Exploring Northwest Arkansas

Magnolia Falls, Woods Boys Falls and Stahl Falls -- Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area

Last month, the water was running really well and we took the opportunity to make another trip to the Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area to revisit a couple of waterfalls we've previously been to: Magnolia Falls, Woods Boys Falls and Stahl Falls.

You can get directions to the trail head at this post from 2013.

I'll note that while there isn't an official trail to this area, the path to get there is in extremely good shape and a lot of work has been done removing downed trees from the area. 

This area remains one of our favorite places -- and the more I get out, the more I've come to appreciate winter hiking. While the days are short, which requires slightly better planning, the sun angles are less severe, the lack of undergrowth makes for easier bushwhacking, no ticks and a surprising amount of color is provided by mossy rocks and beach trees.

We continued down the old jeep road and then doubled back to the bottom of Woods Boys Falls (you can get directions to it here). 

One of the primary reasons we made the trip was to go check out Stahl Falls. In Tim Ernst's Arkansas Waterfalls book he recommends following the ridge above Magnolia Falls to get to the top of Stahl Falls. However, we wanted to see Stahl Falls from the bottom. 

To get to the base of Stahl Falls, from Woods Boys Falls, cross the creek and follow along the base of the bluffline on the opposite side of the creek as how you arrived. The bluff will curve back around to your left and after about .25 miles you'll get to Stahl Falls. 

Stahl Falls is a 63 foot tall waterfall that begins as a cascade down the bluff and then pours off into a small pool below. There are some beautiful mossy rocks down below the falls and this area falls off sharply to the main creek drainage. 

I will warn that the entire area from Woods Boys Falls to Stahl Falls is steep and rocky so be VERY careful.  I also recommend staying up close to the bluff where it can be a little more flat (and further from the steep drop by the main creek area). 

This is a beautiful area and remains one of our favorites in the area with still much to be seen and explored.

Trail Notes

Distance: Roughly 2.5 miles round trip

Difficulty: Easy-moderate to Magnolia Falls, Moderate to Difficult to Woods Boys and Stahl Falls

Trail Guide: Tim Ernst's Arkansas Waterfalls

Footwear: Sturdy hiking boots recommended

 Star Rating: 5 out of 5

 Other places to visit nearby: The Glory Hole, QuiVaLa Elise Falls, the Boxley Valley. 

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.