Return Trail
Photo: Farther Along, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 1.3 mi
- round trip
- 828 ft
- climb
- 906 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
- best months
Is Return Trail open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Buffalo National River. It doesn't name Return Trail, so check the source for the area it covers.
South Woolum Road Closed, Alternate Route Available
Park closure covering Buffalo National River · NPS · Buffalo National River
As of · Source: NPS · Buffalo National River. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Return Trail is a 1.27-mile hike in Buffalo National River, Arkansas, managed by the National Park Service. It is an out-and-back route that starts at about 619 feet and reaches a high point of 906 feet, with a total round-trip gain and loss of 828 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.95 miles, where the grade reaches 16 percent. The trail is rated easy, and no fee is charged for the hike. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Gilbert, Arkansas, run from highs around 70°F in April to 73°F in October, while July and August average highs near 89°F. Buffalo Point campground is about 0.8 miles away, and Indian Rockhouse Trail and Overlook Trail are both within a mile. Big Creek, about 8 miles off, offers canoeing.
Best time to go · Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
Best time to visit Return Trail
Best months: March–June and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
48° / 24°
7 wet
Feb
53° / 28°
7 wet
Mar
61° / 36°
8 wet
Apr
70° / 45°
8 wet
May
77° / 55°
9 wet
Jun
85° / 64°
7 wet
Jul
89° / 67°
7 wet
Aug
89° / 65°
7 wet
Sep
83° / 57°
6 wet
Oct
73° / 45°
7 wet
Nov
60° / 35°
7 wet
Dec
51° / 27°
7 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gilbert, AR, 10.6 mi away at 606 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Farther Along, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Indian Rockhouse Trail
~1 min drive
1.69-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 327 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
South Lower Wilderness Trails
~10 min drive
19.16-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 1,555 ft elevation gain.
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North Lower Wilderness Trails
~11 min drive
35.26-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 2,747 ft elevation gain.
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Ozark Highlands Trail
~21 min drive
7.56-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 596 ft gain.
Photo: Farther Along, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Overlook Trail
~2 min drive
0.92-mile out-and-back trail with 272 ft gain in Arkansas.
HIKE
Cow Creek Trail
~13 min drive
19.14-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 1,196 ft of elevation gain.
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Ozarks Keystone Trail
~43 min drive
31.56-mile point-to-point trail in Arkansas with 2,437 ft elevation gain.
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Point Peter Primitive Trail
~34 min drive
8.68-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 744 ft elevation gain.
Photo: Farther Along, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Forest Trail
~2 min drive
0.84-mile out-and-back hike in Arkansas with 152 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Syllamo Bike Trail-Bad Branch
~41 min drive
12.06-mile loop with 2,288 ft elevation gain in Arkansas.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
