Exploring Northwest Arkansas

Tanyard Creek Trail & Waterfall

The Tanyard Creek Trail is a great hiking trail that is right in the heart of Bella Vista in Northwest Arkansas. The trail is an easy hike, and offers a bit of everything: creeks, lakes, waterfalls, bridges, cascades, a bit of history, and abundant bird life.

Trail signs say that the trail is about 2.2 miles in length, but I logged about 2.4 on my most recent visit and didn't even hit all of the trails. 

The trail is very close to town, and, near a golf course and a driving range, yet still feels very secluded. There is a fully functioning bathroom at the trail head, along with a pavilion for picnics.

The trail is also family friendly (including four legged family), and well marked, and makes for a nice way to spend an afternoon out on the trail. Because the trails make a variety of loops and connections, you can spend 30 minutes here hiking to the waterfall or a 1/2 day hiking the trails, looking at wildflowers, bird watching and reading all of the interpretive signs. Even though it's family friendly, the trail has a lot to offer and would be enjoyed even by serious outdoorsman.

Getting there

To get to the trail head, from Highway 71 in Bella Vista, take 340 Highway WEST for .9 miles and then turn left onto Nature Trail Lane and into the parking area. Highway 340 is 2.1 miles south of the Missouri/Arkansas border.

From the parking area, the trail heads down hill just past the Pavilion.

The Trail

The trail is a little more than 2.2 miles in length, and is essentially made up of four different loops that allow for the trail to be shorter or longer depending on what you want to see and the amount of time and energy you want to expend. 

I'm going to take you on the route that I usually take, which goes to the waterfall first. The waterfall is definitely a highlight for me and I always want to be sure I don't run out of time and get to see it!  

From the trail head, take the trail down hill just a little ways. Shortly, another paved trail will head to the right. This is the last of the four loops I plan to cover and is a .3 mile loop through some low grassland area that is full of small birds living in the trees. 

 

Trail map

 

You'll also pass by a trail on your left & right, and cross over a small bridge. I take this second left just past the bridge -- it's the trail that heads to the waterfall. There is a signboard with a map in this area that will help you find your way. Taking a picture of the map with your phone may be helpful with all of the trail crossings.

 

Mossy Pond -- Windor Lake damn is in the background

The trail quickly passes a small, mossy pond on the right. There is generally a lot of bird life in this area. The hill behind the pond is a damn that makes of Windsor Lake. The nature trail area rests mostly below the damn.

Continue straight. There is a trail that turns right off the main trail through the grass and up the damn. I ignore it and stay straight into the woods. There is then a second trail that veers left - I remain on the main trail which goes up hill a bit to the overlook to the waterfall. This is Tanyard Creek Falls.

 

Tanyard Creek Falls

 

Tanyard Creek Falls isn't truly a natural waterfall -- it is actually the spillway that comes down from Windsor Lake. However, it is a really beautiful waterfall, and has a very nice natural feel, and is a nice place to relax. It's also good that, unlike most Northwest Arkansas waterfalls, Tanyard Creeks Falls isn't seasonal - and tends to have water flowing nearly year around.

 

Windsor Lake - View from the damn

From the waterfall, turn back the way you came and then take the first left. This is a trail that heads UP the hill toward Windsor Lake. There is a nice view of the lake from the damn, and it is common to see folks who live along the lake walking their dogs along the damn. Windsor Lake was created in 1975 and covers 220 acres and is 79 feet deep. You can add a walk along the damn as a part of your hike as well. 

From the damn, I go back down the same trail I took up, and then turn left onto the main trail. Then, I take the first right. This right takes you down the hill a bit and across a bridge over Tanyard Creek. 

Bridge over Tanyard Creek

 

From the bridge, the trail goes both right and left. Take a right and just up the trail a bit is a view of a nice cascade that is coming down just below Tanyard Creek Falls. 

 

Cascade along Tanyard Creek

From here, turn back. At the bridge, stay straight. This is where you could have turned left off the bridge and the beginning part of the second loop. 

This trail quickly veers right and starts following an old road bed above Tanyard Creek. This old road was the route used by early settlers of the area. The trail has a lot of signs that highlight many of the tree varieties and some of the history of the area - including a tree that has grown up around an old rail road spike that was driven into the tree as a surveyor marker. 

The trail drops down the hill and when it reaches the bottom of the hill, near the creek. It reaches a rock bluff shelter and then turns sharply left and runs along the creek. The trail then passes the remnants of an old house. Not much remains of this old homestead.

Just beyond that, the trail crosses over a suspension bridge. Even as an adult I get a bit giddy at the sight of a suspension bridge. 

The trail then goes a bit further along the creek and some low woodlands until it eventually connects back with the main trail.

That's the completion of Loop 2. 

To hit loop 3, turn left and go a few yards until you turn right just before crossing the bridge. 

This trail follows the creek, then turns sharply left at a bridge crossing the creek and then crosses the creek several times as it heads back to the main trail. 

Then from the main trail, turn left, cross back over the bridge and take the second trail on your left, and then take the paved trail in the open grassland area. This is loop 4. From here, head back to your car.

In total, there is a bit more than 2.2 miles of trail here that can be mixed and matched for a variety of different experiences and distances. But all are great hikes that are good for young, old and even serious outdoor enthusiasts.

Trail Details

Distance: 2.2+ miles

Difficulty: Easy

Kid Friendly: Yes!

Footwear: Trail Shoes are advised, but tennis shoes should be fine

Trail Guide: Tim Ernst's Arkansas Nature Lovers Guide (the hike just to the waterfall is also covered in Ernst's Arkansas Waterfalls book. 

Rating: 4.5 of 5

Nearby: The Back 40 Mountain-Biking Trails, Bentonville Trail System

Fuzzy Butt Falls

Fuzzy Butt Falls is a waterfall that I've always heard about (mostly because of the name) but had no idea what a great, easy hike it was to get there with a LOT of bang for your buck along the way.  The hike takes you by three waterfalls, follows along Falling Water Creek (which is one of my favorites) and ends at a great canyon with a uniquely-named waterfall that will definitely create a memorable experience.

Getting There:

Take Highway 7 to the community of Pelsor (1/2 way between Jasper and Dover) and turn EAST onto Higway 16. Travel 10 miles on Highway 16 (past the Pedestal Rocks Special Interest Area and the community of Ben Hur) and then turn left onto Forest Road 1205.

There is no sign for the road currently, but there are signs to the "Falling Water Horse Camp" -- so turn at the road to go toward the horse camp.

Travel 5.3 miles down this gravel road and the road will cross a bridge over Falling Water Creek (at 2.3 miles, you'll pass Falling Water Falls) Cross the bridge and park in the parking area on the other side of the bridge. 

The Trail

After parking in the parking area, you'll leave your car and cross back over the bridge and enter into the woods on a horse trail on the West side of the creek. The horse trail is marked with green blazes (at least, the early part of the trail is). 

The trail takes off to the right and into the woods. The trail follows along the creek for a bit, and at about .4 miles, it crosses a smaller creek and a small waterfall. If you go up this creek to the left, you will eventually get to Horsetail Falls (post forthcoming).

To the right is a little spur trail that takes you to a nice spot to check out Falling Water Creek.

Back on the main trail, you will cross over the small creek and continue up the hill on the horse trail. The trail levels out a bit, and then goes back up the hill a lilttle more steeply and veers further away from Falling Water Creek. 

The trail then goes back down the hill and toward the creek. At approximately 1 mile, some bluffs will appear on your left. Fuzzy Butt Falls resides in this canyon.

To get to Fuzzy Butt falls, follow the stream into the canyon about 200 yards (it's an easy hike in) and the falls is right there.

Fuzzy Butt Falls is 16 feet tall. While not as tall as many other waterfalls, this falls is particularly photogeneic and the canyon itself is a fantastic setting that gives you the feeling of being in a world all to yourself. Plan to spend a little time and enjoy the falls and the canyon.

So, you may be asking about the unusual name of the falls, "Fuzzy Butt". Tim Ernst, who is responsible for a lot of the modern day exploring and documenting of the area (and who's trail guides are a must for any Arkansas hiker), has named many of the waterfalls in the area. Ernst usually takes a picture of himself at the falls (for perspective) and decided on a cold day to take a picture of his backside at the falls. Because the National Park service labeled the photo "obscene" his butt was blurred out of the pic, and thus, the legend and the name of the falls. Apparently a lot of people replicate his photo at the falls....but given that it was cold, and I'm a fan of pants, I just took one of me in my full gear.

When you are done exploring, it is time to head back to the car.

You'll notice on the way back, that as you head back on the trail as the trail turns to the right and back up the hill that there is a little spur trail here that heads to Falling Water Creek. Be sure to take this spur, as it leads about 100 yards to Six-Finger Falls.

Six Finger Falls is a great waterfall along Falling Water Creek that is made up of six smaller waterfalls as they flow through different cracks in the rocks. It really is a unique waterfall. I had viewed the falls from the other side before, but this was my first time viewing it from this side.

You are now ready to head back to the main trail and head the one mile back to your car along the horse trail.

This really is a maginificent area and worth spending a day or three. In addition to Fuzzy Butt and Six Finger Falls, and Falling Water Falls, there are several other waterfalls in the area including Horsetail Falls (on this same trail), and Intersection Falls and Keefe Falls on the opposite side of the creek.  And if you have a little more time, Richland Falls and Twin Falls are both also nearby. 

Details

Date Hiked: December 31, 2014

Distance: 2 miles round trip

Difficulty: Easy

Footwear: Trail shoes or tennis shoes would be fine

Kids: Yes!

Star Rating: 5 out of 5

Trail Guide: Tim Ernst's Arksansas Waterfalls

Round Top Mountain Hiking Trail

As you drive South on Highway 7, as you near Jasper a mountain with a uniquely shape top comes into view. It's an interesting looking mountain, accurately named Round Top Mountain, and it dominates the mountain-line near Jasper. 

There is a great hiking trail here, that is full of a lot of beautiful scenery, wildflowers and a bit of unusual history that's worth checking out.

Part of the trail was washed away three years ago in some serious April rains. It just reopened a little less than a year ago after a lot of work by the folks at the Newton County Resource Council  -- which has managed the area since 1997. They do a great job of managing the trail, and even though we hiked this on August 30, when many trails are over grown, this trail was well maintained and easy to travel. 

Getting There

To get there, take Highway 7 South out of Jasper and go about 2 miles. After you pass the Newton County Fairgrounds, and road leads up the side of the mountain. About 1/2 way up the hill, you'll see a small sign with a hiking symbol on it and a sign saying "Round Top Mountain" that will point to the right. Take this right and drive up the short (but steep) hill to the parking area. There is another entrance a few hundred yards further up the hill (no sign) that allows for a less steep entry if desired.

Park wherever you find room. There is a small visitor's center (I'm not sure it's open yet) and a bathroom here, along with a trail map. There is also a place to leave donations to the Resource Council for their work in maintaining the area. 

The Trail

Probably the easiest way to think of this trail is to think of it as having two loops and a spur trail. As you go up the mountain, there is a loop that runs along a bench midway up, and then a second loop that runs along the top of the mountain. 

You will start on the trail going up the mountain. The trail will head up with several switchbacks as you work your way up. The trail is gradual, so while there is a bit of an incline, it isn't as bad as you think hiking up the mountain could be.

After about .3 miles, you'll reach a fork in the road. If you are planning on hiking both loops, turn RIGHT at this junction.  This is the lower loop trail. You will come back on the trail on your left.

The trail follows a nice bench and is a very thickly wooded area. To you left will be a lot of nice rock formations and to your right, either a lot of trees or an occassional view of the valley below. It's a really nice stretch of trail.

At about .8, you will find a unique historical marker. On Feb. 6, 1948, on a fogger cold night, a B-25 Bomber crashed into this site killing all five military passengers. There are also a quite a few fragments of the plane that sit on a a couple of rocks at the site, and then many others that you will see scattered around the area. Please respect these remnents of the crash and leave them for others to see and experience 

After exploring a bit in the area, you will continue along the trail, enjoying the bluff lines. There are a couple of volunteer spur trails you'll see on the left. A couple go to small caves and another goes to a very nice rock climbing area. 

After about 2.2 miles, you'll get to the south side of the mountain where the trail cuts through few large rocks in a very scenice area that will take you up through a crack in the rock bluff you've been following. Enjoy the cool rock formations and the fact that someone made a nice trail through here for you! The trail will go up through the ledge, then back down through some more rocks (there is even a hand rail here).

On the other side of the South Gap, you will follow directly beside the bluff line, then have the bluff overhang the trail, and then along the bluffline again. This is a great stretch of trail and then another set of steps that lead down through some large rocks that also has a nice hand rail.

At about 2.8, there is a fork in the road. Turn LEFT at this fork. 

Immediately, this trail begins to climb up through nother gap in the rocks on a nice little stone staircase. Soon enough, you'll get to the top to the upper loop.

The Upper Loop

Once on the upper level, you'll almost immediately come to a junction where three trails emerge. Turn RIGHT here. This loop takes you out to the North Bluff Overlook. 

Follow this trail gradually up and then it will turn right and switchback down a bit, and then continue back North. At 3.2 there is another fork. Take a right, and take a short spur trail to the overlook area. 

This area offers a huge view of the Little Buffalo River Valley, the community of Jasper, and the expansive valley below. There are also some really determined trees that are growing on this rocky spot that appear to have weathered a lot of conditions over the years.

When done enjoying this spot, head back on the spur trail and when you get to the fork, turn RIGHT and continue the loop.

As you turn right, the trail is officially called the "West Trail". I don't know why they don't just call it loop, and call this a different trail. However, this part of the trail was the best maintained and had the best views and wildflowers of all on the mountain.

I've read that there are wildflowers of different sorts on the mountain in the spring too. I can't speak with certainty about that, but the yellow wildflowers on the West Trail in August were simply magnificent.

At about 3.4, you get back to the 4 way interchange. Turn RIGHT. This spur takes you out to the top an overlook area on the other side of the mountain -- that sits above South Gap. There are some great views here, as well as some really good rock formations (just like you would have imagined when you hiked through them down below!)

Enjoy the time here, and head back on the trail. When you get to the 4 way intersection, go RIGHT and head back down the stairs.  At the base of the stairs, you'll turn LEFT to head back to the first intersection you came to, then turn RIGHT at that intersection to descend back to the parking lot.

I've seen a lot of mileage differences on this trail. The trail map at the visitor's center says it's a 4 mile trail. Tim Ernst logs it as a 3.6 mile trail. So plan to go 3.5-4 miles and you'll enjoy your trip! 

Trail Notes:

Mileage: 3.6 miles

Difficulty: Easy-Moderate

Kids: Yes!  Although be sure they stay behind fenced boundaries at overlooks

Trail Guide: Tim Ernst's Arkansas Hiking Trails

Trail Rating: 4 stars out of 5

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

 

Kings River Falls Hiking Trail

One of the great things about hiking and playing in the wilderness in Arkansas is that each time you visit an area, it takes on a bit of a different feel depending on the time of year you go. Different weather and water levels make a big impact, as do leaf color, what flowers are in bloom and who you are sharing the trail with.

Maybe no area represents this more than the Kings River Falls area.

The Kings River Falls Trail is a great hiking trail -- only about 1.2 miles round trip, and filled with beautiful scenery. It's a relatively flat, easy hike, so it's good for kids too. 

At the end of the trail is a 10 foot high waterfall -- and during warm weather, the area can become a (justifiably) popular swimming hole.  It's definitely worth the time to check out.

Getting There

To get there, go to the community of Boston (just a few homes there now) -- which is on Highway 16 between Pettigrew and Red Star -- and about 19 miles west of Fallsville. 

From Boston, turn North onto CR #3175 (gravel, but a good road) for 2 miles and then turn RIGHT onto CR #3415. Stay on this for 2.3 miles and the road stops at a "T" intersection. 

Turn LEFT at the T, and afer a few hundred yards you'll cross a small stream and there is a decent-sized parking area on your right. The sign will mark the spot.

The Trail

The trail takes off just to the left of the sign, and runs along a fence and an open field (to your left) and a creek (to your right). 

After a bit, the trail reaches the Kings River and turns to the left and then runs downstream along the river. After a bit, the trail crosses over a nice footbridge.

The trail continues and is level the entire time so it makes for great hiking.  It's a wide trail that is really easy to navigate.

There are a lot of great little areas to check out along the river so plan to go slow and enjoy the trail and the river a bit.

We hiked this trail on Memorial Day weekend and the trail had an extra special surprise for us. The Azaleas were in full bloom and the bright pink flowers were a wonderful sight along the river.

 

The pop of pink color was magnificent along much of the trail.

 

After about a mile, you eventually get to main event -- Kings River Falls. This is a great, 10 foot high waterfall that is set in just an amazing area. Plan to spend a little bit of time enjoying this fantastic waterfall. 

During warm weather, the swimming hole below the falls becomes a VERY popular swimming hole....so if you are planning to come to this area and want some peace and quiet, then early mornings or during the week are probably best. If hanging out with people who are all having a great time is more your game, a weekend afternoon will work.

Getting to the Overlook

While the hike to Kings River Falls is great, and most people are perfectly fine enjoying the falls itself, there is a bit more to see here.  Just upstream from the falls there is a creek that comes in from the trail-side of the river.  If you follow this little creek upstream a bit there are also a series of waterfalls that come down off the top of the hill.

There is a volunteer trail that heads up along these falls that is pretty easy to follow and when the water is high, they're definitely worth checking out.

Then, to your right, there is another trail that leads back toward the river. 

From this trail, you can get an amazing view of Kings River Falls from high above the Falls on the Bluff and well worth checking out.

Overview

Distance: 1.2 miles round trip

Difficulty: Easy

Kid Friendly: Yes

Footwear: Trail shoes or Keen water shoes

Guide Book: Covered in a lot of places: Tim Ernst's Waterfall Book or Arkansas Hiking Trails.

 

Kings Bluff Loop -- Pedestal Rocks Area

The Pedastal Rocks area is a spectacular recreation area. The area includes two loop hikes. The Kings Bluff Loop is about a 1.9 mile hike. Pedestal Rocks Loop is about 2.6 miles, or, the two can be combined for a 4.3 mile hike. So you can make the area a couple hour stay, or a full day's worth of hiking.

Both hikes go out to large bluff areas with spectacular overlooks that are uniquely different. Meanwhile, both also opportunities off trail for more exploring below the bluff line.

To get to the area, take Highway 7 to the community of Pelsor (which is 28 miles North of Dover, and 28 miles South of Jasper). Turn EAST onto Highway 16. Travel 6 miles on Hwy 16, and look for the signs to Pedestal Rocks on your right. It's well marked. The parking area is right off the highway and includes a pit toilet.

We're going to do the King's Bluff Loop First.

The Kings Bluff Loop

The trail heads out just behind the pit toilet and crosses a small bridge. Very quickly the trail splits. To the Right is the Kings Bluff Loop, to the Left is the return of the Kings Bluff Loop or the start of the Pedestal Rocks Loop. We'll start off to the right and do King's Bluff.

The trail starts off on into the wooded area and is on the level for a bit. Then, eventually starts to descend. You'll wind through several switchbacks until eventually, at about .8 miles, you'll come out onto a large (and I do mean large) rock bluff. This is King's Bluff. 

There's definitely more to see here than just the bluff, but be sure to check out the bluff for awhile. To the right is a creek that when the water is flowing well forms a spectacular waterfall off the bluff. Further around to the right (off the trail) is another small waterfall area. 

There is a small fence here -- but I think it acts more as a visual barrier than something that will actually save you from falling -- and it's a long way down, so hold onto any youngsters. The view from here is pretty amazing -- particularly during October when the leaves are turning.

 From here, the trail takes off to the left. It curls around the edge of the bluff and then turns to the right. As you make the turn, there is a route down to the bottom of the bluff that you can follow if the water is really flowing and you want to see the waterfalls from below. (We didn't do this this trip because there was very little water). 

Eventually the trail splits. One trails goes into the woods a bit the other basically follows the bluffline. If you are without kids and are sure-footed, I recommend staying along the bluffline -- Just be careful!  

Along this route you'll eventually be following the bluffline -- which will be on your right, with woods on your left. Along this stretch there are a lot of cool rock formations, and more great views. 

Enjoy. Soak it in. 

After about .3 of following the bluff, the trail will start to curl back into the woods and start to gradually head back up the hill. After another .8 from the bluff, you'll cross paths with another trail.  To the right, or straight, begins the Pedestal Rocks Trail (depending on which direction you want to travel the loop).  To the left is .1 miles back to the parking area.

If you're just doing the King's Bluff Loop, turn left and head back up the hill, up 9 rock steps and you'll get back to the parking area. 

If you want to continue onto the Pedestal Rock's Loop, continue reading here.

Kings Bluff Loop:

Distance: 1.9 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Guide Book: None necessary, but Tim Ernst's Arkansas Hiking Trails covers the area

Footwear: Trail shoes or hiking boots

Kids: Yes. But be VERY careful around bluff lines

 

Haw Creek Falls

People determine beauty and what is "interesting" differently. When it comes to waterfalls, I personally favor cascades and rolling waterfalls more than pour-off types of falls. Others like tall pour-offs better. 

Either way, there are plenty of each to see in Northwest Arkansas. 

But my preference for cascading waterfalls is one reason why I loved visiting Haw Creek Falls. The falls is short (only about 8 feet tall), but has a lot of interesting cascades and a picturesque setting that makes this a place I can't wait to come back to.

It's easy to get to as well.

To get there, go South of Jasper on Highway 7 for 27 miles, and turn West onto South Highway 123. Travel 12 miles on Hwy 123 and you'll see the sign for Haw Creek Campground. Turn left into the campground. If you drive counter-clockwise around the campground, you'll loop almost around the entire campground and the falls will be on your right as you get back to the area with the two restrooms. Park, and the falls is about 100 yards off the road. 

This is a neat little area (and campground) and was a perfect spot for a picnic lunch before we went out to explore other sites in the area. The clear water just above, and below the falls also make for nice swimming holes when the weather is warm or just more great scenery. So plan to spend a little time here, and enjoy.

If you're in the area, also check out the short hikes to these to Waterfalls:

Pam's Grotto

Pack Rat Falls

Triple Falls/Twin Falls - Hike from Camp Orr

Triple Falls (or as it is also commonly known, Twin Falls) at Camp Orr is among the most spectacular watersfalls in the Buffalo River area. In additional to have an incredible triple falls during high water, the left two-thirds of the falls is fed by a spring -- which means unlike most waterfalls in the Buffalo River area that are seasonal and only flow during high water, most of this falls flows year-around.

A couple of years ago we hiked into the falls using a 2 mile stretch of the Buffalo River Trail from Kyles Landing.  This is still a very viable option, and worth using if you want to have a nice hike before reaching your destination.

However, if your goal is to just see the falls, the easiest route is to come in from Camp Orr -- a popular Boy Scout Camp area that is right along the Buffalo River.

Getting there: To get there, turn off of Highway 74 at Mt. Sherman (about 4 miles west of Jasper) at the sign pointing  North to Kyle's Landing. There is a new canoe outfitter here at the entrance and there will be a lot of activity, so it's hard to miss. Take the gravel road toward Kyles Landing. Go about 1 mile and turn RIGHT at the sign that points to Camp Orr (staying straight takes you to Kyles Landing). Follow this road for 1.8 miles, and park at the bottom of the hill in a parking area at the start of a large field.

Note, the last mile or so of this road is VERY steep and bumpy, and while passable via regular vehicle in dryer weather, if the road is muddy, you may need a 4 wheel drive to get back out.

The Hike:

From the parking area, enter the woods opposite where you parked -- there should be a sign here pointing to Twin Falls and you'll walk under a little metal arch that starts the trail. The trail is a short, flat, .25 mile hike back to the falls.

Sit, enjoy the falls, and one of the most spectacular places in the Buffalo River area. The three falls tumble 48 feet over the ledge into a nice little pool at the bottom. It really is magnificent.

On the way back to the falls, you will have passed another trail on your right that points you to the "top of the falls". If you wish to venture to the top, go back to this spur, and then follow the trail on up to the top of the falls. Up here you can see Shop Creek (which flows in to form the 3rd falls) and hop across the creek to see the natural spring that feeds the other two falls.

This is a short hike in from Camp Orr and very much worth the time and effort.

Distance: .5 miles roundtrip. It's about 1 mile if you go to both the top and bottom of the falls.

Difficulty: Easy

Kid Friendly: Yes

Star Rating: 5 of 5

Footwear: Tennis shoes are fine

Koen Interpretive Trail - Buffalo River Area

The Koen Interpretive Trail is short little trail that is both easy to get to and easy to hike.

The trail is in the Koen Experimental Forest. The Experimental Forest was created in 1950 with the goal of studying plant life in the south Ozarks and understanding sustainability of the forests in the area.

The Koen Interpretive Trail is a short, .25 mile loop through the Koen Interpretive Forest.  There are also a couple of short spur trails here that connect the different sides of the loop, so if you take them all it will be about .4 miles total.

The trail is a nice, flat, packed trail, that is handicapped accessible and is a good trail for folks of all ages. Along the trail, 34 different types of trees and plants are well marked to help you in recognizing both native and non-native species. There are also many different types of wild flowers and bird species in the forest.

There are plenty of sitting areas, as well as a nice little picnic area at the trailhead that makes this a great  outing for families looking to spend some time outdoors. This trail can also be easily combined with the Ponds Loop Trail -- which is just down the road -  for two short, easy, family friendly hikes.

Getting there:

The trail is easy to get to, as well as to hike. From Jasper, take Highway 7 North 4 miles to Highway 79 (gravel) - this is about 2.5 miles South of Pruitt.

Go West on Highway 79 (marked by a sign pointing you to the Erbie Campground, which is now closed). At .4 miles, a sign will point for you to turn right to get to the Koen Intepretive Trail, turn right on this dirt road. The parking area and picnic spot are about 200 yards down this road.

Difficulty: Easy

Footwear: Anything will work

Trail Guide: Not required, but covered in Tim Ernst's Buffalo River Hiking Trails

Kid Friendly: Yes!

 

Upper Buffalo Wilderness - Boen Gulf Access Part 1 - Magnolia Falls and Stahle Falls

The Upper Buffalo Wilderness is a generally rugged area that is much less developed than other parts of the Buffalo River. However, there is a great little hiking trail here, and plenty to see and explore.

Last week, we used some warm weather to do some hiking and exploring in the area. There are four separate waterfalls in the area, an old jeep road that provides fairly easy hiking to most of it, and a lot of other really scenic areas. Because there is a lot to do here, and the dramatic changes in the trail quality,  I’m breaking our full day of hiking into three separate sections.

For this, Part 1, we’re going to visit Magnolia Falls and Stahle Falls. Magnolia Falls is quickly becoming one of our favorite little spots because it is a great little waterfall, with an easy, scenic hike to get to, and the trailhead access is easy and convenient to get to.

The trail takes off from the Wilderness Access Point and heads down an old jeep road. You immediately pass a few primitive campsites, and then some trees that have fallen across the road that you have to navigate over/around. Quickly, you’re past the obstacles and are following the old jeep road. Because it’s an old road, the trail here is pretty easy to follow and is pretty well worn. (Update 1/1/16 -- the trail is in VERY good shape and many of the downed trees have been removed from the trail to make for some nice, obstacle free hiking)

At about .1 miles, you get to the Wilderness area check in. Take a minute to do so just in case someone has to come looking for you. Just past the wilderness check-in station, the road veers to
the left, and you’ll follow this. Soon you’ll pass an interesting stone wall and a series of large rock formations to your right. This is really some first-class hiking here.

At about 1 mile, the trail dips down and crosses a small creek. As soon as you cross the creek, if you are headed to Magnolia Falls and Stahle Falls turn left onto a little trail here. If you are headed elsewhere, you’ll stay on the jeep road and I’ll cover that in parts 2 and 3.  Follow this little trail along the stream a couple of hundred yards and you’ll hit a much larger creek. To your left is Magnolia Falls.

This is a great little waterfall that is about 26 ft tall and with the scenic hike, is one of the better bang-for-your buck hikes in the Buffalo River area. The falls go into a deep pool and really creates a scenic little area that we first visited back in December (the snow pics look very different than these).  Just downstream from Magnolia Falls is another waterfall, Woods Boys Falls. You can see the top from here. In part 2 of this series, we’ll hike to the bottom of the falls.

After exploring this area, you can continue on to Stahle Falls. To get to this falls, hike up to the top of Magnolia Falls on the left. There is a trail here and some rocks to help you get across the creek at the top. Along the top of the bluffline there is a trail of sorts and follow it about .25 miles and you’ll get to the top of Stahle Falls. This is the tallest of the waterfalls in the area, falling 63 feet. This trail takes you to the top of the falls, and there is no safe way to get down from here but when the
leaves are off the trees you can see for miles down across the wilderness.

At this point, you can double back to the jeep road and head back to the car, or continue onto other parts of the area.

I highlight this part of the trail separately because it is the most accessible part of the wilderness in this area and a great, easy hike to a nice falls. The other parts of the trail are a little tougher but I think this one warrants more travel.

Getting there: To get to the trailhead, turn west onto Forest Road 1462/County Road 6. This road is about 2.5 miles south of the Mossville Church on Hwy 21 South of Boxley. The road isn't marked, but it's a pretty signifcant (and well maintained) gravel road and if you're following your odometer you'll know it when you see it. Once you turn west onto CR6, about .3 miles down the road is a pull-off area for parking. The parking area is on the opposite side of the road from a "Wilderness Access" sign. Park here and enter on the same side of the road where you parked.

Part 2: Woods Boys Falls and Don Hadlock Cascade

Part 3: Bushwacking through the wilderness

 

Details:

Distance: Magnolia Falls – 2.1 miles roundtrip. Add .6 to go to Stahle Falls and back.

Difficulty: Magnolia Falls – Moderate, the trail getting to Stahle Falls is more challenging.

Star Rating: Magnolia Falls – 4.5 Stars (out of 5), Stahle Falls 3.5 out of 5

Children: Magnolia Falls – Yes, except for very young children, Stahle Falls probably no.

Footwear: Trail Shoes or Hiking boots are preferred.