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Cabins, Cliffs and Sunsets: The Unique Allure of White Rock Mountain

In this segment of KSMU’s Sense of Community series “Take It Outside: 10 Unique Spots to Enjoy the Natural Ozarks,” Jess Balisle takes listeners to the top of White Rock Mountain for a weekend of driving dirt roads, swimming and sunset watching.

A weekend at White Rock Mountain

We've just hit the dirt road on our way to White Rock. I’m so excited to be taking you guys to this very special place that I have grown up going to.

White Rock Mountain is situated in the middle of the Boston Mountains on the west end of the Ozark National Forest in Northwest Arkansas. It’s become my second home over the years.

Getting There

For this particular trip, I’m with my husband and a group of friends, most of whom have been to White Rock before. We caravan down from Springfield, taking lesser-traveled highways once we get off of Highway 65. We pass through the Arkansas towns of Alpena, Kingston and St. Paul.

The drive is about 3.5 hours, but the last stretch is made up of only 15 miles of mountain dirt roads.

By the time we’re on the dirt roads, the sunset is fast approaching. Even with beautiful sweeping views between the trees, it’s still a long ride to the top.

“We have a saying: you have to want to get to White Rock,” said Amber Patton. She’s White Rock’s concessionaire and has been running the cabins and campgrounds here since January 2017.

When we reach our destination, we’re greeted by an old stone sign that says “Welcome to White Rock 

The sign welcoming visitors to White Rock has been here since the 1930s.
Credit Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
The sign welcoming visitors to White Rock has been here since the 1930s.

Mountain.”

Past the sign, you find yourself driving along a saddle between Pilot Knob and White Rock Mountain. The land drops off on both sides of the road. Further up on the right, we pass the campground, followed by the office and an old stone water tower. Straight ahead is the Lodge, with three smaller cabins following the road to the left. All were built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, or the CCC. We’re staying at the Lodge this weekend. It’s a private lodge that can be rented for larger groups.

The History

Paula White was the concessionaire for 25 years before Patton. She’s a lifelong family friend, so I called her up for some history.

The CCC crew built the Lodge first and then used it during the construction of the other cabins.

“That originally was built for the meeting place, the cafeteria hall or mess hall,” said White.

I should pause here to share my connection to White Rock. My dad, Steve Gray, has spent more time roaming around the Ozarks in search of trails and natural beauty more than anyone I know. It was around 1975 the first time he found himself at White Rock.

Eulas Bowles on his tractor at White Rock
Credit Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
Eulas Bowles on his tractor at White Rock

Thoroughly impressed with the place, he took his friend Jack White – no, not that Jack White – to White Rock Mountain in 1983. Jack began staying regularly in the cabins with his wife Paula. In 1991, the Whites moved to White Rock and officially became the concessionaires.

I grew up visiting Jack and Paula on the mountain. I have fond memories of Jack, who passed away in 1999. Paula continued her work on the mountain, but with a little extra help from her neighbor, Eulas Bowles, and a scrappy crew of woodcutters and cabin repairers.

“Eulas played a big part in my success and ability to stay there after Jack became ill and passed away. I couldn’t have made it without Eulas,” said White.

Bowles has lived in these mountains for all his life. In fact, his father even helped the CCC with the construction of the cabins on White Rock during the 30s.

Back at the Lodge with my friends, we settle in for the night. We have a big day coming up – swimming at Hurricane Creek.

Field Trip off the Mountain

Mornings at White Rock for me have a bit of a routine. Sleep in, but not too late, drink coffee on the back porch of whichever cabin I’m in, fix breakfast and prepare for the day. This particular day, we’re going to take a bit of a detour. A friend needs gas for his truck, so we decided to drive out to Cass on Highway 23 to the Turner Bend Store.

On our way through the forested dirt roads, we stop at Grays Spring, a favorite spot of mine because my 

Credit Jessica Balisle
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Jessica Balisle

family name is Gray. This little spot is no longer maintained regularly by the Forest Service and you can tell. The roof on the stone pavilion is rotting away and there’s hardly a usable picnic table left. My strong recommendation is to not use the restroom facility here. I refuse to even look inside

But even with all of that, it’s a lovely place to stop and look around, have a snack.

On down the dirt roads and we finally make it to the highway, cross the Mulberry River and arrive at Turner Bend. Here, you can buy gas, snacks, and souvenirs. Most all of us in my group opt for ice cream. It’s hot outside and we are still an hour’s drive back to the creek.

We take the Shores Lake Road back around, you guessed it, Shores Lake. The dam was built in the 30s by the CCC for another recreation area. The Forest Service stocks the lake with bass, catfish and bluegill. We stop on the east side of the dam for a look around. The lake is absolutely beautiful today. Crystal blue water gently reflects the trees surrounding the edge of the lake.

But enough of this. We’re going swimming. After driving around to the other side of the lake, we cross an old CCC bridge over Hurricane Creek, the creek that flows into Shores Lake. There’s a gravel bar accessible by a short trail. It is not recommended that those with physical disabilities come down to this part of the creek – it has some steep spots and you have to cross through the water out to the main gravel bar.

With floaties and coolers in tow, we make our way down to the gravel bar

We spend several hours in the water, occasionally hopping out to have a snack or replenish a beverage. But the sun is getting low in the sky and we have to get back to White Rock for sunset. It’s is a very big deal on the mountain.

Sunsets on White Rock

We’re now on our way down to the Point to watch sunset at White Rock. This is a very special thing up here on the mountain. Everybody comes down to the Point on the west end of the mountain and we watch a fabulous sunset. I have never seen a bad sunset here. They’re always spectacular.

The Point has a CCC stone pavilion perfectly perched here, surrounded by a low rock wall. My friend Maggie Schibler sums up what it’s like to be sitting on top of the world like this.

Sunset at White Rock
Credit Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
Sunset at White Rock

“Well, I’ve got warm rocks under my back end, I’ve got a beautiful sunset coming my way. It’s not a bad place to be,” she said.

For those who have never been to a sunset at White Rock, it can be a breath-taking experience to see for the first time.

From way up here, 2,260 feet above sea level, we can see for literal miles. I point out the roads we took to get down to Hurricane Creek and Shores Lake.

On the rock pavilion is a small plaque dedicating its rebuilding in 1997 by Jack White, Eulas Bowles, my dad’s group of friends and others.

As the sun sinks lower towards the horizon, the scattering of clouds turn pink and shadows are cast through the valleys. Suddenly, the sun is a huge orange fireball dipping below the mountains. It disappears. My friends and I have a toast and Warren Sandwell contemplates the view.

“Yeah, it’s trees. It looks like broccoli. It looks like broccoli. I just took a DNA test, turns out I’m 100% broccoli viewer,” he said.

Get Unplugged

White Rock concessionaire Amber Patton thinks is one of most important things about being on the mountain is being unplugged.

“We don’t have TVs, we don’t have telephones. We do have cell phone service now, but everybody just kicks back and plays board games, watches the sunset, cooks great dinners and they just reconnect,” she said.

White Rock is also a hiking hub, being located on the west end of the Ozark Highlands Trail. There are also lots of other trails throughout the area to explore.

As far as accessibility goes, White Rock isn’t currently an easy hike, but that may be changing soon. Patton tells me they’re getting ready to redo the trail to the Point. She also says that just staying in the cabins can be a great getaway.

“A couple of our cabins are handicap accessible. The Lodge is, and then they have a spectacular view right from their back patio,” said Patton.

Visitors of all ages and physical capabilities need to be aware that the mountain is surrounded by high cliffs and dangerous drop-offs. Watch your step.

Paula White, who spent 25 years living at White Rock sums up her experience.

“You know, it takes a special someone to live there. You have to be a little strange.”

Copyright 2021 KSMU. To see more, visit KSMU.

The Lodge at White Rock
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
The Lodge at White Rock
The back porch of the Lodge at White Rock
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
The back porch of the Lodge at White Rock
Walking Sticks are prevelant bugs at White Rock during the summer and fall months.
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
Walking Sticks are prevelant bugs at White Rock during the summer and fall months.
A memorial to Jack White with his friend Steve Gray's truck in the background
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
A memorial to Jack White with his friend Steve Gray's truck in the background
The pavilion at Grays Spring
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
The pavilion at Grays Spring
The sign to the restrooms at Grays Spring
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
The sign to the restrooms at Grays Spring
Turn Bend Store - a hot spot for bikers and floaters
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
Turn Bend Store - a hot spot for bikers and floaters
Shores Lake Dam
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
Shores Lake Dam
Shores Lake
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
Shores Lake
Hurricane Creek
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
Hurricane Creek
Todd Balisle floats in Hurricane Creek
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
Todd Balisle floats in Hurricane Creek
Jessica Balisle at Hurricane Creek
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
Jessica Balisle at Hurricane Creek
The Point at White Rock
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
The Point at White Rock
A worn plaque on the pavilion at the Point reads: "Rebuilt July 1997 By US Forest Service and HMWHC (Springfield, Mo. Chapter) Special Thanks to Eulas Bowles, The Swafford Family
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
A worn plaque on the pavilion at the Point reads: "Rebuilt July 1997 By US Forest Service and HMWHC (Springfield, Mo. Chapter) Special Thanks to Eulas Bowles, The Swafford Family
Looking out at the Point. From left to right: Josh Nipstad, Stacy Nipstad, Todd Balisle, Maggie Schibler, Susan Mann, Karen Hebbert
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
Looking out at the Point. From left to right: Josh Nipstad, Stacy Nipstad, Todd Balisle, Maggie Schibler, Susan Mann, Karen Hebbert
Enjoying the view. From left to right: Aaron Wright, Josh Nipstad, Todd Balisle, Maggie Schibler, Stacy Nipstad
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
Enjoying the view. From left to right: Aaron Wright, Josh Nipstad, Todd Balisle, Maggie Schibler, Stacy Nipstad
Looking southeast off the Point
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
Looking southeast off the Point
Waiting on sunset
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
Waiting on sunset
The Point at White Rock
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
The Point at White Rock
Drop-offs abound at White Rock Mountain
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
Drop-offs abound at White Rock Mountain
The saddle between Pilot Knob (left) and White Rock Mountain (right)
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
The saddle between Pilot Knob (left) and White Rock Mountain (right)
The Point at White Rock
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
The Point at White Rock
Sunset at White Rock
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
Sunset at White Rock
Part of the crew. From left to right: Karen Hebbert, Brandon Hebbert, Ran Cummings, Susan Mann, Todd Balisle, Maggie Schibler, Stacy Nipstad, Josh Nipstad
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
Part of the crew. From left to right: Karen Hebbert, Brandon Hebbert, Ran Cummings, Susan Mann, Todd Balisle, Maggie Schibler, Stacy Nipstad, Josh Nipstad
Sunset at White Rock
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
Sunset at White Rock
Sunset at White Rock
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
Sunset at White Rock
Sunset at White Rock
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
Sunset at White Rock
Sunset at White Rock
Jessica Balisle / KSMU
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KSMU
Sunset at White Rock

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Jessica Gray Balisle, a Springfield native, grew up listening to KSMU. She now commands the front desk, taking your calls and greeting you at the door. Jessica co-hosts live music show Studio Live and produces arts and culture stories. In 2006, she earned her BA in Applied Anthropology from Missouri State University. When she’s not at KSMU, Jessica plays bass in local bands the Hook Knives, Brother Wiley and the Ozark Sheiks, and sings in Shattered and JM Buttermilk. She and her husband Todd live with their two cats, CT and Ellie, and way too many house plants.