Wildlife Viewing

Watch ozark mountain wildlife from your cabin, river or on hikes through the forest. An exciting sport for all ages. Watch for minutes or hours. Recommended equipment includes: camera, spotting scope, birding field guide, checklist & 7x35 binoculars. Observing wildlife requires several key skills for success: be patient, slowdown & be quiet. All are qualities of a disciplined sportsman and hunter. Habitat signs and tracking are learned as you spend time tuning in to the surrounding environment. Wildlife and humanity are both creatures of habit.

Bird Watching

birds is a year-round activity. It can be done anytime, anywhere. Costs absolutely nothing! No skills are needed & everyone enjoys watching birds. Arkansas is home to 365 species of resident and migratory birds. This area offers excellent mid-winter bald eagle watching. There are many of these patriotic birds that successfully nest on the White River during their winter migration. Other common river birds include; the Great Blue Heron, Green Herons, King Fishers and several species of ducks and geese. Also found along the river system are over 90 species of song birds (migratory & resident). Look for giant Pileated Woodpeckers, fearless and pugnacious Hummingbirds, or the flight silent Owl.

Plants & Wildflowers

Wild burst of floral display. Alluvial soils of the White & Buffalo River banks display many species, much of the year. Mountain soil rich with limestone can offer flowering encounters with species not commonly seen in other places. White, purple, lavender, green, red, orange, pink and yellow. A full spectrum to behold from deep valleys to wooded slopes and streamside to sharp ledges. Cedar glades, oak groves, flowering wild cactus, 100 year old grape vines scatter the landscape. Meander along the trails of protected forests in fern covered gullies and appreciate the magnificent work of God. Cameras and field guides are a must! (see Guided Nature Trips )

History

"La Riviere Blanche" (White River), named by the first French traders who first explored this 720 mile river, whose origin is in the Boston Mountains of Madison County. There is an abundance of history, culture & folklore surrounding these hills. Cherokee, Delaware, Shawnee, Miamis & Peorias were the Native Americans that made their homes in the Ozarks. The "Trail of Tears" crossed the White River just north of Riley's. The Confederate Army took their stand on the Buffalo River and drove the Yankee's back to the North. Enjoy the many civil war sites and museums in Arkansas. Zinc mines, old homesteads & ghost towns make up some of the historical landscapes of this region. Be sure to visit the Baxter County History Museum in Gassville, Arkansas.

Photography

Ozark wilderness allows for texture, panoramic majesty, wildlife character, eye-catching composition and lighting, so many rewarding images waiting to be captured! Traditional & digital cameras are a must for a trip to Riley's. Exploit all photo opportunities. Natural history, landscapes, critters, still life, and don't forget friends, family & fish. All skill levels of photographers can find endless subject matter. Hints & Tips Wide-angle lenses or short standard lenses will help show the environment and setting behind your subject. 85mm to 200mm zoom lenses are the most useful in animal pictures. Kneepads and a small tripod will help you get on the ground to shoot small subjects on their plane. In the mountains, shoot early or late for best lighting. (see Guided Photography Trips )

Kid & Critter Wilderness Adventures

The purity of a child's soul interacting with nature always seems to strike a harmony! Whether watching a child catch their first fish, flipping rocks for crawdads or chasing minnows with a net, life will be full of enrichment for parent and child. Swimming with goggles on the Buffalo River takes kids to a new underwater world. Children exploring nature is more fulfilling than watching nature itself. Let your kids teach you something. Go back to Never-Never land in the Ozarks!