Exploring Northwest Arkansas

Paige Falls & Broadwater Hollow Falls -- Short Hike

I've often noted here that one of the things that amazes me about Arkansas Hiking is how different trails and waterfalls look depending on the time of year and what eye-candy mother nature chooses to surround you with.

I had first visit Paige Falls and Broadwater Falls in December 2013-- where the cool temps and recent precipitation made for some great waterflow. I also hiked in to see the falls from the Cecil Cove Loop Trailhead which makes for a really nice 6.4 mile hike (roundtrip) to the falls.

However, there is an easier way to get to these two Falls, and during a warm spring day in May, we opted for that route.

To get to the closer access area to these two points, take Highway 43 North from the Post Office in the community of Compton for .8 miles and turn RIGHT onto a gravel road just across from the Compton Volunteer Fire Station (now marked as NC 2660).

Take this gravel road about 2 miles down the hill. The road is pretty bumpy, and narrow, but it seems to be passable with most types of vehicles.  After about 2 miles, there will be a pretty large parking area on the left hand side of the road at a point where the road sharply bends to the left.  Park here. The road continues down and bends back to the right and crosses a small creek -- so if you cross the creek, you've missed the parking spot.  

After parking, walk down the road to the creek and cross the creek. The trail starts on the opposite (east) side of the creek.

The trail -- which isn't an official trail but is well traveled - starts from the road off to your right just past the creek and follows the creek downstream. There are some interesting little cascades here to enjoy right off the start.

After a few hundred yards, the trail will go between two huge boulders -- when you emerge on the other side, Paige Falls will be just off to your right. 

Paige Falls is an 8 foot tall waterfall with a really nice pool of water in front and really a nice place.

After enjoying Paige Falls, fall the trail downstream another couple of hundred yards and you will come to Broadwater Hollow Falls. Broadwater Hollows Falls is 21 feet tall, and can really roar when there is a lot of water. 

If you take some time, there is plenty of exploring to do if you want to continue to follow the creek -- including a very deep sinkhole (be careful!), a spring that flows from the side of the creek, and an interesting little water feature where the water flows through a series of small circular crevices.

 Also, we were there in May, and there were a lot of small columbine flowers that made for some nice shots in front of the falls. 

This is a great area that I plan to come back to many times. 

Trail Overview

Distance: Roughly .6 miles round trip to see both waterfalls

Difficulty: Easy (although, not an official trail and unmarked)

Footwear: Trail shoes or hiking boots

Trail Guide: Tim Ernst's Arkansas Waterfalls Guide

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

 

Paige Falls, and Broadwater Hollow Falls - From the Cecil Cove Trail

These two waterfalls quickly became two of my favorite waterfalls in the Buffalo Rivera area and are definitely worth checking out.

There is a short way to get there from near the community of Compton that at some point I'll take. However, today, we're heading back to them from the Cecil Cove Loop Trail. To get on the Cecil Cove Loop, check out this post. At 2.2 miles into the hike, there is an intersection (and a sign). While the Cecil Cove Loop heads straight at this interestion, there is a trail to your right and the sign points that direction and says "waterfall".  This trail is mostly unmarked, but this is the way to these two great waterfalls.

Note, this is not an official trail. Someday maybe it will be, but for now it takes a little willingness to bushwack and find your way. Just remember where the creek is, and it will lead you back to the staring point.

At the interestion, follow the trail to the RIGHT. The trail bends around a bluff, and then heads out with Cecil Creek to your right. 

The trail quickly goes down the hill and soon you arrive at a great, and popularly used campsite. At this campsite, the creek also forms a nice swimming hole for the folks spending the night there (not appropriate for my December hike though).

Once past the campsite, the trail will turn slightly away from the creek, and then, cross over the creek (this is pretty easy to cross at this point). 

Once across the creek you have a couple of options.

Option one involves staying on an old road trace and following it as it turns left and goes UP the hill. This is a steep climb, but somewhat easy to follow. You will lose the trace for awhile, then find it again. But always head UP, and always know that the creek is deep in the valley below to your left. When you get toward the top of the hill you'll start seeing "no tresspassing signs". You've hit private property and are at the National Park Boundary. 

No fears though, because this is where you want to be. At the "no tresspassing signs, turn left and following along the boundry and head toward the creek you will start to hear water. Follow the sound of water down the hill and you'll be greeted by the roaring water of the two falls.

The second option, and probably the preferred one, is that as soon as you cross the creek turn LEFT and follow the creek upstream. There is a volunteer trail here. It starts in the valley next to the creek, then goes up the hill in a small ravine and runs along above the creek. But generally, this route always keeps the creek in view.

After going by a series of fallen rocks, you get into Broadwater Hollow and to the inital waterfall -- this is Broadwater Hollow Falls.

Broadwater Hollow Falls is a 21 foot tall waterfall that also offers a small series of cascades. I don't think this picture does it justice - and the water is very powerful coming over the edge.

After spending some time at Broadwater Hollow Falls, follow the trail around to the right of the falls to the top. Just beyond this water fall, literally just 100 yards upstream, is another great waterfall, Paige Falls. 

Paige Falls is 8 feet tall, but what it lacks in height it makes up for in beauty as the water tumbles from a V-slot above into a prestine pool of water below. I just love this place.

Again, you can follow a volunteer trail around to the top of the falls, through a cool crack-in-the-rock walkway, and see the sloted water routes above, including another interesting cascade.

When you are done checking out these two waterfalls, you can find your way back to the main trail. Round trip distance is about 2 miles (but it will feel like more).

Distance: 2 miles (roundtrip) from the split at Cecil Cove Loop. The falls are a solid 3.2 miles from the Cecil Cove Loop trailhead (1 way).

Footwear: Hiking boots

Kids: probably no unless everyone is experienced in the backcountry together

Guidebook: Tim Ernst's Buffalo River Hiking Trails

Rating: 4.5 out of 5