Cedar Bluff Trail

The Cedar Bluff Trail ascends to a dramatic bluff overlooking a picturesque bend of the Mountain Fork River, offering one of the most scenic vantage points in Beavers Bend State Park. The bluff is named for the eastern red cedars that cling to the rocky outcrop and define the character of this exposed limestone and sandstone promontory. From the bluff, hikers look down directly onto the clear green waters of the Mountain Fork, watching fly fishermen working the tailwater below the Broken Bow Dam where rainbow and brown trout fishing is among the finest in the southern United States. The ascent to the bluff follows a moderately steep rocky path through mixed forest before emerging onto the exposed sandstone overlook. The rocky outcrop itself supports a sparse flora adapted to thin dry soils, including prickly pear cactus and native grasses. The combination of river views, fishing activity below, and the wild character of the bluff makes this one of the most photographed spots in the park. Wildlife sightings from the bluff can include great blue herons stalking the shallows and belted kingfishers diving from overhanging branches into the crystal current below.