December. It’s that time of year when most folks aren’t thinking about getting out for a hike. There’s Christmas shopping to do and parties to attend. And for a lot of people, it’s just too damn cold out there! Or is it? Although I’m really not a cold-weather person, some of my favorite hikes have been in the winter. I learned this years ago while hiking to Eden Falls at Lost Valley.
It was 3 days before New Years. I had some time off from work and really needed some nature therapy. But…it was 28 degrees outside! If you know me, you know that I despise Winter. Hate it. I’m a warm-weather person all the way. But I reeeeally needed to get outside. So I layered up, packed water and lunch, and hit the road. The plan: Drive to Ponca and hike whatever I find. After a quick stop at Steel Creek to see the Buffalo River, I ended up hiking to Eden Falls at Lost Valley. Ever since then, I’ve been doing a lot more hiking in the winter.
Directions to Lost Valley
Lost Valley is in Boxley, a popular area just south of Ponca, known mostly as a great place to see the elk herd. Just map yourself to Ponca, and from there, find Hwy 43, which runs right alongside the Buffalo River. You will find a sign for the Lost Valley Trailhead on Hwy 43. If you are coming from the south, you will see this sign before you get to Ponca. Follow that road to the parking area and you’re there.
What to Expect
The Lost Valley Trail and Eden Falls is very popular hiking spot in this area. So depending on the time of year, you are likely to find quite a few people. This is because it is a VERY clean, well-maintained trail, and a pretty easy hike. It is an out and back hike that is roughly 2 miles total. Most of the trail is gravel until you get near the Natural Bridge about 2/3 of the way in. Then there are some larger rocks and tree roots, pretty typical Arkansas hiking trail stuff. But none of it is too difficult.
Once you get to the Natural Bridge area, it’s easy to see why this place is so popular. There is so much to see here! You can cross the creek to hike in, around, and through the natural bridge. That’s really cool. There is a gigantic grotto after that. And at the end, you are treated to an outstanding view of Eden Falls. But there’s more! At the top of Eden Falls is Eden Falls Cave. If you are not too claustrophobic, you can crawl through the cave to find yet another waterfall inside the back of the cave!
As I was prepping pics for this blog post, I realized the pics I had from my trip years ago were not that good. Luckily I had nothing planned today, so I got up early and made my way to Boxley. It was also cold today, which was perfect since I’m also talking about cold weather hikes. Today I noticed some new things since my last visit. There is a huge new parking lot, along with a picnic pavilion, bathrooms, and an emergency phone. I don’t remember seeing those before. The trail is still the same as I remember. But I was the only person there today, which was fine with me.
Eden Falls Cave
I got much better pictures this time and some video, so I hope you like those. And I made it a point to visit the cave at the top of Eden Falls, which I missed on my last visit. It’s a fairly easy climb to the top of the falls. I’d say roughly 5 flights of concrete steps will take you to the top. The trail leads right into the cave.
I went a little way inside the cave and decided today was not the day I was going to crawl through it, for several reasons. It was really dark. And even though I had a light, I really wasn’t sure what to expect. Water does run through the cave, so I didn’t know if I would have to crawl through that or not. (Did I mention it was cold?). I was hiking alone and there was nobody else in the park. So if anything happened, nobody would know where I was. (There is also no cell phone signal). Finally, it was starting to mist pretty heavy, and might start raining at any time. So I kind of needed to head on back. But I promise I will go back with a hiking buddy in warmer weather and edit this post with more info and pics.
Plan Your Trip
This hike only takes about an hour to do. So maybe plan another one in the area if you want to make a full day of it. As I mentioned, there is no cell phone service here. So handle any texts. phone calls, or directions before you descend into Boxley Valley. There are public restrooms and picnic areas here. There are no nearby gas stations. But there are two outfitter stores a mile away in Ponca that sell food, drinks, supplies, etc.
This is a short simple trail that is very well marked, so you won’t need a trail map. Be sure to take a flashlight or headlamp if you want to explore Eden Falls cave. Most of the trail is super easy, but parts of it are rock and can get kind of slippery. So hiking boots or tennis shoes are recommended. Pets are not allowed here, so dog owners should be prepared for that.
Back to Cold Weather Hiking…
If you are a warm-weather person like me, don’t let the cold keep you inside. It’s really not bad once you get out there and get going. All you have to do is layer up and wear a hat to lock in the body heat. You might be surprised how warm you get when you start moving around. The best part is that there are no snakes, no bugs or ticks, and the trails are not overgrown with vegetation. And there’s usually less people out there. Give it a try sometime. And remember to take nothing but pictures, and leaving nothing but footprints. Thanks!
(click to enlarge images)
