Exploring Northwest Arkansas

Bear Creek Waterfalls Hike/Bushwack

During the wet season, Northwest Arkansas has a lot of amazing waterfalls. They range from massively tall pour-offs like the 209 foot tall Hemmed In Hollow, to shorter, interesting falls like Six Finger Falls, to even amazing falls like Big Creek Cave Falls that pour right out of a cave. The variety of the waterfalls lets everyone have a different "favorite" -- and they're all right! 

But one area that is a favorite of nearly every Arkansas waterfall-hunter is a polyfos area commonly referred to as the Bear Creek Waterfalls -- which is a series of waterfalls on (or near) Bear Creek in Pope County. This is an amazing area during the wet season and features six (or more) photo-worthy waterfalls -- and each is completely unique.

This area had been on our list for awhile, but because it's a bushwack, and there are only a few write-ups about the area, it was a bit intimidating because not all bushwacks are as easy to follow as others. 

But this area is pretty easy to find during the peak season (during wet conditions, winter through early spring), and the trail, while not maintained, was easy enough to follow to what quickly become one of my favorite areas of the Ozarks and one that I'm eager to return to.

Getting there

From Highway 7 in Pelsor/Sand Gap (28 miles south of Jasper and 29 miles north of Dover), turn WEST/South onto Highway 123 toward Haw Creek Campground. Go 4.7 miles and turn LEFT onto a fairly well maintained gravel road that is Forest Road 1802/1805, County Road 14/61 or also known as Treat Road or I've even seen it called Meadow's Knob Road. This is the road to get to Buzzard Roost and has 6 different names depending on the map you're using. There was no sign with any of the road names when we were there in spring 2017, but there have been signs there in the past.

Go down this road 2.2 miles and there is a little ATV road on the right (Marked with a metal sign at ground level as 93179A). If you have a reasonably high-clearance vehicle you can turn onto this road and park in a small parking area on the ATV road. If not, you may want to park on the main road -- there is a wide spot in the road so there should be room. 

The Trail

The trail starts down the ATV road. After a short, comfortable walk, the road comes to a large open field on the RIGHT. 

The trail enters the woods toward the back (west side) of this field. My recommendation is to  follow the road to the far side of the field, then turn right and follow the woods-line until you hit an obvious trail. The trail was fairly well worn when we were there, and will likely be marked with sticks forming an arrow, or a rock cairn.

There is an upland swamp just beyond the trail which is definitely worth checking out. If you find the upland swamp first, the trail begins shortly to your LEFT as you look at the upland swamp.

 The trail starts into the woods and quickly leads to a scramble down in a ravine. The trail then turns right and starts heading down the hill. 

To your left is a small creek that takes excess water from the upland swamp and down to Bear Creek. The trail essentially follows this small creek/drainage all the way to the larger Bear Creek that waits below. As long as you stay on the right side of the creek there should be an easy-ish-to-follow volunteer trail that is relatively free of undergrowth.

The trail continues down the hill, picks up a part of an an old road trace, then leaves the trace, and then jumps back on it again. At the point where the trail leaves the road trace there is a nice little waterfall to the left. This waterfall is officially unnamed and not one of the featured falls on the trail -- but it is a nice find along the trail. Rick Henry called this "Halfway Falls" because at this point you're about half way to Bear Creek.

The trail continues down the hill and through a little campsite and then ends up at the top of Sidewinder Falls. This area is incredible. 

Sidewinder is 21 feet tall and is the first of the series of waterfalls we explored along Bear Creek. As the name suggests, it pours off through a turn in the rocks and into a a simply amazing canyon. Swamp Falls (which pours off from the creek we followed down the hill) is also visible pouring off into the ravine at this spot (You can catch a glimpse of it in the top center of this photo)

From this spot, we first followed Bear Creek upstream. 

At .1 miles upstream from Sidewinder Falls is Baby Bear Falls. Baby Bear Falls tumbles about 12 feet into a beautiful pool of water. 

After exploring around Baby Bear Falls, we went back downstream to catch a peak at what waited for us down there. 

First, we stopped off to get a better look at Swamp Falls. Swamp Falls is a 19 foot tall waterfall that pours into a deep canyon. The water from this falls originated at the upland swamp where this journey started.

As you make your way downstream from here, follow along the side of the creek you arrived on and continue making your way down. There is a nicely worn path here and it is very treacherous on the opposite side of the creek.

The trail runs above the canyon and crosses the creek that makes Swamp Falls that we followed down. During the spring, there are amazing wildflowers in this area as well. Be sure to watch your step as to not damage these beautiful flowers.

The trail then drops down the hill and on the backside of the canyon that formed near Sidewinder Falls. The trail runs along here for a bit -- there are some other interesting small water features in this area. 

Just a bit further downstream is the 10 foot tall V-Slot Falls. V-Slot Falls is a falls that flows around a large boulder that has wedged itself in the middle of the creek. During higher water, the water flows on both sides of the rock forming an interesting "V". 

The water here then forms a super-interesting slot canyon. There are not many slot canyons in Arkansas -- and this one is particularly scenic.

From here, the trail loops around the top of the hill again and around this slot canyon. It then dips back down to creek level. Once reaching the creek, turn RIGHT and head back upstream 

Upstream about 75 yards or so is Slot Pool Falls. This falls isn't very tall (guessing about 12 feet or so), but pours out of the end of the slot canyon into a beautiful blue pool in what is an amazing canyon area. 

In total, only a few hundred yards separate Baby Bear Falls (upstream) with Sidewinder, Swamp Falls, V-Slot and Slot Pool Falls downstream. So while in the area, I highly recommend taking them all in. As noted before, all are unique falls and add to the beauty of the area. 

From here, we simply retraced our steps and hiked back to the parking area. The hike out is pretty steep -- with more than 750 feet in elevation gain climbing out. So while it's fairly short, it will take your breath away -- so take your time.

This area is simply one of the most scenic waterfall areas in Arkansas -- and easily among the ones I'm excited to return to. There is also a lot of other exploring to be done in the area. 

One additional note; this area is super-slick with a lot of steep drops and falls. As with all waterfall areas, be very careful and be sure you have secure footing to risk slipping and falling. Enjoy safely.

Trail Details

Distance: Approximately 3.2 miles round trip

Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult -- mostly due to slick surfaces near the creek and the 750 feet of elevation gain.

Kid-Friendly: No

Trail Guide: Tim Ernst's Arkansas Waterfalls. Also, Rick Henry has a nice overview of this one at his place. 

Footwear: Hiking boots that can grip slick surfaces

Rating: 5 of 5

Photos from our hike on April 14, 2017.

Other nearby places to visit: Buzzard Roost Special Interest Area, Haw Creek Falls, Pam's Grotto

Roark Bluff Overlook Trail

Roark Bluff is a popular haven for photographers. The way the bluff catches the sunrise in the mornings, it's wet-weather waterfalls, and easy access, make it a great destination for photographers along the Upper Buffalo River area. 

But what is less-known is that there is a pretty nicely worn trail to get to top of Roark Bluff that provides amazing views of the bluff from above, as well as the entire Steel Creek area. 

The trail is a relatively easy hike, and because it's not well-traveled it's likely you'll have it all to yourself. And with these directions, you should be able to find your way pretty easily.

Getting there

The trail starts from the Steel Creek canoe launch along the Buffalo River. Take Highway 74 South from Ponca. At the top of the hill (about 1.5 miles from Ponca), turn left onto the Steel Creek access road (very well marked). Drive down to the bottom of the hill and turn right at the fork to get to the canoe access point. Park in the parking area here. 

The trail starts on the OPPOSITE side of the river. During high water the trail won't be accessible. Never try to cross the river if there is a swift current and if you cannot see the bottom as it will be unsafe. Even during low water, you'll want to consider this a wet water crossing. Late summer, fall and early winter will be your best timing for this hike.

The Trail

Cross the river at the canoe put-in area. While it may be possible to rock-hop to get across, you should plan on this being a wet crossing. 

Once crossing the river, the trail starts immediately across the river and to the right, and starts through a cane thicket. After a short walk, the trail splits. The trail to the right connects with the Old River Trail. Stay LEFT at the fork. 

From here, the trail goes back into the woods away from the river, turns left up the hill a bit and through a nice pine grove.

The trail winds its way up the hill, to the right, then back up. Eventually it hits a really nice rocky bluff area. It's worth taking some time to explore.

The trail goes to the RIGHT of the rocky bluff area, but you'll need to go left to see some of the neater formations. 

Back on the main trail, the trail loops around the rocky bluff and up the hill some more. Then the trail bends around to the left at the spot pictured below.

At this spot, the trail takes a hard LEFT up the hill. There was some pink tape marking the trail on the day we were there, but this area is well-traveled enough, especially in the fall, that you should be able to notice the turn if you're looking for it.

The trail goes up to to the top of the ridge, and then turns right, and heads back down a bit. It crosses over the remains of an old barbed wire fence and down onto the bluff until it reaches the overlook at about 1.1 miles from the River. 

The overlook provides an amazing view of the Steel Creek recreation, the Buffalo River and Roark Bluff -- which are all below. As with all bluffs in the Ozarks and Buffalo River Area, be very careful near the edges as some spots are very narrow and the falls are very far and steep.

This is a great place to have lunch and just enjoy the beauty of the area. 

Once you have spent your time at the bluff, return the way you arrived.

The entire trail is about 2.2 miles round trip.

If you have time to explore, there are also some neat rock formations and views of Big Bluff on the back side of the bluff (just beyond where you turned to go up to the ridge). 

This is a really great little hike, and while not an officially maintained trail, it is used often enough that it was easy to follow for our Thanksgiving Day hike. It's one we definitely will check out again during the fall when the leaves are turning.

Trail Details

Distance: Approximately 2.2 miles roundtrip

Difficulty: Moderate - mostly due to the river crossing and being an unmarked trail

Footwear: Sturdy hiking boots or trail shoes

Kid Friendly: Older kids should be ok, as long as they can safely make the water crossing and are aware enough around cliffs.

Trail Guide: Danny Hale's Takahik: Hiking the Arkansas Ozarks hiking guide

Star Rating: 5 out of 5

Other nearby hikes: Roark Bluff, Steel Creek Overlook, Buffalo River Trail Ponca to Steel Creek (can do in reverse from this location)

Trail Photos from November 23, 2017

Buffalo River Trail - Boxley to Ponca

Michelle and I are avid hikers. But we're not thru hikers. We both like to spend a day enjoying a nice hike but then welcome the comforts of home in the evenings -- like a warm shower, warm meal and and soft-ish bed.

Thru-hiking has always been a bit intimidating to me. And, unfortunately for us, a couple of Northwest Arkansas's most popular trails The Ozark Highlands Trail and Buffalo River Trails are designed for thru-hikers. Because of this, we haven't really hiked them as much as I would like. Thus, I've been looking for opportunities to hike these trails as a series of day-hikes. Day hikes are more conducive to the way we like to hike and the fact we have dogs at home and also, I think it makes them more accessible to the average hiker.

One of the longest stretches of the Buffalo River Trail is the first stretch from Boxley to Ponca. So for Michelle's birthday in April, we made the decision to hike the entire 11.1 mile section as a day hike. In order to do it as a day hike, either you need to two vehicles or you can pay for a shuttle. To do two vehicles, leave one at the Ponca low water bridge and then drive to the trailhead. Or, in our case, we parked at the trail head, and paid a purveyor to shuttle our car back to the Ponca bridge so it was there when we arrived. This is a pretty easy process and cost us about $35. Lost Valley Canoe or Buffalo Outdoor Center are the two most viable shuttle providers in this area. 

Getting there

The Boxley Trailhead for the Buffalo River Trail (BRT) is located just off of Highway 21, 1.1 miles South of where Highway 21 crosses the Buffalo River. The parking area is just off the west side of the road. 

There is an old cellar structure here as well as the foundation of an old school house that are worth checking out while you prepare for your hike. 

The trail begins on the opposite side of Highway 21.

The Trail

The trail starts off on the east side of Highway 21. There is a wooden sign there that marks the spot. The trail passes a gate and then immediately crosses Smith Creek. This is a dry crossing most of the year, but for our April (wet weather season) hike it was the first of three wet water crossings.

After the crossing, the trail heads through the woods on the left an then turns right and heads along the edge of a field. On the right is a large pasture, and to the left, a steep hill. Along the hill there are the remains of an old rock wall that likely served as the pasture's boundary.

The trail follows the pasture for awhile and then turns left and starts heading up the hill that was to your left. The trail heads up hill for quite awhile here and is the first of three climbs that are about 500 feet of climbing.

As you make the climb, a valley starts forming to your right. Eventually, that valley gets close to the level and the trail passes over the small pour-off crossing  and then continues into the woods and turns back left up the hill. 

As you reach the top of the hill, the trail bends left again and some nice bluffs form to the right. The trail then passes through an old wooden fence and continues on the level. 

The trail then turns to the right. While most of this 11 mile hike is awesome hiking, there are a few parts of the trail that are necessary hiking to get to better stuff. This next few hundred yards is one of those. The trail passes through an area on what appears to be an old road but it thick with undergrowth. It's fine for hiking, as the trail area is cleared, but it's not the prettiest of hiking areas. 

But soon enough, the trail gets better and goes through a gate and enters a large field. The field opens up to an amazing view over the Boxley Valley. While the trail may someday bypass this field, it is one of my favorite parts of the hike with big views across the valley and of Cave Mountain.

The trail goes through the field and down the hill, past a small pond. 

The trail passes the pond and then, at 1.7 miles connects with a gravel road. This is formerly known as County Road 25 and connects Shiloh Mountain Road on the top of the mountain to Highway 21 at the bottom.  Once you get to the gravel road, turn RIGHT and follow the road up the hill for about .4 miles. The road is seldom traveled so there isn't much traffic, and there are some really interesting views off to the left. 

At 2.1, there is a sign on the left that signals that it's time to turn left off the road back onto the trail.

After leaving the road, the trail passes under some power lines. Because of the "maintenance" under the power lines it's a bit of a mess to follow here, but quickly drops down into the woods into one of my favorite sections of the hike,

The hike follows through the woods. This area is full of Beach trees, so during winter, the leaves glisten in the sunlight. 

The goes around a hill and then crossed over a couple of drainage areas. These are mostly wet weather drainage areas, but there was some decent flow for our hike which led to a lot of nice waterfalls.

This area is a fantastic area to stop and spend a little extra time.

After passing through the drainage area, the trail straightens out and starts heading down the hill. It's just a beautiful area.

The trail follows an old road trace down the hill, then veers left off the road trace and past yet another waterfall area.

The trail continues down the hill and at 3.3 miles, reaches Arrington Creek. Crossing the creek was the second of three wet stream crossings for us on this hike.

On the opposite side of the creek is a campsite -- and it is one amazing setting for a campsite. I highly recommend spending some time here, taking a break, and enjoying the area.. It's peaceful, secluded, and has the sound of running water that just makes you feel one with nature. 

As a side note, if you are a day-hiker and can't arrange a shuttle, I think this would be a fantastic place to hike into and then back for a 6.6 mile round trip out-and-back. I think sometimes these out-and-backs can be great hikes and this would definitely be one of those.

Once you have done some exploring, and are well rested, you can continue. And it's a good thing you're rested, because from here, the trail begins the second of its big 500 foot plus climbs.

The trail takes a staircase up to the left. 

As you make the climb to the top of the hill, the trail turns to the left, and then to the right, and then back to the left again. While the climbing is steep at times, there is plenty to look at such as drainage areas, wildflowers and dogwoods that help make the climb all worth it.

 

At 4.1 the trail hits an old road trace. It follows this road trace on the level for 1.5 miles making for a nice stretch of level (and relatively quick) hiking.

On the level, the trail passes a lot of neat stuff, including an old signal tree -- the type of tree believed to be used to mark early trails by Native Americans. At 4.9 there is a spring with a nearby old home site. While we didn't see much sign of the home site, the spring was very prominent. 

The mud around the spring also showed the signs that wildlife frequent this spot to clinch their thirst.

The trail passes another spring that is flowing right out from under a huge boulder. The trail then turns and crosses a small drainage.

At 6.0 the trail reaches an overlook with an amazing view of the Boxley Valley. I've admired that old barn in the valley for many years, but it's definitely a unique view of it from here. There was conveniently a couple of rock "stairs" that made for nice seats to sit and enjoy the view for a bit.

After the overlook, the trail is first-class hiking for quite awhile. The trail continues its bend to the left, and then turns back to the right. The trail is has some nice little rock formations and nice cedars. 

After some pretty moderate downhill hiking, the trail starts a steeper descent toward Dry Creek.  

Just before getting to Dry Creek, the trail passes over a small road that is private property. You'll see a house off to your right where the family lives. Just cross on over the road and then at 7.6 you'll reach Dry Creek. While it wasn't really dry when we were there, you should be able to cross and stay dry with no problems. 

The trail leaves Dry Creek and heads up the hill a little and through a neat little area that was covered in small wildflowers. At 7.8 it crosses a little-used dirt road and then goes through a thicket of cedar trees. 

The trail heads back down again and at 8.2 crosses Running Creek. While this is probably dry in the last summer and fall, during the wet season you should plan on Running Creek being a wet crossing.  There are also some nice Dogwoods in the area. 

Just after crossing Running Creek, the trail passes through a small field, and then follows a small drainage. The trail then turns to the left and crosses the drainage and then starts heading UP the hill. This is the third of the big climbs on this 11.1 mile trail. 

The trail climbs about 600 feet in elevation from here - -and pretty steeply. I don't have a lot of advice except be in pretty good shape, take breaks when you need them, and there are a lot really great rock formations that you can admire as you take your breaks. 

As you make the initial ascent, the drainage you just followed and the Running Creek drainage are getting steadily further down to your left.

The trail eventually levels out a little -- and goes through a series of great limestone rock formations. This is a particularly interesting section of the trail. 

Everything here is just incredible. Enjoy.

The trail turns to the right and enters Big Hollow. It runs along the top of the hollow and crosses several small creeks that all end up feeding the (I presume) larger creek down below. This is a spectacular are that would have a lot of pretty interesting water features during really high water. 

The middle part of the Hollow is at about 9.6 miles. The after leaving the hollow, the trail follows on the level for a bit. You've finally finished the third climb. This section rewards you with some really nice pines, some rock formations, and really soft hiking trail. 

Around 10.2 the trail starts following an old road bed that leads down the hill to Ponca. The trail drops about 600 feet in .8 miles, so it is pretty steep in places. There are several great overlooks over the Boxley Valley along the way as well. 

The trail down has a lot of small gravel and is really steep in places, so watch your step. We have also hiked this trail up from Ponca (in an out-and-back to the Big Hollow area) and the climb feels a lot worse coming from the other direction.

After 11.1 miles, the trail ends on the South side of the Ponca low water bridge.  If you left a car here and ran your own shuttle, more if you organized a shuttle, your car will be waiting on the other side of the bridge.

If you have time (and the energy), there is plenty to explore around Ponca as well -- including the Beaver Jim Villines Homestead.  Beaver Jim was among the early settlers in the area and his family homestead is nicely preserved. The Buffalo River is also beautiful in this area, and during the spring when the water is high, many kayakers and canoeists will be here getting ready for their much anticipated journey. Through hikers can continue on the Buffalo River Trail from Ponca toward Steel Creek. 

Trail Details

The Buffalo River Trail from Ponca to Boxley is a really nice hiking trail. I admit that the combination of the distance, elevation change, and the thought of needing a shuttle can be intimidating. We helped overcome some of this by hiking portions on each end as out-and-backs in the weeks before the hike to help us get more comfortable with the trail. But once we got over our initial concerns this turned into an amazing hike for us -- one we look forward to doing again. 

Distance: 11.1 miles

Difficulty: Difficult -- this is mostly due to distance and elevation change. The trail itself is mostly well-maintained and easy to navigate so there are few navigational obstacles.

Kid-Friendly -- probably not

Footwear - wear sturdy, water-proof hiking boots. That said, the day before we did this trail I blew out my trusty (old) hiking boots. I had promised Michelle we'd do this for her birthday, and wasn't about to let her down. So I hiked this in a pair of Solomon Trail Runners. It's doable in a pair of trail runners, but I can't really recommend it as I felt every rock underfoot for the last 4 miles or so. 

Trail Guide: Tim Ernst's Buffalo River Hiking Trails

Star Rating: 4.5 of 5

Additional note: We hiked this during the wet season, which came with several water crossings. If you plan to hike this during the dry season (usually late summer through the fall), plan on these crossing being dry - -but also don't anticipate there being access to fresh water along the trail. So pack in the water you'll need to make the hike.

Trail Photos from hike on April 11, 2017.

 

 

Tyler Bend Trails - River View Trail/Rockwall Trail Loop

It's sometimes easy for me to forget that the Buffalo National River is a part of our national parks system (not really a national park, but as a National River, managed by the national park service).  We spend most of our time in the upper Buffalo area  that is very remote, and outside of a few of the trails and campsites, there aren't a lot of signs of the National Park Service.

Tyler Bend is a bit different though. At Tyler Bend there is a really nice visitors center that has displays, sells merchandise such as books about area wildlife & plant life, trail maps, and National Park merchandise as well as a ranger on hand who can answer a lot of questions you may have about the area. The Tyler Bend area also has a lot of great campsites and a beautiful pavilion.

If you're heading to the Buffalo River area, this is probably one of the most developed and accessible points along the river. With that comes several really nice hiking trails that  range from .8 miles long to 1.5 miles long that can be combined together for really solid day of hiking (or more -- as the Buffalo River Trail heads out in two directions from Tyler Bend as well). Most of the trails head out in generally a southern direction and then can be connected by the Buffalo River Trail to make loops of various lengths to fit your desired hiking length/time (See map)

For our day, we decided to take the Riverview Trail and loop it with the Rockwall Trail -- which made for a very nice 4 mile loop. It includes some fantastic views of the Buffalo River, a lot of peaceful wooded sections of trail, and some nice historical features as well. 

Getting there

The Tyler Bend area is just off of Highway 65 -- about 8 miles south of St. Joe and 12 miles north of Marshall. It is on the south side of the river and very well-signed.

To start the trail loop, we parked at the visitors center - -and the Riverview trail starts on the west side of the visitors center.

The Trail 

The River View trail heads down the hill into the woods and then follows along a large open field. The trail hits a small overlook over the Buffalo River and then turns a bit left into the woods. 

The trail then turns further left and at .3 crosses a small wooden bridge and then turns back right and follows a drainage back toward the river. Then, at .7 the trail turns hard left and heads UP a steep hill. 

The next about .2 miles is a steep climb with an elevation gain of about 300 feet-- but there are several pretty nice overlooks over the river where you can stop and take a look over the vast Buffalo River Valley while you catch your breath. (Note: Be VERY careful along some of the bluff lines as there are several areas with very steep drops).

At .9, the trail hits a wooden observation deck that has a great view of Calf Creek coming in from the left and upstream on the Buffalo River. At this point, there is a side trail that comes in from the left -- this is a return trail if hikers want to do the River View Trail as an out-and-back semi-loop hike. We did not take that trail.

From the overlook, we remained on the main trail as it heads out on the level away from the river. 

At 1.4, the trail reached the Collier Homestead. The Collier Homestead was the home of Sod and Ida Mae Collier for more than 30 years. The Colliers settled the area in 1937 as a part of the Homestead Act of 1862 and lived in this rustic cabin without electricity or running water until the early 1960s. The cabin had come into much disrepair by the time the National Parks Service bought the land in 1987, but today, both out-buildings and the home have been returned to a refurbished condition so that visitors can get a feel for what life along the Buffalo River would have been like in the early part of the 20th Century.

After spending a little time checking out the homestead and the surrounding grounds, continue straight ahead on the trail. Shortly, the trail hits a couple of intersections. The trail to the right is the Buffalo River Trail heading upstream 13.1 miles toward Woolum. The trail to the left is the Return Trail and connects back with the River View trail near the overlook and goes back toward the visitors center. Stay STRAIGHT -- and this trail is the Buffalo River Trail (BRT) and heads toward Grinders Ferry/HWY 65. 

At .1 on the BRT, the trail quickly passes a parking lot (the trail from the parking lot to the Collier Homestead is handicap accessible) and then crosses over the main road and then back into the woods. The BRT  follows along a bench on mostly on the level through a really nice wooded area.

At .4 miles on the BRT (1.9 miles from the start) the trail intersects with the Spring Hollow Trail on the left and after 1 mile (2.5 miles total) the trail passes the Buck Ridge Trail. Both of these trails head down the hill to the left and come out at a parking area near the amphitheater which is a short walk from the visitors center.

We stayed straight and followed the BRT through the wooded area. The trail joins a large/deep ravine for a stretch which creates beautiful views down into the valley below. At 1.7 miles (3.2 total) the BRT reaches the intersection of the Rock Wall Trail. We turned LEFT here. The Rock Wall Trail heads over a ridge and then descends fairly steeply into a ravine. After crossing a small creek, the trail turns sharply right and follows the creek to the bottom of the hill. 

At the bottom of the hill, the trail turns LEFT and is level and follows an historic Rock Wall (the trail's namesake) back to the campground. The wall itself is short and crumbling as the moss, moisture and mother nature have taken quite a toll on its stability and height. But it's really pretty neat, and the entire area through here is very pretty.

The trail follows the rock wall for nearly .5 miles before the wall sort of ends and the trail head out toward the campground. From the BRT to the campground is .9 miles on the Rock Wall Trail.  At the campground, there is a nice bathroom with running water and from there, it's a short .2 mile walk up the hill toward the visitors center where the loop was complete.

Overall there is a LOT to see and explore in this area and this four mile loop was a really nice afternoon hike that offered a lot of great views, some great hiking, and a little bit of history along the way.

Trail Details 

Total Distance: 4 mile loop

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Kid-Friendly: Older kids capable of doing the 4 mile hike with the 300 foot elevation climb will be fine....and again, be sure everyone is safe near any bluffs at overlook areas.

Footwear: Trail Shoes or hiking boots

Trail Guide: Tim Ernst's Buffalo River Hiking Trails or the National Parks Service has maps of the area at the Visitor's Center

Star Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Trail photos from hike on November 16, 2016.

 

 

The Nars/Skull Bluff

The Nars is one of those places that people photography a lot, but finding directions on how to get to the area are a bit more challenging. And because the "easy" way to get there requires crossing the Buffalo River it can be a bit intimidating. 

However, on a really nice fall day this past October, we decided to go check it out. These two places are really unique places along the Buffalo River and truly worth checking out. 

The Nars is essentially an area of bluff that over the years was eroded away by the Buffalo River on the West and Richland Creek on the East. While Richland Creek has moved a bit away from the bluff over the years, the bluff remains, leaving a super-interesting narrow area of bluff that can be crossed on foot and offers pretty amazing 360 degree views of the middle part of the Buffalo River valley.

While in the area, you'll definitely want to also check out Skull Bluff -- an interesting area of bluff along the river that appears as if the eyes of a skull are looking out from the water.  Both use the same trail for a bit so we'll start at the same trail head and then take both trails.

Getting there

The trail begins in Woolum along the Buffalo River. To get to Woolum, take Highway 65 to the Community of St. Joe (24 miles South of Harrison). In St. Joe, turn WEST onto State Highway 374 (There is a sign to Woolum pointing the way). After 1 mile the road turns slightly to the right and becomes gravel -- this is Searcy Highway 14. Follow this 5.6 miles to Woolum. There is a large parking area, a sign, and a pit toilet on your right - park here.

The Trail

From the parking area, continue straight down the road toward the river on foot. At .2, the road reaches the river. As you look at the river, upstream is to your right, downstream to your left, and then there is another large creek that connects on the other side of the river: That is Richland Creek. 

The best place to cross is about 100 yards upstream from where Richland Creek connects with the Buffalo River. Be sure not to cross downstream from where Richland Creek enters the Buffalo - otherwise you'll have to cross it too!  The river levels were pretty low the day we went so crossing was relatively easy. 

Note: If the water level is high and you cannot see the bottom DO NOT attempt to cross. This is a wild river and could be very dangerous at high river levels.

Once you cross the Buffalo River, the trail follows the river upstream for a few hundred yards and then curves to the left higher up on the river bank and then curves to the right. This is easy to follow and is actually a jeep road. If you have a 4WD and conditions are right you can drive right up to the base of the Nars. But it's a scenic and easy hike so I recommend just hiking it. 

The trail follows this road the rest of the way and this is actually miles 164-165 on the Ozark Highlands Trail. You can actually drive in on this road from the south and the Richland Wilderness area also.

After crossing the river, the trail goes another .4 before hitting a wilderness sign. 

At the sign, the main trail continues straight and follows along a bluff line. There is also a spur trail to the right that heads out across a pasture. That spur trail goes to Skull Bluff. We'll come back to it later.

To get to The Nars, remain on the main trail for another .8 miles. At this point, look to your right for a dip in the bluff height. At its lowest point, there is a "trail" that leads up to the ridge. You'll have to scramble up to The Nars here. 

From the Nars, you'll get a beautiful view of both the Buffalo River and Richland Creek valleys. It's a great spot to sit for a snack, relax, and enjoy this vast world we live in. 

As with all bluffs in Arkansas, be very careful as it is a very narrow bluff and it can be a long, steep fall in many places, so exercise caution.

When you are finished, hike back the way you came. Along the way back, you may see a couple of other trails that lead up to the bluffs -- feel free to explore -- there are many great views to be had from atop the bluffs.

Skull Bluff

The trail head and initial trail for Skull Bluff are the same as for the Nars. However, once you get to the wilderness sign, take a RIGHT along a spur trail that heads out across the pasture. 

This trail follows through this pasture most of the way. At one point you'll pass the Hamilton Cemetery - -which is small, old, and not maintained.

 The trail continues through the pasture with river bluffs off in the distance. Unlike the trail to the Nars, this is not a maintained trail so it is really rough in places and at times will have a lot of thorny vines. I'd highly recommend not doing this in the middle of the summer or without long pants on. 

After approximately 1 mile from the sign, the trail heads down the hill into some trees and comes out at the Buffalo River. Skull Bluff is just upstream from here (to your left).

The best way to see Skull Bluff is to cross the river here (again, be VERY careful at river crossings and do not cross during high water) and turn left along the shore until you come to Skull Bluff.

Very impressive indeed! 

When you've enjoyed the bluff, you can head back across the river and back the way you came.

Trail Notes

The Nars:

Distance: 2.8 miles round trip

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult. The trail is flat and mostly easy. However, the combination of the need to wade across the Buffalo River and the scramble up to the Nars make this a bit challenging.

Kid-Friendly: No

Footwear: Trail shoes or hiking boots are great. Bring some water shoes for the river crossing if you don't want to hike with wet feet.

Trail Guide: Tim Ernst's Nature Lover's Guide

Star Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Skull Bluff

Distance: 3 miles round trip. Or, add 2 miles to above to hike to both places

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult. There isn't much elevation change here either, but there are two water crossings to get there which ups the difficulty significantly.

Kid-Friendly: No

Footwear: Trail shoes or hiking boots, and again, water shoes for the water crossings

Trail Guide: Tim Ernst's Nature Lover's Guide

Star Rating 4 out of 5

 Other trails in the area: Buffalo River Trail; Woolum to Highway 14, Ozark Highlands Trail toward Richland Creek Campground, and Tyler Bend Trails and Gilbert Area Trails are also nearby

Buzzard Roost Scenic Area - Big Piney WMA in Summer

Last week, temperatures dipped a little to give a break to the month's heat, so we thought it would be a great opportunity to get out for a short hike. July isn't exactly the best time of year for hiking in Northwest Arkansas due to the heat, ticks, and the reality that many of the trails get pretty grown over.

However, after some thought, we decided to check out Buzzard Roost Scenic Area.

The trail to Buzzard Roost Scenic area follows an old four wheeler road, so it is pretty wide and allowed us some pretty good hiking without the overgrowth that often makes hikes in the summer not enjoyable. There were still plenty of cobwebs though, so bring a walking stick.

The views from Buzzard Bluff are amazing -- and much prettier with the wilderness being green. Our previous trip was in November, so there wasn't nearly this much color and it was nice. 

We stopped for a quick snack and soaked in the views. 

Once done enjoying the view, we headed down to the caves below. We were REALLY lucky this day. We made a last minute decision to bring our dog Grommit and he alerted us to a hornets nest that was on tree that was downed over the trail. We're really grateful that his awareness didn't cause us to get lit up. The caves below were very fun, as usual.

We also took in both natural bridges in the area. First the smaller one:

And then the larger one:

This really is a fantastic area with a lot to see and explore. And at four miles round-trip hiking along an old road, it's pretty easy hiking. In spite of that, this area remains not a terribly popular destination which means you'll get to enjoy this area without the crowds even on a holiday weekend.

You can get full directions to the trail head and trail notes from my previous blog posting here. 

Springtime at Sweden Creek Falls, Sweden Creek Natural Area

I made my first trip to Sweden Creek Falls a couple of years ago. I made the trip during a winter hiking trip -- which is usually a great time for catching waterfalls.

However, like most places in Arkansas, Sweden Creek Falls take on a completely different feel as the seasons change -- and springtime is a magnificent time to catch this falls. We've now made a couple of different trips in the springtime and we have been amazed by the abundance and variety of wildflowers along the trail.  Also, when we were there over Memorial Day weekend, after a lot of rain the week prior, the water was roaring off of this 81 foot tall falls.

Directions to the trail head and trail notes are here. 

The trail remains well maintained and easy to follow, even during the late spring -- so it makes for a great and rewarding hike.

One note of caution, please be cautious and courteous to snakes in the area. We have seen several snakes along the trail, most of which are completely harmless. We saw this green snake in the spring of 2015 on the trail, as well as rat snakes both spring trips we've taken.  One group we met did see a rattlesnake among the rocky areas on the lower trail. As always, be alert and be safe. And don't harm the snakes if you can avoid it. 

The waterfalls along the side drainage were also running well -- creating a nice double falls. 

The upper trail was loaded with different varieties and colors of wildflowers for both our April 2015 hike and our May 2016 hike. It was a nice treat, and very different from our winter trip.

And the areas along the trail were lush and green.

But the highlight of the trail continues to be the 81 foot tall Sweden Creek Falls. On this day there was a really nice flow and is was extremely impressive. 

And, of course, don't forget to take in the really cool area at the top of the falls -- that has an amazing assortment of rocks carved out by the stone.

The Sweden Creek Natural Area, and Sweden Creek Falls remains one of our favorite places. It's a relatively easy hike to one of the taller and more impressive waterfalls in the Buffalo River Area. And the Spring wildflowers definitely add a lot to the display.

Astute observers might note that not all of these pictures were taken on the same hiking trip. The snake, and a couple of the wildflower pics are from a hike we took in April of 2015. The rest, including the waterfall pics, were taken on May 27 of 2016. I've combined them here just to show how amazing the area is and the abundance of wildflower activity in the area.

This is truly a remarkable area. Trail and hiking notes are here.

Thunder Canyon Falls - Buffalo National River Area (near Erbie)

The hike to Thunder Canyon Falls has increased in popularity in the past couple of years with good reason. It's a FANTASTIC waterfall that flows into a very nice slot canyon that makes it somewhat unique from most other Ozarks waterfalls. 

I'd failed in a previous attempt to find this waterfall (more on that in a bit) so was looking forward to heading back to the area to check it out. The Falls is named for it's "thundering" sound as the water comes over the edge into a slot canyon. So with a name and story like that, it's gotta be cool. . 

There is a LOT to see and do in this area, so I do recommend you plan to spend plenty of time.

Getting there

The trail to Thunder Canyon Falls starts at the Cecil Cove Loop Trail head in the fomer community of Erbie in the Buffalo River area. There are several ways to get to Erbie -- some are easy, and some not quite so easy. The easiest way is often coming in from Erbie Campground Road -- which is off Highway 7 about 3.3 miles North of Jasper. However, this route requires crossing a low water bridge at the Buffalo River, which, if the water is high, will be unwise or impossible. There is also a route taking CR-19 from Compton - which is down a STEEP, unmaintained gravel road that is completely not advised unless you have a high clearance 4WD vehicle. 

So, given the recent rains, we came in the most consistent route (and the one I recommend if you're here during waterfall season). To get there this way, go North on Highway 7 from Jasper and go 4.1 miles north of where you cross the Buffalo River and turn LEFT onto NC-2800 (Old CR 125).  This is about a mile SOUTH of Mystic Caverns if you're coming from the North.

Take NC 2800 7.5 miles (all reasonalbly maintained gravel) to the Community of Erbie. At some point you'll also see signs calling this CR-19 which is the old name of the road before Newton County converted the road names to convert to a 911 system a couple of years ago. There are a lot of country roads in here that intertwine and it can get a bit confusing -- but if you consistently stay on what seems to be the main road and look for CR 19 or NC 2800 road signs, you should be able to find it. A map will obviously help. The GPS on your phone may or may not help depending on your cell service provider. 

Shortly before you get to the trail head, you will have to cross Cecil Cove Creek. We crossed it without 4WD without a problem, but during VERY high water this could be treacherous and you may be out of luck. This was a wet day, but a couple of days after steady rains and it was no problem.

When you get to Erbie, there will be a big intersection with multiple roads all coming in at one point -- there is an old church down the hill, a sign to a horse camp, and the trail head parking on your RIGHT with a sign and a pit toilet. Park wherever you can here.

If you want a lot of details on all the possible routes to the trail head, Rick Henry has a really nice, detailed overview. 

The Trail

 

 The trail starts off on the Cecil Cove Loop Trail behind the sign and toilets. The trail is shared with horses (so be alert) and is pretty wide and easy to follow -- and the trail descends gently downhill.

At .4 miles, the trail reaches a nice little pool of water. This is a pool that is formed by Van Dyke Spring and has a nice rock bluff behind it. It's a nice little spot. The trail then crosses this pool of water. There is sometimes a beaver damn here you can cross, or some rocks in the water, or sometimes it's simply a wet-water crossing. Find your way across as best you can.

This is where things get a little tricky.

After crossing the water at Van Dyke Spring, the trail then hits another larger creek -- this is Cecil Cove Creek. This is the creek that the trail will follow back toward the falls. 

I THINK the main trail crosses Cecil Cove Creek here, however, there is another trail that heads off to the LEFT before crossing Cecil Cove Creek and this is the route I've consistently taken here since it's a wet crossing and, because I can never seem to find the trail on the other side. Since this is the route I go, I'm going to recommend you turn LEFT onto this trail BEFORE crossing Cecil Cove Creek.  

This trail is nice and flat and works its way through the woods with the creek off to the right. After about .4 miles the trail then comes to a crossing on Cecil Cove Creek -- and you must cross here. 

This is a wet crossing when the water levels are high (which you'll need for there to be water at Thunder Canyon when you get there). Michelle chose to change into water shoes for the crossings. I didn't bring mine (which was a bit regrettable) and so I spent the rest of the day hiking in wet boots. Plan to get your feet wet here during high water season because bolder-hopping is a bit treacherous and probably impossible for most people.

The trail then picks up on the other side of the creek and follows along the opposite side of the creek for awhile before coming to yet another water crossing to cross back to the other side Again, cross here (and plan to get wet).

And don't forget to check out the beauty all around -- the creek itself makes for some very nice scenes.

After crossing here, the main trail will turn RIGHT at about 1.4 miles at the bank and continue on. However, the trip to Thunder Canyon Falls, turns LEFT. 

This is where we got a bit confused. In Tim Ernst's waterfall book, it says you cross the creek four times and before leaving the main trail. Rick Henry has noted the same thing. However, since we didn't cross the creek at Van Dyke Spring, this was only our second water crossing. But since I was counting, and not checking mileage, we went too far and missed this the first time. If you get to the stone wall, you've gone too far if you're planning to go to Thunder Canyon Falls. 

When the trail turns right at the bank, there is a volunteer trail that turns LEFT here. It's a pretty worn volunteer trail and follows along the creek for a bit and then up a hill -- then, there is a beautiful creek inside a slot canyon to the left. Follow this trail to Thunder Canyon Falls.

 The trail follows along the slot creek for about .5 more miles upstream to get to Thunder Canyon Falls.  The trail crosses the creek a couple of times and offers some really neat slots, swimming holes and water features. The trail will also go from next to the water to up on some small bluffs above the water as it navigates the many trail obstacles that are out there.

I would be remiss if I didn't offer a bit of warning here. The rocks and mud along this creek are SLICK. Think of it a bit like trying to walk across your garage floor while using ice cubes for shoes. Or, walking up hill on a slip and slide. We've been to a lot of waterfalls in Arkansas and there's been nothing that compares to this. 

At one point I did completely slip and slide down a rock into about a 2 foot pool of water. Fortunately all my camera gear remained dry, but I did have a solid bruise for a couple of weeks and thankfully it was a warm day so the water was refreshing. Really, everyone talks about it being slick -- and they aren't exaggerating, so be careful. The good news is that most of the drops are short ones so getting wet and banged up are your biggest concerns.

After about 2 miles of total hiking, the sound of roaring water will become evident and the trail leads into Thunder Canyon. It's a good sized canyon -- with 100 foot tall walls on either side and a creek flowing down the middle -- and in the back, the 71 foot tall Thunder Canyon Falls. 

This is just a fantastic waterfall -- and is worth all the buzz.  After spending some time, we headed back out the way we came.

 Trail Detail

Distance: 4 miles round trip

Difficulty: Moderately difficult. Much of the way here follows a relatively flat, maintained trail. However, the fact that there are multiple wet water crossings add to the challenge. The last 1/2 mile of very slick terrain are very difficult and will challenge even the most sure-footed of hikers.

Kid-Friendly: This trail isn't suitable for young children

Footwear: The trail is slick, rocky, and wet. So if you have a game plan for that, go with it. I wore hiking boots, which became wet and heavy with the water crossings, but were mostly grippy which was nice. Michelle changed shoes multiple times and ended up wearing Keens back to the falls. I'm not sure some moisture wicking trail shoes might not be the right choice. But whatever helps you get the most sure-footed gripping shoe, that you don't mind getting wet will be your best option here.

Trail Guide: Tim Ernst's Arkansas Waterfalls includes the route to the falls, his Buffalo River Hiking Trails book covers the Cecil Cove Loop Hike in more detail.

Star Rating: 5 of 5

There is a ton of stuff also near by and more than enough to spend several days in the area. But some nearby attractions include: Cecil Cove Loop Trail, An Unnamed Waterfall, Old Erbie Church, JW Farmer Homestead, Paige Falls and Broadwater Hollow Falls, Goat Bluff/Old Erbie Trail.

Hiked: May 28, 2016

Alum Cove Natural Bridge Recreation Area

I first hiked Alum Cove several years ago - -and it wasn't the best experience in the world. We hiked this on a hot day in August, which was probably a mistake, and the trail had only recently been reopened after a huge ice storm had caused severe storm damage the winter before. 

But I kew this area deserved a second chance --  and our return visit highlighted why this a very popular hiking and picnic area. It's a relatively short hike that provides a LOT of great features including a couple of waterfalls, a cave, a small stream and the highlight, the Alum Cove Natural Bridge. This is a very family-friendly destination and a lot of bang for your buck while hiking. 

Getting There

Take Highway 7 South out of Jasper for 15 miles and then turn RIGHT (west) onto Hwy 16 toward Deer (There is a faded sign at the interestcion). After roughly 1 mile on Hwy 16, turn RIGHT onto CR 28 (there is a sign here also) and travel three miles until you see a large sign for the Alum Cove Natural Bridge Area. Turn RIGHT at this sign, and it will dead end at a large parking area that includes several picnic spots, a large picnic shelter, and a pit toilet.  

The Hike

As noted before, this is a relatively short loop hike (only 1.1 miles) but has a LOT to see, hikers should plan to spend a little time enjoying the area.

The trail starts off behind the lower picnic area and heads down the hill. It has a couple of switchbacks until it reaches the bottom of the hill and ends up directly at the Natural Bridge.

The Bridge is huge - -and one of the larger natural bridges in the area measuring in at 130 feet long and 25 feet wide. 

While the Natural Bridge is the highlight of the trail, there is still a lot of other great things to see in the area 

From the Natural Bridge, the trail heads out on either side of the bridge and makes a loop. We decided to go left before the start of the bridge and follow the trail clockwise. 

The trail immediately drops down to the bottom of the hill and then splits -- to the right goes to the bottom of the Natural Bridge and to the left continues on the loop trail. I'll note here, that my favorite views of the Natural Bridge are from the bottom. 

We continued down the trail to the left and soon came upon a crossing over a small stream. With the recent rains, there was a fair amount of water flowing in this little stream.

The trail then goes back up the hill toward the bluff line at the back of the trail. Once the trail hits the bluff line, there is a large opening in the rock that forms a nice cave. The cave is tall (about 16 feet or so) and there is a separate, smaller opening that you can exit from and it's worth a bit of time to explore (kids will love it!). 

From the cave, the trail turns right and follows along the bottom of the bluff. This is a really beautiful area.

After a few hundred yards, during wet weather season, there is a nice little waterfall that tumbles over the edge of the bluff. 

The trail continues to a crack in the bluff line that creates several cave-like areas where hikers can go in and out of the different bluff lines making for a really cool section of the trail. 

From here, the trail turns away from the bluff and heads back toward the Natural Bridge. It goes down the hill and crosses the small stream via a small bridge, and then heads back up the hill toward the Natural Bridge. 

Then, the trail goes back up to the top of the bridge and heads back to the parking area. The hike back up the hill to the picnic area is the toughest elevation change in the trail but is not too bad and has a couple of benches where hikers can stop and rest and enjoy the serenity of the area.

 The Alum Cove Trail is a relatively popular trail -- but even over a holiday weekend we only came across a few people on the trail, so it makes for a nice area that offers a feel of seclusion without being truly in a remote area. We really liked the trail and will be back. 

Trail Notes

Distance: 1.1 mile round trip (does not count additional exploring). 

Difficulty: Easy

Kid-Friendly: YES! The creek, and caves will be great for kids. Just keep a close eye on them at the top of the Natural Bridge. While there is a fence there, it would be easy for a kid to climb through so do keep an eye on them.

Footwear: Trail Shoes will be fine

Trail Guide: Tim Ernst's Buffalo River Hiking Trails, Arkansas Nature Lovers Guide, Arkansas Hiking Trails

Star Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Also Nearby: Lonesome Hollow Falls, Fern Falls, Round Top Mountain, Big Creek Cave Falls

 Date Hiked: May 29, 2016

Paradise Falls - Upper Buffalo Wilderness

Paradise Falls has been on my radar for several years. I'm a fan of the big, cascading waterfalls and deep blue pools and from the pictures I've seen, it sure seemed like a falls I was going to like.

In fact, we made an attempt to hike down to Paradise Falls a couple of years ago, but because there is no official trail here, the route became confusing and we ended up turning back. 

So, this will be my attempt to help others find Paradise Falls. Because those that do find the falls will be greeted not just by Paradise Falls -- but by several smaller waterfalls, a cascading creek bed, and overall top-notch scenery. 

Getting there

The trail head is relatively easy to find. It is just off of Highway 21 South of Boxley. There is a very large parking are .8 miles south of the little community of Mossville (3.4 North or Edwards Junction). Pull into the U-shaped parking area. The trail takes off on the West side of the parking area and follows an old road trace that is easy to spot.

The Hike

The trail starts off down an old roadway that is fairly well maintained and wide and makes for some really nice hiking. The trail dips down the hill a ways. There is another road trace that goes off to the right but stay STRAIGHT on the main road. 

After maybe .25 miles (very rough estimate), the road comes to the bottom of the hill and turns pretty sharply left. Walk a short distance left and then leave the main road and turn RIGHT and head straight down the hill into the woods. Why would you leave the comfort of a nice walking trail and head into the thick woods without a trail?  You're just going to have to trust this.

Leave the road, and find you way straight down the hill the best way you can. There is really nothing resembling a trail, and it's pretty woolly in places with sticker bushes -- and I wouldn't recommend this one in May-September.  

After a relatively steep climb and at roughly .4 miles, you'll reach the bottom of the hill and there is a creek at the bottom of the hill. From here, there is a reasonably worn "trail" that follows the creek in both directions. 

So, to make this as easy as possible, follow the road until it turns left, then turn right and bushwhack through the woods to the bottom of the hill, then follow the creek to the left to get to Paradise Falls. If you try to make it any harder than this you are likely to get lost.

Once you arrive at the creek, there is much to see. Depending on where you actually arrive at the creek, there is a small, unnamed waterfall #1 that is in this general area. We arrived slightly downstream from unnamed waterfall #1 and went upstream to check in out (the second photo in this blog post).

The "trail" continues then downstream the rest of the way -- and is honestly, more pleasant hiking than I expected given the ruggedness of the area. After a short distance, there was another waterfall, Unnamed Waterfall #2 on the main creek.

This falls was a really nice cascading waterfall with a lot going on. I'd say that even if this was the destination waterfall I wouldn't have been disappointed. It's a great little place that like every waterfall in this area flows into a deep, beautiful blue pool. 

After some further hiking downstream, there are just more great views, cascades, and blue pools.

At 1 mile of hiking there is another drainage that comes in from the left. A few hundred yards up that drainage is a host of mossy rocks and Unnamed Waterfall #3.

The nice waterfall up this drainage is roughly 8 feet tall. 

There is also a nice cascade area just above this waterfall.

Back on the main creek, once the trail crosses the side drainage it starts to become much tougher hiking. It's rockier, steeper, and a lot of the rocks are more unstable that they would appear. The trail also runs a little higher up on the bank than it had before.

The trail passes another cascades area and small waterfall before arriving at the top of Paradise Falls at 1.2 miles.  There is even a signal tree above this last cascades area near the top of Paradise Falls.

Signal trees are believed to be a part of a Native American trail-marking system, and the area round Northwest Arkansas has one of the highest densities of these trees in the country.  Signal trees were also established by early settlers -- and this one is more likely to fit that criteria as it appears to be younger than a Native American signal tree.

To get to the bottom of the falls, follow the "trail" to the left (heading downstream) and there are a series of ropes that help hikers get down (and back up!).  As will all steep bluffs in the Ozarks, be VERY CAREFUL and don't go beyond your individual capacity as a fall could be fatal. 

Hikers that make it to the bottom will get to see a spectacular 32 foot tall, cascading waterfall that pours off into a beautiful blue pool. 

There is a rocky area at the bottom of the falls that is a great place to relax, enjoy a snack, and even take a quick nap in the sun while enjoying the splendor of the Ozarks.

After enjoying the area for awhile, including watching one of the resident bats come out for a light feeding, we headed back -- making sure to enjoy the cascades and pools along the way.

Trail Details

Distance: 2.4 miles round trip -- with all of the exploring, it felt like it was MUCH further than this

Difficulty: This is a difficult bushwhack with about 500 feet of elevation change, a fair amount of bushwhacking and a lot of unsteady ground to hike on.

Kid Friendly: No

Footwear: Sturdy hiking boots

Trail Guide: Tim Ernst's Arkansas Waterfalls book

Star rating: 5 of 5

Also nearby: Glory Hole Falls, QuiVaLa Elise Falls, Magnolia Falls,  Boxley Valley