Hawksbill Crag

Hawksbill Crag, also known as Whitaker Point, is the most iconic and photographed natural landmark in Arkansas, a dramatic, beak-shaped rock ledge that juts out over a deep, forested valley in the rugged Boston Mountains of the Ozark National Forest. Cantilevered into open space high above the Upper Buffalo Wilderness, the crag offers a breathtaking perch and a sweeping view across an ocean of wild Ozark ridges — an image that has come to symbolize the natural beauty of Arkansas.

Reached by a popular hike of about three miles round trip through beautiful forest, past bluffs, boulders and (in wet seasons) small waterfalls, Hawksbill Crag draws hikers and photographers from across the region to stand or sit on its famous overhanging ledge, especially stunning at sunrise, in fog, and in autumn color. Set within the wild Upper Buffalo Wilderness near the headwaters of the Buffalo River, the crag is surrounded by some of the most rugged and scenic wilderness in the Ozarks. A natural icon and a beloved hiking destination, Hawksbill Crag is a treasured landmark of the Arkansas Ozarks.

Hawksbill Crag is reached by a popular hike of about three miles round trip through the beautiful forest of the Upper Buffalo Wilderness, past bluffs, boulders, rock formations and seasonal waterfalls, to the famous cantilevered ledge and its sweeping views. Hiking, photography (the iconic crag shot), and taking in the wilderness scenery are the draws, with the surrounding wilderness offering longer backcountry hiking and exploration. The spectacular, beak-shaped overhang and the rugged Ozark wilderness make Hawksbill Crag a premier and beloved hiking destination in northwestern Arkansas.

Fall is spectacular, with brilliant color across the Ozark ridges framing the crag, a premier autumn time, while spring brings wildflowers, fuller seasonal waterfalls and fresh green. Sunrise and foggy mornings are magical year-round, when the valley fills with mist below the ledge. Summer is lush but warm and humid, and winter offers bare-ridge views and solitude. The crag’s views are best on clear days and at sunrise; fall color, spring waterfalls and misty mornings are highlights. The popular trail is busy on fall weekends, so arrive early.

Hawksbill Crag, long known to local people for its dramatic overhanging ledge, lies within the Upper Buffalo Wilderness of the Ozark National Forest, protected to preserve the rugged Boston Mountains wilderness near the headwaters of the Buffalo River. As photography of the iconic crag spread, it became recognized as the most photographed spot in Arkansas and a symbol of the state’s natural beauty. Protected within the federal wilderness, Hawksbill Crag preserves both the famous rock formation and the wild Ozark forest around it, a treasured landmark of northwestern Arkansas.

Hawksbill Crag is a dramatic ledge of resistant sandstone, part of the layered rock of the Boston Mountains — the high, rugged southern edge of the Ozark Plateau — where the hard sandstone caprock juts out over the softer rock below, cantilevered into open space as the underlying rock eroded away over immense time. The beak-shaped overhang and the surrounding bluffs and boulders reflect the layered sandstone geology and the long erosion of the Boston Mountains. The resistant sandstone and its undercutting created the famous overhanging crag high above the wild valley.

The forests, bluffs and valleys around Hawksbill Crag, in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness, host black bear, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, foxes, and a rich community of birds, including woodland species and the raptors that ride the air over the valley, while the rugged terrain shelters diverse Ozark wildlife. The biodiverse Boston Mountains wilderness supports abundant wildlife. Hikers to the crag may glimpse wildlife in the beautiful forest, and should be bear-aware and store food, as this wild region near the Buffalo River headwaters is increasingly bear country in the Arkansas Ozarks.

Hawksbill Crag lies within the biodiverse Upper Buffalo Wilderness of the Ozark National Forest, near the headwaters of the Buffalo River, where the rugged Boston Mountains, the sandstone bluffs, the forests, the seasonal streams and waterfalls, and the varied terrain support diverse plant and animal life, including rich Ozark forest communities and rare plants on the bluffs. The protected wilderness preserves a wild, undeveloped character. Protecting the wilderness, the bluffs, the streams’ water quality and the forests sustains both the ecology and the spectacular scenery of this iconic Arkansas landmark.

Hawksbill Crag, the most photographed spot in Arkansas and a symbol of the state’s natural beauty, holds an iconic place among the landmarks of the Ozarks, its dramatic overhanging ledge an image known and beloved across the region. Drawing hikers and photographers to stand on the famous crag above the wild valley, especially at sunrise and in autumn, the landmark embodies the rugged, scenic grandeur of the Boston Mountains and the Upper Buffalo Wilderness. Hawksbill Crag is a treasured natural icon of northwestern Arkansas, cherished by all who make the hike.

Hawksbill Crag (Whitaker Point) is in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness of the Ozark National Forest in northwestern Arkansas near the community of Boxley, off Cave Mountain Road (a rough gravel road) from State Route 21, about an hour and a half from Fayetteville. Access is free. The crag is reached by a hike of about three miles round trip; the trailhead parking is limited and the access road is rough. The trail and the crag’s ledge are rugged. Check the U.S. Forest Service (Ozark-St. Francis National Forests) for road and trail conditions before visiting.

The U.S. Forest Service protects Hawksbill Crag and the surrounding Upper Buffalo Wilderness of the Ozark National Forest. Visitors help by staying on the trail to protect the fragile wilderness and bluff vegetation, treating the famous crag with care, keeping back from the dangerous ledge edges, packing out everything (the popular trail strains under heavy use), protecting the streams’ water quality, being bear-aware and storing food, and following wilderness and Leave No Trace rules. Protecting the crag, the bluffs and the wilderness sustains both the ecology and the iconic scenery of this treasured Arkansas landmark.

Hawksbill Crag’s famous ledge juts out over a sheer, deadly drop — take great care on and near the crag, never roughhouse or take careless photos at the edge, and supervise children extremely closely, as falls from the ledge have been fatal. The roughly three-mile hike is rugged with uneven, sometimes slippery terrain; wear sturdy footwear, carry water, and watch footing, especially when wet or icy. The access road is rough. Be bear-aware and store food, tell someone your plans, watch the weather, and respect the height and exposure of the iconic crag.

Access is free; follow U.S. Forest Service wilderness rules. Stay on the trail to protect the fragile wilderness; keep back from the crag’s dangerous ledge edges. Pack out all trash (the popular trail needs care). Camp per wilderness rules; store food in bear country. Mechanized use is prohibited in the wilderness. Pets must be controlled. Drones are restricted. Collecting is prohibited. Parking is limited; the access road is rough. Check the U.S. Forest Service (Ozark-St. Francis National Forests) for rules and conditions before visiting.

The Boxley Valley (with its elk herd) and the headwaters of the Buffalo National River lie near the crag, with the Ozark National Forest’s wilderness, waterfalls and bluffs, the town of Jasper, and the broader Boston Mountains within reach, and the city of Fayetteville about an hour and a half west. The Arkansas Ozarks and the Upper Buffalo Wilderness define the region. Hawksbill Crag anchors a spectacular wilderness region of bluffs, forests and the wild Buffalo River country in northwestern Arkansas, a centerpiece of an Ozark hiking adventure.

Hike the roughly three-mile round trip through beautiful forest to the famous Hawksbill Crag — come at sunrise or on a foggy or autumn morning for the most magical light and views, and arrive early, as the trailhead parking is limited and the rough access road slow. Take great care on the cantilevered ledge over the deadly drop, never roughhousing near the edge, and supervise children closely. Wear sturdy footwear, carry water, be bear-aware, and combine the crag with the nearby Boxley Valley elk and the Buffalo River headwaters.