Hawksbill Crag (Whitaker Point)
Hawksbill Crag
A hawk's-beak-shaped rock platform jutting out over the canyon, with the endless Ozark forest below. It is Arkansas's most iconic view.
Hawksbill Crag sits in the wilderness area of the upper Buffalo River, in the Ozark National Forest. A sandstone platform juts out from the cliff edge, shaped like a hawk's beak, above a valley dozens of metres deep. From the Whitaker Point trailhead on Cave Mountain Road, the round trip is about 4.8 km. The forest trail has gentle ups and downs and takes about 2 hours. Sunrise and autumn foliage season are the most popular times. There are no railings at the edge, and there have been fatal falls, so keep well back from the edge when taking photos. Cave Mountain Road, which leads to the trailhead, is a steep, narrow gravel road that becomes muddy after rain. Drive carefully in a regular car. Parking is limited on weekends, so arrive early.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Glory Hole Falls
- Boxley Valley Elk Viewing
- Lost Valley Trail
- Ponca to Kyles Landing Float
- Steel Creek & Roark Bluff
- Big Bluff Goat Trail
- Alum Cove Natural Bridge
- Hemmed-In Hollow Falls