Historic Cane Hill Offers Natural Hiking Trails

TRAILS FOLLOW ROUTES MARKED BY WILDLIFE AND INCLUDE REMAINS OF CIVIL-WAR ERA HOMES

CANE HILL — Hikers along a new natural trail in historic Cane Hill will walk by three homes, or what is left of the homes, that once belonged to men who served in the 34th Arkansas Infantry during the Civil War.

The Earle Trail starts beside the Zeb Edmiston House, located on Highway 45 across from Historic Cane Hill Museum. It follows Jordan Creek a short way and then visitors can decide to cross the creek for a more strenuous hike up Tyree Mountain or go straight onto the Welch Trail.

The Welch Trail is a one-fourth mile long easy walk, is marked by white diamonds and goes by the Dr. Welch ruins.

The Earle Trail upward through the woods has two loops that total about 2 miles. The first loop goes up part of the mountain and then returns to the start. The second loop, called McCullouch Trail, is about 1 mile long, goes up a second hill before returning to its beginning.

The trail also is open to mountain bikers.

Tom Pennel, event manager for Historic Cane Hill, said 80 percent of the trails follow along a “game trail” started by wildlife. Deer tracks can still be seen along the trail.

“They forged out before us,” he said.

Views along the trail include large boulders and cliffs, wildlife and a diversity of wildflowers, plants and trees.

At the top of the first hill, hikers can look toward the west and see buildings in downtown Cane Hill and see Cane Hill College in the distance.

Pennel said the non-profit organization is building new trails as another way to draw people to the community and provide information about the history of the area.

“We don’t want the history to die,” Pennel said.

Cane Hill staff continue to improve the trails and install trail arrows to help hikers along the route. Pennel said people are welcome to come out anytime and hike the trails. He recommends stopping by the Methodist Manse building the first time to see if anyone is around to give further directions.

An information sheet is available telling about the new natural trails and other trails available at Cane Hill.

Historic Cane Hill also has created two new positions and these have been filled by two recent college graduates. Laci Shuffield, a graduate of Henderson State University, is a recreation specialist for the organization and Nicole Benedict, a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, will serve as historic interpreter.

The new staff members will help in planning programs and projects and giving guided tours of the historic sites in the community.

The one intact historic home along the new natural trail belonged to Zeb Edmiston, the patriarch of one of Cane Hill’s most prosperous Victorian era families. The Edmiston house was constructed in 1872. Edmiston, a corporal in the 34th Arkansas Infantry, Company B, managed several businesses in Cane Hill, including the Edmiston & Sons General Merchandise.

Only the foundation is remaining for the other historic sites along the trail.

The Dr. William Blackwell Welch House was built in 1855 and purchased by Historic Cane Hill in 2017. Welch served as a Confederate surgeon for the 34th Arkansas Infantry from 18621865. Following the war, he returned to Cane Hill as a country doctor.

The Fontaine Richard Earle House is located up the hill along the trail. An old barn sits nearby as well as a butane tank.

According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, Earle was a major in the 34th Arkansas Infantry. He later served as a legislator, minister, teacher, administrator and author.

Earle moved to Cane Hill (called Boonsboro at the time) in 1859 to become president of Cane Hill College and a Cumberland Presbyterian minister.

After serving in the infantry, he returned to Cane Hill and rebuilt the college, which had been burned during the Civil War. He served as president until it closed in 1892.

Pennel said the three men — Edmiston, Welch and Earle — were “real go-getters” in Cane Hill.

Along with the natural trails, Historic Cane Hill has established the Historic Cane Hill Heritage Trail, which is mostly located on the western side of Highway 45 and takes visitors by historic structures such as Cane Hill College (1886), Historic Cane Hill Museum or Shaker Yates Grocery (1940s), A.R. Carroll Drugstore (1900) and David Noah Edmiston House (1886).

For more information about Historic Cane Hill, go to its Facebook page or website, historiccanehill.wixsite.com/canehill.

PHOTOS BY LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER Laci Shuffield, recreation specialist for Historic Cane Hill, and Tom Pennel, a member of Historic Cane Hill Board of Directors, lead a hike earlier this year along the Earle Trail at Cane Hill.

Above: The remains of the home of Fontaine Richard Earle can be seen along the new Earle Trail at Cane Hill. Earle was a dean of Cane Hill College, a preacher and a member of the 34th Arkansas Infantry. The remains are listed on the National Register...