There are several hikes in the state that have eluded me for years, for one reason or another. Trying to coordinate with friends, busy schedules, weather, float trips, social commitments – the list goes on. The Richland Falls and Twin Falls hike is one of those for me. It’s been on my to do list for quite some time. Well this spring, the planets aligned and I finally got to do it. And it was everything I hoped it would be. I usually give each waterfall its own article, but it makes sense to put these two together. It’s pretty much the same hike, with one waterfall appearing after the other on basically the same trail. If you are going to go through the trouble to see one, you might as well see them both.
I had always thought that I wanted to do this one as an overnight hike. Yes, it can be done in a day. But it’s not a short easy hike. Nor is the trail all that quick and easy to get to (at least not for me). I wanted to be able to take my time and enjoy all of it. I also thought it would be a great place to camp out in the middle of nowhere. So when my buddy David suggested we get a group together and overnight it, I was all in. David had hiked to these falls before. But he also wanted to see the Sandstone Castles (Part 2), just beyond these falls. So we decided to add that stop to our hike on Day 2. We planned our hike two weeks out, planned our gear and meals, and made it happen.
Directions
The trail head is in the Richland Creek Recreation Area, deep in the Richland Creek Wilderness. This is about 45 minutes northeast of Sand Gap, or about 30 minutes west of Witts Springs. Use the map below to map to any of those points, or map yourself directly here. Once you enter Richland Creek Rec Area, stay to the right (not the campground loop) and park in the parking area. The trail head is at the end of that road, past the gate.
This area is one of the most highly concentrated areas for waterfalls in the state. If you come in from Sand Gap, you’ll pass by the trail head for Kings Bluff Falls . As you drive down Falling Water Rd, you’ll pass right by the popular Falling Water Falls and Six Finger Falls. From Six Fingers, you can hike to Fuzzy Butt Falls. And just down the road from Six Fingers is the trail for Terry Keefe Falls.
What to Expect
This is a high-effort, but high-reward hike. Supposedly, it is only 2.5 miles to Richland Falls, and approximately 1 more mile past that to Twin Falls. That doesn’t sound very long, but if feels much longer than that. This is because the trail is curvy as it winds along following Richland Creek. It goes up and down hills and around giant boulders creating a LOT of elevation changes. There are a couple of narrow ledges to cross. And you will cross water twice before you reach Twin Falls. On our hike there was a giant tree that many have used as a bridge for the first creek crossing. But it won’t be there forever. It took us about 2-2.5 hours to reach Richland Falls, and about 30-45 more minutes to reach Twin Falls. (Note: we were carrying overnight packs). I would rate this hike as high-moderate in difficulty.
Having said all that, all of those things are totally worth it for the sights you’ll see. Richland creek with its emerald water and giant boulders is absolutely gorgeous. There are mountains and bluffs all around. And the two waterfalls are among the best in Arkansas, especially Twin Falls. It’s one photo op after another on this trail. And I got plenty of those below.
Richland Falls
As you approach the convergence of Richland Creek and Long Devil Fork, you would cross here to go straight to Twin Falls. But to see Richland Falls, follow the trail as it bends left with Richland Creek and heads uphill. After a steep uphill climb, the trail snakes along, up and down the hill for a thousand feet or so. Then it comes back down to the creek at Richland falls. This was a great spot to change shoes, grab a snack, and refill water bottles before crossing the creek.
Twin Falls
After crossing the freezing cold creek, we hung out on the rocks to take in the falls and put our dry shoes back on. Making our way to Twin Falls, the trail goes up another long steep hill. As it approaches Long Devil Fork, the trail descends back down the hill and follows Long Devil Fork all the way to Twin Falls. You will hear it and eventually see the falls up ahead of you, and they are amazing! The trail continues on to go up the left side to the top of the falls. There are some great camping spots up there, and that is where we set up camp for the night. Check out Part 2 of this hike to see our set-up and the hike up to Sandstone Castle.
Plan Your Trip
As I mentioned, this is not a quick and easy area to get to from most parts of the state. It does require some planning. For day hikes I recommend starting before 10 am if you want to have time to enjoy the falls. For overnight hikes I would start by noon. Unless you’re going with someone who has been there before, you will need a map. Remember, this area is deep in the wilderness about as far in the middle of nowhere as you can get. You will lose cell service long before you reach Richland Creek. So download or print a map before you go.
Let’s talk about gear. I would not do the Richland Falls and Twin Falls hike with anything less than sturdy hiking boots and moisture-wicking socks. I think the rocky and rugged terrain is too much for tennis shoes or sandals. Ankle-high boots with thick soles will help protect your ankles and absorb the shock. Also, you will need river shoes for the water crossings. You will not reach Twin Falls without getting your feet wet. Click here to get our full gear lists for day hikes and overnight hikes. In particular, I recommend packing a water filter and no more than two bottles. There are plenty of opportunities to filter water along the trail. And the filtered water from those creeks is nice and cold, and taste great. This will be essential for an overnight hike, as you need your pack to be light as possible on this tough hike.
I don’t think I would do this hike in the summer. I think the heat of summer will make this hike really tough. More importantly, I don’t know how much water is in those creeks during hot summer months. If I’m going to do this hike, I want to do it when Richland Creek and both falls are at their best. But if you’ve read many of my blog posts, you know I like to hike from fall through early spring and spend my summers floating. So maybe I’m biased. If you choose to do this hike in the summer, use insect repellent and try to go right after a rain. Regardless of when you choose to go, please take care of this beautiful area and leave no trace. Take only pictures, and leave only footprints.
Be sure to check out Part 2 of this hike where we camped out on Twin Falls and hiked to Sandstone Castle!
