Exploring Northwest Arkansas

Pedestal Rocks Loop

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.

Today we're going to do the Pedestal Rocks Loop. The King's Bluff Loop I cover here.

Pedestal Rocks

The trail starts off behind the pit toilet and across a small bridge. You'll immediately come to  fork in the road. To the right is the King's Bluff Loop. To the left is the Pedestal Rocks Loop. Today, we're taking the left.

The trail will head down a bit and go down nine stone stairs. At .1, the trail will fork again. To the right is the return of the King's Bluff loop. To the left is the return of the Pedestal Rocks loop. Stay straight to take the Pedestal Rocks Loop.

The trail will head out on the level and go through a nice little forest of pines. After a bit, the trail will begin to descend, and then turn right, and then sharply back left again (there is a wooden post at this sharp left). From here, the trail is level for awhile. To your right is a big view and the spectacular bluff line you're here to see -- and it's just going to keep getting better.

Shortly after the trail levels out, there is a small volunteer trail that heads to the bluff. Take it. This view includes one of the "pedestal rocks" that the trail is named for. You'll follow along the bluff for a bit, with great rock formations and views all around. 

At 1.1, there is a road trace that comes down and joins the trail from the left. At the point where the road meets, just to the right is one of he easiest places to go down below the rock bluff and see some of the cool stuff that is below. If you're up for some exploring, go down below and look around a bit.

Below the bluffs

There are no real trails below the bluff, but it's easy to follow and explore. To the right is a walk-through cave that is regularly used for camping, and another smaller cave. There are two "needle eyes" that you can also scramble through, and eventually you'll get back to the bottom of the first "Pedestal" we saw.

As you can see, we had an awful lot of fun climbing and exploring.

To the left, are more caves and rock formations.

One especially large cave has several spectacular views from it.

If you keep going in this direction you get to yet another "pedestal". 

This is a really fun area to explore. Just be careful. While the falls are not as severe here as they would be from above the bluff, you may be inclined to do some scrambling. Just be smart and know your limits.

Once you are done exploring below the bluffs, you can climb back up the way you came down and continue on the trail.

Back on the trail

The trail continues out along the bluffs for awhile -- with more great rock formations, and more great views.

The trail begins to turn to the left as you follow the bluffline back toward the parking area. If you have young ones with you, please hold onto them near any of the blufflines. While the trail is very safe, it is tempting to get too close to the edge of the bluffs and it is certainly a long way down in places.

After following the bluffs for a bit, the bluffs begin to disappear and you're back in the woods. 

After a bit, you'll see a large natural bridge on your right that is big enough to drive a car through. Worth checking out.

Finally, you're back on the trail and heading back UP the hill. A 2.2 the trail finally intersects with the trail you started on -- to the left you get to do the trail again, straight ahead you can do the Kings Bluff Loop and to the right, it's .1 miles back to the trailhead.

Pedestal Rocks Trail Details

Distance: 2.3 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Trail Guide: None necessary, but covered in Tim Ernst's Arkansas Hiking Trails

Kids: Yes, but please hold onto them near the bluff lines

Footwear: Trail shoes or hiking boots.

 

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