Erbie is one of those areas with a lot of great hiking trails and several roads that can double as hiking trails that can be looped together to form a wonderful hike of almost any length. The problem with Erbie is getting there.
The simplest way to get to Erbie is to come in off of Highway 7 on the road just South of Pruitt. This road takes you by the Koen Experimental Forest, the Erbie Campground and the Parker-Hickman Homestead and is clearly marked at the highway. However, this route requires you to have to ford over two water crossings to get to the trailhead (which are actually North of the river. These crossings are usually fine to cross for even a 2-wheel drive vehicle, however, when the water is high, particularly in late Spring, you may want to use another route, or, plan to park on the south side of the river and wade across.
There is also a route coming in off HWY 43 in Compton (this is the same road that takes you to the trail head of Hemmed in Hollow, Hideout Hollow and McFerrin Point). This road is VERY steep and rocky – so I don’t advise this unless you have a 4 wheel drive – and even then, I wouldn’t plan on heading back out that direction. The most consistent route to get there is to take the small gravel road near Marble Falls on Highway 7 (just North of the old Dogpatch area) and bring that road in. It’s long, almost entirely gravel, and pretty bumpy, and VERY scenic – and we’ve never had any problems getting by – which can’t be said for the other routes in.
Once in Erbie, park at the trailhead at the 3-way intersection (just uphill from the Erbie Church). You’ll start this simple loop hike from here.
This is a pretty easy loop hike (only about 1.8 miles) – with much of it following gravel roads and old settler roads. You’ll start off this hike by heading down the gravel road past the Erbie Church (if you came across the river ford, this is the road you came in on. You’ll follow this road about .6 miles until you get to an old Homestead – the Buchannan-Clagett Farmstead. Buchannan’s gravestone is in the Cherry Grove Cemetery across the river.
At this Homestead, you’ll turn right on the small road and pass by the cable gate and past the large barn. Just past the barn, the path splits. The larger gravel road that heads up the hill goes to a horse camp. Stay on the lower path – which is also an old road but much more overgrown. This road is part of the Old River Trail. This part of the trail follows along an open field and a large mountain in the background and makes for some great photos.
Once you get past the pasture, the trail splits. The Old River Trail heads off to the left and quickly crosses the river, you’ll want to stay relatively straight to stay on the hiking trail – this is at about .9 miles.
This next short section is a bit overgrown but short and you quickly hit a set of rocky stairs that climb up the bluff. This is pretty short, but it’s a steep (and very scenic) climb up these stairs to the top of Goat Bluff. Once to the top, you’ll be following along the top of Goat Bluff for about .3 miles and there are spectacular views of the river and the countryside from the top. Take a few minutes to enjoy the views, eat a sandwhich, whatever, but take the time to enjoy the views. Oh, and be VERY careful – one slip could be horrible as it’s a long way down.
Once you get to the end of Goat Bluff, you’ll hit another gravel road. This also goes back to the Horse Camp. Stay straight for about 15 yards and you’ll hit another intersection. At this intersection, to stay on this loop, you’ll head right. (Straight will take you down a beautiful rocky trail that in .4 miles leads to the JW Farmer’s Homestead. If you fancy a longer hike you can head down to this old Homestead (which is on, and a part of the Farmer’s Trail) and then either head back to the road from there or double back to the intersection at the top of Goat Bluff).
Assuming you’ve turned right on the trail (not the road) at the top of Goat Bluff. You can follow this trail another .5 miles. At the road, turn right, and it’s a short stroll back to the parking area where you left your car. We didn’t actually do this part of the trail as we enjoyed the scenery along Goat Bluff so much that we just hiked down to the J.W. Farmer Homestead and then doubled back the way we came. If you take the actual loop hike the route is 1.8 miles and a nice way to spend an afternoon.
Distance: 1.8 mile loop
Difficulty level: Mostly easy, the short climb up Goat Bluff will be a challenge for the very young and very old
Rating: 4 Stars (out of 5)
Kids: Older kids are fine – but keep an eye on them on the bluff areas
Shoes: Trail Shoes are fine
Guidebook: Tim Ernst: Buffalo River Hiking Trails
Time of year: This hike is great year around – but I highly recommended it during the fall and winter.
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