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Hikers hit Goat Trail
Hill 'n Dale Hiking Club will hike Thursday along the Goat Trail to Steel Creek on the Buffalo National River. Distance is 8.8 miles. The club will hike Oct. 13 at the Centennial Park Trail and the Joe Clark Trail at Lake Wilson in Fayetteville. Distance is 4.5 miles. Interested hikers may email [email protected] for more details. Club information is available at bvhikingclub.com.
Square to square
The fall Square to Square bike ride is Saturday on the Razorback Greenway. The ride starts at the Upper Ramble in Fayetteville and finishes at the Sam's Club home office in Bentonville. Helmets are required. Rides start in waves from 7 to 9:30 a.m.
Entry fees vary and include a goody bag, souvenir shirt and finisher medal. Shuttle service is available but fills up quickly. Visit Fayetteville-ar.gov to register.
See Springdale on foot
Ozark Hill Hikers invites all walkers to join a walk Saturday in Springdale. Registration is 12:30 to 1 p.m. at White Oak Station, 4128 Wagon Wheel Road, in Springdale. The walk starts and ends at the Hunt Family Nature Center where participants will choose either a 5- or 10-kilometer walk. The routes go around Lake Springdale, through rolling hills and woods to J.B. Hunt Park and sports complex. There is a fee of $4 for all walkers.
Membership in the Ozark Hill Hikers is $12 a year prorated $1 for each month remaining in the calendar year. For more information, email [email protected] or call (479) 381-9366.
Cash in on carp
The public is invited to take part in a grass carp fishing tournament Saturday at lakes Windsor, Ann and Loch Lomond in Bella Vista. Entry fee is $50 for a two-person team. There is no limit on grass carp and winners are determined by the total number of inches of grass carp they catch. All legal fishing methods are allowed including bowfishing. Fishing in Bella Vista is normally only for Property Owners Association members and their guests, but that has been waived for the tournament.
First prize is $2,000. Prizes are also awarded for second, third and on down the line with the entry fee money. All entry fees are paid back in prize money. The tournament is part of an effort to remove grass carp from the three lakes. Visit www.bvft.org to enter or for more information.
Howl at hootenanny
Ozark Natural Science Center presents the annual Bear Hollow Hootenanny fundraiser Oct. 18-19 at the center's main campus north of Huntsville adjacent to the Madison County Wildlife Management Area.
Highlights include nature walks and hands-on activities led by science center educators, live music from several performers and food and drink from local vendors.
Several ticket options are available. Kids under 18 attend for free. Overnight options range from tent camping to lodge rooms. Volunteer opportunities are available. Call the science center at (479) 202-8340 for more information.
See fly fishing flicks
The 19th annual Fly Fishing Film Tour will make a stop Oct. 19 in Fayetteville at TheatreSquared. The lineup of fly fishing films features breathtaking locations, great catches and the stories behind them. Vendors will be on site and a fly tying demonstration by local guide Brian Wise will take place.
Doors open at 6 p.m. and films begin at 7 p.m. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy complimentary beer provided by Fossil Cove Brewery, wine, soft drinks and light snacks. Visit flyfilmtour.com to purchase tickets.
Dutch oven delights
A free program about Dutch oven cooking will be at 6 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Janet Huckabee River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith. Participants will learn the basics of Dutch oven cooking and how to prepare various recipes, some that include wild game meat. To register call (501) 710-6285.
Sponsor a stream team
A free training course for new stream team sponsors is set for 9 a.m. Oct. 22 at the Janet Huckabee River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith and at 9 a.m. Oct. 23 at the Hunt Family Nature Center in Springdale. The training introduces the concepts used in stream team monitoring such as hydrology, natural and human impact on streams and monitoring methods.
There will be hands-on training to conduct water quality testing and macro-invertebrate sampling. This training will be in water, so come dressed to get wet. Waders will be available for those who don't want to wade wet or students may bring their own waders.
Calling all ducks
A free program on basic duck calling will be at 6 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Janet Huckabee River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith. Michael Meredith, an avid duck hunter, will teach basic calling techniques. Each participant will get a duck call to keep or they may bring their own calls. Registration is required. Call (501) 710-6285 to register.
Goose is cooked
Learn various ways to cook waterfowl during a free program at 6 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Janet Huckabee River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith. Register for the program by calling (501) 710-6285.
Identify ducks
A free program on duck identification will be at 1 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Hunt Family Nature Center in Springdale. Participants will learn the differences between dabbling and diving ducks, their unique characteristics and how to use eBird to find local waterfowl viewing hot spots.
Go duck hunting
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will host a guided duck hunt for women and families tentatively set for Dec. 31. Hunters will meet at 5 a.m. at the Janet Huckabee River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith. Advanced registration is required. Contact Karen Westcamp-Johnson, [email protected], for more information and registration information.
Burn shoreline driftwood
The Army Corps of Engineers' Beaver Lake office is accepting applications from adjacent landowners to burn driftwood and other flood debris on public land around Beaver Lake through Aug. 15, 2026.
Property owners must obtain written permission from the Corps before conducting any burning or debris removal. Corps officials will evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis. Standing vegetation may not be cut, burned or removed. Call the Beaver Lake office in Rogers, (479) 636-1210, to apply or for more information.