Exploring Northwest Arkansas

Horsetail Falls -- Richland Creek Wilderness

Let me come right out and say it. I love winter hiking in the Ozarks. The leaves fall and give way to beautiful blufflines that have been out of sight for most of the year. The waterfalls begin to fill up again, frozen water near the falls creates a shimmer in the sunlight, and the crowds have died down, to allow you the opportunity to have beautiful areas all to yourself.

On New Year's Eve, we made another trip to one of my favorite areas of the Ozarks - the drive along Falling Water Creek.

This area if full of wonderful scenery- and last year on New Year's Eve we made the trip here to check out Falling Water Falls, another waterfall area near Falling Water Falls, Six Finger Falls, Intersection Falls, and Terry Keefe Falls.  

This time, we had a couple of other waterfalls on the list - FuzzyButt Falls and Horsetail Falls.

I talk about the hike to Fuzzy Butt Falls here. Horsetail Falls is along the same trail, and directions to the trailhead are at the link.

As you follow along the horse trail, which is a nice, easy hike, at about .3 you will get to the crossing of a small creek -- and there is a small waterfall and a nice little overlook onto Falling Water Creek here.  

If you are just looking for an easy hike, or have younger kids with you, you might consider just staying on the trail and heading directly to Fuzzy Butt Falls. However, if you're up for a little scrambling and bushwhacking and checking out another waterfall, then you'll take a detour here.

At the creek crossing, turn LEFT just before you cross the creek and follow the creek up hill on your left. 

There is a slight bit of a trail here, but not much, so when you inevitably lose the trail, don't panic, just continue to follow the creek upstream. You'll mostly be following the creek up on the hill a bit from the creek, but the creek will always be in view on your right.

You will continue scrambling up stream and UP the hill (we didn't have a GPS, but I'm guessing this is about a 200 foot elevation change) -- just find the best way up you can. At about .6 you'll get to Lower Horsetail Falls. 

The Lower Horsetail Falls is 70 feet tall and tumbles into a large canyon. 

After spending a little time at the Lower Falls, continue your hike UP and to your left around to the top of the falls and continue following the stream another .1 (and another 100 feet of elevation gain) to get to the Upper Horsetail Falls.

Upper Horestail Falls tumbles 31 feet and is visually very interesting. It is also in a nice canyon, and as we were there during winter, there was a a really nice view of the valley down below that we had just hiked up. The bluffs also created a lot of great icicles to enjoy. 

When you are done enjoying the scenery, take the bushwhack back down to the trail. 

Trail Details:

Distance: 1.1 miles roundtrip -- if you're just going to Horsetail Falls. It's roughly .6 additional miles roundtrip from your hike to Fuzzy Butt Falls.

Difficulty: Moderate

Footwear: Hiking Boots

Children: No

Trail Guide: Tim Ernst's Arkansas Waterfalls

Star Rating: 4 out of 5

 

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

Terry Keefe Falls - Hike

Terry Keefe Falls is a really great waterfall that is a short hike off of Falling Water Road - or as a spur trail off of the Ozark Highlands Trail.

Getting there:

To get there, take the turn on Falling Water Falls Road as described here. 

After turning on Falling Water Falls Road, take the road 5.3 miles to the bridge crossing across Falling Water Creek. Continue on this road for another 1 mile to a spot where a creek comes in from the right and flows under the road. This is about 2.8 miles from the Richland Creek Campgroudn if you're coming from that direction. Park where you can here.

The trail starts off on your right and heads up into the woods. It's a well-worn trail and pretty easy to find (there was also pink tape marking the spot). The trail goes up the hill with the creek to your right. The creek here has a lot of large rocks and water features.  Before you get to the top of the hill, you'll cross the Ozark Highlands Trail. This is at the 141 mile point of the OHT.

Continue straight at the intersection up the hill. The trail is marked with white circles painted on the trees (not to be confused with actual white blazes that mark the OHT).  The trail will go back down the hill and bend to the right, and then back up a hill. As you cross this hill you'll begin to see an amazing bluffline on your left.

The trail will then bend to the left and follow a creek bed and then proceed to cross the creek bed multiple times on the way back to the falls. The creek is mostly dry here, so it's easy crossing.

A little ways up  the dry creekbed and you'll get to a huge rock hollow and Terry Keefe Falls in the middle of this hollow.

Terry Keefe Falls is 78 feet tall and had a nice flow to it while we were there. It's definitely one of the taller falls in the area.

Distance: 1 mile round trip

Difficulty: Easy/moderate

Kids: Yes

Footwear: Trail shoes or tennis shoes would be fine.

Guidebook: Tim Ernst's Arkansas Waterfalls

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Intersection Falls -- near Falling Water Creek

Intersection Falls is a great, tropical-seeming waterfall that is just a short bushwack from Six Finger Falls. It's a short bushwack that is a bit of a challenge to get to, but it has first class scenery the entire way.

Getting There:

Park your car as if you're going to Six Finger Falls.  

Finding Intersection Falls

Once you get down to Six Finger Falls you'll want to travel upstream to  find Intersection Falls. This is probabably about .25 miles upstream.

There is no trail. In the winter, it was easy enough to bushwhack our way upstream along the creek. This was full of thorn bushes, so in warmer weather, having water shoes and go along the edge of the creek. The key here is to the find the easiest and safest way for you to get there given the conditions. It's also important to note that you won't get lost. You follow the creek the entire way, so as long as you're beside the creek, you'll find the falls and be able to find your way back along the creek.

While there is no trail to this area, it is VERY pretty along the creek. You'll find a lot of crisp, clear water, rock formations and swimming holes that just make for first class scenery.

As you get close to the falls, there is a great little cascade area that dumps into a beautiful, clean water area. Be sure to check out the cascade (and note, you can see Intersection Falls behind a tree in the background just left of the top of the cascade in the picture above).

Once past the Cascade area, you can make your way upstream, and get a good look at Intersection Falls. The Falls itself is a 31 foot high falls that tumbles over a ridge and into Falling Water Creek.  After an initial fall, the water then hits the rocks below and fans out giving it a very tropical feel. 

Once you get your fill, check out the views upstream and then you can head back to Six Finger Falls where you parked your car.

Intersection Falls Info:

Distance: .25 miles

Difficulty: Moderate (no trail)

Footwear: Hiking Boots

Guidebook: Tim Ernst's Waterfall book -- the book actually gives directions from the road to the top of the falls. It's tough to get a good view from the top of the falls, so I recommend coming in from downstream for a better view.

Kids: Older kids fine

Star rating: 4.5 of 5.

Six Finger Falls -- on Falling Water Creek

Six Finger Falls is another great waterfall along Falling Water Creek Road.  And like Falling Water Falls and another falls area along the road, it can be seen just a few hundred yards from the road.

I'm also going to note that this is an extremely difficult falls to photograph. It's very wide, and has six different falls that are a part of it (hence the name). Also, facing the falls is due South, so taking pics in the middle of the day in winter have a ton of sun in the background.

Getting There:

Take Highway 7 to the community of Pelsor (1/2 way between Jasper and Dover) and turn EAST onto Highway 16. Travel 10 miles on Highway 16 (past the Pedestal Rocks Special Interest Area) and about 1 mile past the community of Ben Hur, turn left onto Forest Road 1205. There is no sign for the Forest Road, but there are signs to "Falling Water Horse Camp" -- so turn on the road leading to the horse camp. 

Follow FR1205 for 5.3 miles and cross a bridge ove Falling Water Creek. At about .5 miles past the bridge, there will be a little parking area and a sign board on your LEFT. Park here. The falls is just a few yards down the hill from here.

The Falls:

As noted before, unless the water is really high there are six different falls here hat tumble over the same 6 foot high ledge that make up the "fingers". It gives the area a lot of character and is a really peaceful area to just watch the water flow, hear the roar of the water falling and just enjoy nature.

 

I also encourage you to explore a little upstream and downstream as it is really just a pretty area.

There are a couple of other waterfalls nearby. Across the creek and downstream a few hundred yards is Fuzzy Butt Falls, but it requires crossing the creek and on a cold day in December this wasn't too appealing so we'll catch it another time. But upstream a bit is Intersection Falls, which you can read about here.

Six Finger Falls Detail:

Distance: A few yards

Difficulty: Easy

Footwear: Whatever is fine, although water shoes such as Keens or hiking boots will be required for more exploring

Children: Yes

Trail Guide: Time Ernst's Waterfall Book

Star Rating 5 out of 5.

Waterfall area - near Falling Water Falls

This is a neat little area that if you're near Falling Water Falls, you should check this out too. If you are at the bottom of Falling Water Falls, you can hike downstream a few hundred yards and there is a creek that comes in from the left. The creek cascades down and forms two small waterfalls before emptying into Falling Water Creek.

This area is also accessible from the road. Once you drive past Falling Water Falls, you'll come to an area of the road that crosses over a small creek (the creek will be flowing over the road somewhat). Park in the pull-off area right before getting to the water crossing and this waterfall area is downstream from the road.

Falling Water Falls

Falling Water Falls remains one of my favorite waterfalls in Arkansas. It's a beautiful falls, and very easy to get to ( you can even view it from your car).

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 to the horse camp.

About 2.3 miles down FR 1205 is Falling Water Falls -- which you can see from the road.

The falls is on Falling Water Creek and it's a beautiful creek with a lot of other areas to explore. Feel free to explore up or down stream for a lot of interesting rocks and water features.

There are also several other hikes and waterfalls nearby. Check out some of the other waterfalls and hikes in the Richland Creek Wilderness area here.

This last pic is just a little water feature just downstream from Falling Water Falls -- but I loved how the water had formed ice all over the tree branch.

Falling Water Falls

This may be the easiest, most beautiful waterfalls to get to in all of Arkansas.  It falls about 10 feet down but can be very wide during high water.

From out of Jasper, take Highway 7 south to Pelsor -- and then take Highway 16 East 10 miles , to Forest Road 1205. The road leads you to (and past) the Richland Creek campground where there are dozens of great camp sites sites and scenery.

However, FR 1205 runs along Falling Water Creek, and just off the road at about 2.3 miles is Falling Water Falls.

You can see it from the road (it's hard to miss), and you can view it from the car. But get out and explore it a bit for a great little waterfall just barely off the beaten path.

This seems to be a great recreational area: there is a rope that people use to flip themselves off the falls into the water below and some stairs, nailed to a tree, that help you get up to the top to do it again. I've also seen pictures of kayakers going over this falls during high water. I cannot condone any of these activities, but if you're with someone who really knows the falls well and can be sure you can do it safely, then, well, enjoy. 

There are also a lot of great campgrounds right off the road here along Falling Water Creek. It's just a beautiful area that has a lot of great camp sites along it.

Twin Falls (Richland Creek Area)

Twin Falls is one of the more famous waterfall areas in Northwest Arkansas. I first read about this falls about 10 years ago in Backpacker Magazine and was quick to add it to my list. It really is worth the national exposure.

The falls is actually two different falls of two different creeks -- the Big Devils Fork and the Long Devils Fork -- that merge together at this waterfall site. One of the falls is 17 feet tall, the other 19 feet tall, and they fall over into a glistening pool that is a great swimming hole.

The easiest trail head to get to is via the Richland Creek campground -- and is a spectacular hike. When coming to the area, be sure to also check out Richland Falls and many of the other beautiful areas within the Richland Creek Wilderness Area.

This really is one of the most worthy destinations in the Ozarks. Difficult to get to, but worth the effort.

Richland Falls

This is a great little falls along Richland Creek. It stands about 8 foot tall -- but the glory of it is that it runs about 100 feet across. During lower water, it breaks into a series of smaller falls that span the creek bed.

Richland Creek (which is very large) has become a popular destination for kayakers during high water (pictures of kayakers going over the falls are easy to find) and looks fabulous during high water. But even during lower water, there is still plenty to enjoy and it still makes for a great swimming hole on warm spring and summer days.

The trail head isn't necessarily easy to get to, nor are the trails easy to follow, but this area has a lot of great areas to explore -- so if you get some time, take your time and explore a bit and for sure enjoy the crisp clean water for a nice swim.

For information about getting to the trail, read about the hike here.