Big Creek -- and Big Creek Cave Falls

The hike back to Big Creek Cave Falls, and along Big Creek is one of the best surprise hikes in the Ozarks. This is a spectacular area and immediately has become one of our favorite places in Northwest Arkansas. It's surprising that in 12 years of coming to the area I've never heard anyone even mention this great hike and unique waterfall other than pulling it out of Tim Ernst's Waterfall Book and thinking "that looks cool, we should check it out."

The setting is beautiful. The Creek itself has a lot of spectacular water features, and the grand finale does not disappoint.

There is no official trail here. However, 1/2 of the trail is very easy to naviagate. The other 1/2 will require some imagination and bushwacking. The best time to check out the trail is probably in early spring when the water is up, but before the growth in the woods becomes too challenging to navigate.

Getting there

To get to the trail head, from the intersection of Highway 16 and Highway 7 near Dear, go north on Highway 7 1.3 miles and turn RIGHT on NC 6840 (This is also FR 1224/CR 59 if using guidebooks or maps. But the new sign reads NC 6840). The road sort of looks like the driveway to a 1 story brick house, but take the road past the house and it eventually begins to look more like a road than a driveway. 

Take NC 6840 for 2.8 miles.  The road is actually not as bad as it seems like it would be when you start, but it is fairly narrow and very steep. If conditions are wet, you may want to have a 4WD to be sure you can navigate out.  At about 2.8 miles, l you are nearly at the bottom of the hill and you will see a parking area and a gate on your right of what used to be an old home site. Park here. 

The trail begins on the other side of the gate by following the old driveway. The homesite is on your right.

The Trail

The driveway is very easy to follow and makes for some good hiking. Eventually, the path passes an old barn that has fallen down and then crosses the Right Fork of Big Creek. You'll most likely have to wade the creek (it was about calf deep when we were there. The stones on the bottom were smooth so we were able to take off our boots and wade barefoot, but you may want to bring a pair of watershoes with you for the crossing).

Once on the other side of the creek, you'll follow the big pasture to the left and then turn right up the hill. At the top of the hill at the back of the pasture there will be a couple of trees that are taped that tell you where the trail begins in the woods.

This pasture is beautiful -- with Left Fork of Big Creek to your left, and several several big mountains all around. It would have been a peaceful place to call home.

Once you enter the woods, the trail becomes a little tricky. There are trees marked with tape throughout, and sometimes the trail is easy to follow and sometimes you'll just find your way into some sticker bushes wondering where the trail went.  Follow along as best you can in the woods along Big Creek knowing that you can't get lost if you just follow the creek.  We were there April 12 -- and there were white, yellow and purple wildflowers everywhere.

It's also worth noting that all along Big Creek, there are a ton of amazing water features, beautiful blue pools. Big Creek (like Richland Creek) that really reminds me of the big mountainous streams in many of our Rocky Mountain national parks. 

One of the features here is an 8 foot tall waterfall that I think was pretty amazing in its own right -- and completely understated in the guidebook.

At about 1.3, there is a creek that joins in from the right. Follow this creek up the hill to the bluff line. 

Here, you will see a very nice cascade coming right out of the cave in the bluff. This is a very cool place to hang out and watch the water cascading over moss-covered rocks. 

Then, cross the creek inside the cave, and follow the bluff line around to your left. After a few hundred yards you'll get to the highlight of the hike -  Big Creek Cave Falls.  This is a 29 foot tall waterfall that is pretty powerful and flows right out of a cave. It immediately became one of our favorite places in the Ozarks.

When you are done, it's time to head back the way you came.

I really do hope they make an official trail here someday. This is an amazing hike and one I highly recommend.

Edit: Be sure to check out Wolf Creek Falls while you are in the area. It is another waterfall that comes out of a cave just .25 miles away. Directions are here. 

Distance: 2.9 miles

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

Footwear: Hiking shoes, and maybe some water shoes for water crossings. 

Kids: Older will probably be fine

Trail Guide: Tim Ernst's Arkansas Waterfalls

Star Rating: 5 of 5

Comments

[Ben Starr]

There IS a trail into this area, though Ernst isn't aware of it, or didn't want to reveal an easy access. Instead of heading to the top right summit of the field and beginning a bushwhack, cross the field toward West Fork of Big Creek and there will be an obvious ford. Ford the creek, head across another field, turn right and head to the top of this field, where an abandoned logging road will whisk you from there to the confluence of Wolf Creek and West Fork in less than 10 minutes with no bushwhacking. From there, each of the caves is only minutes. Maps and details on my website at http://benstarr.com/blog/big-creek-cave-falls-the-easy-way/

[Brent]

Thanks Ben. We'll definitely be back, so I look forward to exploring more (including the additional cave waterfall on Wolf Creek). I'm wondering if the road on the other side of the creek is on private property -- Ernst is very careful to not drive people onto private land. It would be a weird spot for the forest to end though.

Glad that you enjoyed the hike there. We've been hiking around the Ozarks for more than a decade and I've never met anyone else who is familiar with the place, so glad to have someone to share the experience with.

[Sam]

Has anyone tried approaching from the south? There is a road (on Google Maps, so it must be true...) coming up into some private property that gets much closer to the falls than 59 does. This road is unnamed on Google. It comes off of hwy16/7 about a mile east of the junction of those two roads.
BTW: we visited the falls 8/1/14. Thank you for the details of the northern approach. We loved it, and hope to return!

[Brent]

Sam,

Glad you made it and had a great experience. You are a brave man for taking this on during summer. How was the hike in? It seems like it would have been a very challenging bushwhack during full foliage.

Also, I had assumed the falls was spring fed --- so its the waterfall good this time of year? Curious about the summer experience getting there.

I've not heard of anyone coming in from the South. Oft times the Guide Books don't recommend going down private property to get places. Ben (in a comment above) mentions a road of sorts on the other side of the South Fork of the creek, but I don't know that he explored it that far south.

[MichelleD]

I got poison ivy on this trail - its everywhere. I recommend long sleeves and pants. Can't wait to go back! One of my favorites!