This photo shows a very happy hiker, because she FINALLY got to visit Jamestown Crag! The happy hiker is me, and the location is Jamestown Crag, which has been on my radar, for over a decade! 
Eventually, they will see a sign on the right identifying the Jamestown Wildlife Management Area.
The driver continues down a road at the back of the WMA parking lot, until they come to an orange gate, that is normally locked. However, on May 30, 2026, the gate was open because it was a "Work Day" for volunteers to do trail maintenance. That was the day I visited.
However, after a while longer, I came to a fork in the road, with one going left and one going straight ahead. I turned left, and waited for the pick up truck to catch up. When the lady driving the pick up truck came by, she told me that the road to the left was not the correct way, and advised me to follow her the rest of the way, which I did. 
The driver continues down a road at the back of the WMA parking lot, until they come to an orange gate, that is normally locked. However, on May 30, 2026, the gate was open because it was a "Work Day" for volunteers to do trail maintenance. That was the day I visited.
I continued down the road for a short distance, and I had noticed that a pick up truck had turned town the Jamestown loop road, shortly after I did, and it was still behind me, so I figured this must be the right road. 
In just a few more minutes, we came to a large clearing, where there were several cars parked with tools and water jugs, so I knew this must be the right location.
This small sign assured me I was actually at Jamestown Crag, and shows the nominal fee to pay for visiting the site, and/or camping at the site.
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Another, larger fire ring had massive rocks arranged in a circle, which would be perfect for group fireside activities. In fact, it was through a college ministry group outing, that I first heard about Jamestown Crag. Over a decade ago, I was paddling down the Buffalo River, chatting with other paddlers along the way. Several of the young people in a college ministry group, said they were going to Jamestown Crag after the float, to do rock climbing. I had heard of many rock-climbing locations in Arkansas, but not this one. All they could tell me, was that it was near Batesville, Arkansas.
But as the years went by, more people heard about the place (thanks to social media), especially with photos they posted of improvements, such as this cleared area, for the placement of several tents. (A trained eye will quickly see that poison ivy is abundant, so a cleared area such as this, is greatly appreciated!)
The archway made of colored flags at the end of this clearing, designates the access point for the climbing and hiking areas.
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There is even a metal sign, to greet you!
Likewise, a metal Bigfoot!
A wide trail sloping downward is the direction I start to explore.
At the end of that wide path, is a kiosk where people leave their payment, and can also see a poster, showing the hiking trails and climbing routes.
Climbers use bolts such as these that have been "glued in", to hold their lines.
I saw several different kinds of bolts used by rock climbers, as I explored the bluffs.
There is a long bluff line, just beyond, and on both sides, of the kiosk. At the beginning of my trek, I took the bluff line trail on the left, because I could hear leaf blowers in that direction, and I wanted to get photos of the volunteer workers.
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I came across these two Christopher brothers, Kyle on the left and Aaron on the right. They were instrumental in purchasing the land from the Green Bay Timber Company, so it could be preserved for recreational use. They were both diligently working to clear the trails. However, they could tell from the questions I was asking (and seeing my advanced age), about which way to get to the bottom at a particular cross roads, that me scrambling alone, down the bluffs was probably not a good idea. So Aaron, graciously offered to accompany me to the bottom of the cliffs.
Aaron is showing me that "steps" have been carved out on part of the descent, to control water run-off.
Once at the base of the bluffs, the visitor will encounter several overhangs, that might have served as shelters for indigenous people. I am pretending to hold it up:
On the way back to the top, by a different route than the way we came down, I was thankful once again for the rope to hold on to for progress upward.
Another way to make progress up a crevice, is a climbing technique called "Stemming" or "Chimney", where one uses the pressure of their arms, back, and legs against the rock to move upward. As the photo shows, my arms and legs are not long enough for that to work for me on this crevice! 
I can definitely recommend Aaron Christopher as a guide, based on how patient he was with me, and his encouraging coaching words as I crawled up and down and over boulders. Also, he let me take as many photos as I wanted, and offered to take photos of me in picturesque locations. In fact, I was so appreciative, I gave him a copy of the rock climbing book my son published. Afterall, it was because of my son, that I became interested in photographing rock climbing areas!
These three guys are wearing tee shirts that say NOMADS, and it is their dedication to the Jamestown Crag project, that is responsible for the success of the Jamestown Crag project. It reminds me of the Bible verse from Ecclesiastes 4:12 that states: "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken" .
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In spite of the less than ideal conditions, the priest gave a big smile, as I asked permission to take his photo. I learned later from the Pontiac Marina Instagram post, that this was not only a first for the WHOYAKERS, but also a first Blessing of the Fleet event for Father Charles Peirono.
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