Exploring Northwest Arkansas

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

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.