Whitaker Point (Hawksbill Crag)
Buffalo National River, Arkansas · 1,915 ft
Typical peak
Oct 20 – Oct 28
moderate confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best at sunrise
Classic view faces SSE (157°)
A thin sandstone beak juts off the rim above the Whitaker Creek hollow with layered Ozark ridges behind it in oak and red maple. A person standing on the crag sets the scale, and fog fills the hollow below on cool mornings.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
high
Busy through peak. Be parked before sunrise or expect to walk in.
Getting there
Park at the Whitaker Point trailhead on Cave Mountain Road six miles up from AR-21 in Boxley Valley and hike 1.4 miles south to the crag.
What turns here
- red maple
- white oak
- black gum
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 24Typical color progression for Whitaker Point (Hawksbill Crag). No change from Sep 16 to Oct 3. First color from Oct 3 to Oct 12. Approaching peak from Oct 12 to Oct 20. Peak from Oct 20 to Oct 28. Past peak from Oct 28 to Nov 7. Bare from Nov 7 to Nov 21.
Whitaker Point (Hawksbill Crag) is typically at past peak on Nov 1, 2026.
This season so far
First frost
None yet
No night at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
73°F / 52°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Whitaker Point (Hawksbill Crag) on October 24, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:02 AM |
| Sunrise Rises ESE · 104° | 7:28 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 35 min of low, warm light | 8:03 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:58 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 35 min before sunset | 5:52 PM |
| Sunset Sets WSW · 256° | 6:27 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:53 PM |
Times in America/Chicago · day length 10h 59m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Both ends of the day: side-lit
Side light. Best for texture and depth across a ridge, and the safest bet for contrast.
Classic composition faces SSE (157°).
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.