Buffalo National River Partners is asking for volunteers to help remove invasive Japanese stiltgrass from the Lost Valley Trail on Saturday, September 12. The volunteer effort is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. at the trailhead pavilion and will run until 1 p.m. Participants will remove the grass by hand and bag it for proper disposal.
Japanese stiltgrass, an invasive species native to Asia, thrives in shaded and damp ground like the forest floor along Lost Valley Trail. It grows aggressively, choking out native wildflowers that have long been a hallmark of the area’s springtime beauty. Though the plant is relatively easy to pull, it requires consistent effort to prevent its spread, making this an ongoing project for the organization.
The Lost Valley Trail, located near the Boxley Valley Historic District, is one of the most popular trails in the Buffalo National River park. The path winds through a scenic box canyon, passing features such as the Natural Bridge, Cob Cave, and Eden Falls. The trailhead can be found off Arkansas Highway 43, approximately 1.5 miles south of Ponca.
Volunteers are encouraged to bring work gloves, a water bottle, bug spray, and sturdy clothing and footwear suitable for outdoor work. Upon arrival, participants will fill out National Park Service volunteer forms and receive a brief explanation of the project before heading onto the trail.
Buffalo National River Partners serves as the park’s official friends group, providing volunteer support and funding for projects the National Park Service cannot manage on its own. Organizers are asking participants to register in advance at the group’s website, bnrpartners.org, and to log their volunteer hours afterward through the same site.
For more information or to sign up, visit bnrpartners.org.