THE FLIP SIDE

Loop trail packs a wallop at Civil War battlefield

Visitors taking the one-mile walking tour at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park learn about the Civil War and see natural features and scenic vistas.
Visitors taking the one-mile walking tour at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park learn about the Civil War and see natural features and scenic vistas.

When it's 90 degrees with humidity to match, the shorter the hike, the better when it comes to hitting the dusty or asphalt trail.

There are little trails all around our corner of the Ozarks that won't keep you out in the heat all day. These shorter routes don't get the praise, or the use, but they're great for an hour of exploring and exercise in any season.

A shining jewel in Northwest Arkansas' hiking crown is the one-mile loop trail at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park. The route packs a lot into a short hike at the Civil War battlefield on the edge of Prairie Grove, about eight miles west of Fayetteville.

We were at the park on a sun splashed Saturday on July 16 to watch the live fire cannon demonstration. You want some fireworks? The cannon kaboom will rattle your fillings. The firing team tells us the low-powder charge they use is nothing like the real thing used during the Battle of Prairie Grove. It's said the cannon fire could be felt in Fort Smith.

The next live-fire demonstration day is at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The cannon is fired each hour until 2 p.m. A fine morning out is to watch the cannon show, then walk the one-mile asphalt loop that visits part of the battlefield. The loop is a scenic self-guided walking tour that's rich in Civil War history.

A pamphlet available at the park museum tells what took place here in December 1862 during the Battle of Prairie Grove. It was the last major Civil War battle in Northwest Arkansas, fought after the Battle of Pea Ridge.

The trail is a great place to take kids. There are all kinds of historic buildings to see. A dog-trot log cabin is at the start of the trail. Doors are open so visitors can go inside.

A dog-trot is two cabins under one roof with a breezeway in the middle. This was natural air conditioning in settlement days. Information at the cabin says dogs slept away the hot afternoons in the breezeway. Settlers slept in the breezeway on hot nights.

There are big, stately oak trees along the path, with canopies large enough to shade a congregation of picnickers.

After the trail passes the dog-trot cabin, blacksmith shop and sorghum mill, it heads down into the woods, but emerges quickly into a meadow and past a two-story Civil War era home. The meadow is on a ridgetop with a nice view to the north. There are a couple of benches to relax and enjoy the peaceful scene.

From here the path heads downhill to more open country and the site of a post office and small community. The pamphlet says the four families here hid in the cellar of one of the homes as the battle raged. When the fighting was over, casualties were 2,700 men killed, wounded and missing.

Scenery and history are hallmarks of the first three-fourths of a mile. Exercise comes on the home stretch. The trail makes a formidable uphill climb back to the dog-trot cabin and other buildings. On cannon demonstration Saturdays, a sign advises visitors to be ready for a loud kaboom.

The walking tour at Prairie Grove State Park packs a wallop, too, with history, nature and a workout rolled into a one-mile path.

Flip Putthoff can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAFlip

Sports on 07/26/2016

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