foliage has past-but this morning was glorious. The trail was empty but still warm with freshly fallen leaves. Like the layers of golden leaves hanging on until the last minute, we savored the last of the fall season.

Steel Creek to the old Villines Homestead on the Buffalo River Trail is clocked on our All Trails App as 5.7 miles (in and out). While the morning started cool, it quickly warmed enough for me to lose my jacket. We started out by pulling into the Steel Creek Campground and we were greeted by a Bald Eagle flying over head. We considered this to be a good sign and the trail did not disappoint.

Along the trails there were some fantastic views of bluffs and the river. The homestead was well maintained and you could imagine what it was like for "Beaver Jim" to spend his entire life in the Boxley Valley.

Once on the homestead, I wished I had packed a good pressed sandwich like http://hostthetoast.com/chicken-bacon-pressed-picnic-sandwiches-raspberry-honey-mustard/ Between the picnic tables along the creek and the stunning views along the trail, this would be a perfect place for a fall picnic but our trail mix and water had to suffice.

The campground and facilities were nice and tidy. Although the tent sites are quite close to each other, there were not many campers perhaps due to the threat of freezing temperatures. We have decided to come back to this area with a canoe next spring and spend a few days-my partner in crime vowing to bring his fishing pole to fish the clear waters of the Buffalo River.