At 410 acres, the Rob and Melani Walton Nature Preserve is part of a large area of undeveloped, protected woodlands along the north side of Beaver Lake. The targets of this trip will be Cerulean Warbler and Worm-eating Warbler that have been reliable breeders along the north-facing slopes of this preserve, as well as other typical Ozark upland breeders. This trip will involve 2-3 hours of hiking over 3 miles of uneven and moderately steep terrain. Good hiking shoes, water, snacks, and insect repellent are a must. There are no restrooms at the trailhead; we recommend stopping at the nearby Short Stop General Store in Garfield for restrooms and provisions before and after the hike. The exact location of the preserve parking lot is GPS 36.442745, -93.950241.
Ragan Sutterfield will lead the caravan from Mt Sequoyah, leaving at 7:00 AM. The drive to the preserve will take approximately one hour. Adam Schaffer will meet the group at the preserve at 8:00 AM. Expect the walk to last 2-3 hours and return to Mt Sequoyah by noon.
From Fayetteville, AR travel north on US-72B/AR-92 N towards Springdale/Rogers, 17.6 miles. Turn right onto US-62 E/W Hudson Rd. Continue on US-62E for 12 miles. In Garfield, near the Short Stop General Store, turn right onto Hwy 127 S crossing the railroad tracks, 0.6 miles. Turn left onto Ford Rd. Enter the parking lot through the rock pillar gate. The exact location of the preserve parking lot is GPS 36.442745, -93.950241.