Exploring Northwest Arkansas

Liles Falls - Return Trip

We made our first trip to Liles Falls back in 2011. It's a great area that easily accessible from the Erbie Campground Road -- or along the Buffalo River Trail between Erbie and Ozark.

This falls is in a small drainage -- so it takes quite a bit of rain to get if flowing well. And even then, for only a short amount of time. 

Upper Liles Falls

We've been back a few different times only to be somewhat disappointed by the flow. But for several days around New Years Day we had several days of hard, steady rain and we thought we'd go check it out. And this time we weren't disappointed. 

In addition to some nice flow in the falls, just as we got to the falls it started snowing. The snow created an amazing snow globe effect that just enhanced the feeling of being at this wonderful area.

Looking over the top of Lower Liles Falls

 

We spent a fair amount of time at both the Upper and Lower Falls -- even while it was snowing and cold soaking this beautiful area. We were probably a day late to catch the really good water but overall it was an amazing day. 

Lower Liles Falls

You can find trail directions on the original post. 

There are a lot of other neat things in this area worth checking out - -including the Koen Interpretive Trail, Cherry Grove Cemetery Loop, the Ponds Loop and the Buffalo River Trail from Erbie to Ozark. 

Upper Liles Falls

 

 

Liles Falls

  
We had been coming down to Arkansas for several years before we ever heard about this waterfall and only then upon reading about it in a book. It's super-easy to get to, and very picturesque, and yet, it isn't a place that people talk about a lot.

Liles Falls is just off the road on the way to the Erbie Campground. As you are driving on the road to Erbie you pass the Koen Interpretive Trail, the Ponds Loop and a little picnic area (I'll talk about all of those at a later time) and at one point, cross a little stream and there is a parking area there on the right.

If you park your car there and then walk back out across the creek there is a very well-traveled trail that dips down into the woods from the opposite side of the creek. It isn't a maintained trail, but it's flat and easy to follow -- and the falls is only about a quarter of a mile of flat trail from the road.

Once you get to the waterfall, the scramble down to the bottom is a little challenging but can be done by most active individuals -- and when they get to the bottom, they'll be greeted by a wonderful, 41' tall cascading waterfall. 

This waterfall is also easily accessible off of the Buffalo River Trail between Erbie and Ozark.

We came during the wet season, but it had been several days since it had rained and the falls was just a small little cascade. I've seen some wonderful photos of it on flickr and plan to come back after a good rain to see it in all its glory.  Even with a small stream of water, it was still a beautiful place to sit and relax for a spell before heading back to the car.

Star Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 (this may go up if I go on a really wet day)

Difficulty: Easy -- although the scramble to the bottom of the falls is a little tricky

Footwear: I recommend trail shoes -- but tennis shoes would be fine

Kids: Except for very young kids this should be easy enough. May be a bigger challenge for the elderly.

Trail Guide: Tim Ernst's Arkansas Waterfalls book