Did you know that the highest waterfall between the Appalachians and the Rocky Mountains is located right here in Arkansas? Yep, that’s right. Hemmed in Hollow, located on the Buffalo National River, is 209 feet tall. That makes it the highest waterfall in Mid-America, according the National Park Service. From the regular trail head it’s a pretty tough hike. It starts in the hills above the top of the falls and ends at the bottom of the falls. So the steep uphill hike out of there is the difficult part. But for anyone that’s physically unable to do this hike, I have good news. You can access Hemmed in Hollow Falls via the Buffalo River and it’s a very short, easy hike.
OK, so if you thought I was going to tell you about some special elevator, zip line or something, I’m sorry. Nope, the alternative to the difficult hike is to float the Buffalo and take the short trail from the river. Altogether, it’s not an easier endeavor than hiking from the trail head. For this you’ll need to own or rent a kayak, canoe, or raft, and arrange a shuttle at the put-in or take-out point. But if you’re willing and able to do that, the hike itself is much easier. Another option is to hike from Kyle’s Landing (3 miles) and then cross the river. But for this article, I’m focusing on hiking from the river.
Directions
First, you’ll have to plan a float trip. But not just any float trip, and not just any time. You’ll have to float from either Ponca or Steel Creek to Kyle’s Landing on the upper Buffalo. This means you can only access this route when the upper Buffalo is floatable. To learn how to plan this float, click here. For a shorter float, start at Steel Creek access.
Once you’re on the water, all you have to do is find the trail from the river. The trail is on the north bank of the river in the middle of Horseshoe Bend. I’ve included a Google map of this area below. Tip: in Google Maps, you can actually see the “street view” of the river. Do this by dragging the little orange stickman figure in the bottom right corner to any spot on the river that turns blue. I recommend studying the map in street view so you’ll recognize the spot when you see it. Also, there are usually several canoes or kayaks parked on the bank where the trail starts. Look for signs to the falls nailed to several trees.
What to Expect
I recently made this short hike while floating the Buffalo. I have floated this section of river a few times, but this was the first time I had stopped to see the falls. It’s a really pretty hike that only takes about 15 minutes each way. It is very well marked and follows the creek which flows from the falls down into the Buffalo River. The creek forms several other smaller waterfalls along the way that can be seen from the trail. There is a slight bit of up-and-down elevation change on the trail, but nothing too strenuous. You may need to cross the creek a couple of times. But coming from the river, you should already have water shoes on.
Upon arriving at the falls, you’ll be greeted by a 209 ft bluff that goes straight up. The U-shaped bluffs form a canyon around the falls and creek, hence the name “Hemmed in Hollow”. It’s a spectacular sight for sure. It’s one of those places you’ll keep taking the same picture over and over again, trying to get the perfect shot. But none of them ever do it justice, like most other scenic wonders. It’s a great place to have lunch, stand under the falls, or just sit and hang out a while.
Plan Your Trip
To access Hemmed in Hollow Falls via the Buffalo River, all the planning is in the float trip to get there. Once again, I have a whole article dedicated to that part. Please go here to learn how to plan that float. Aside from that, make sure you have some water shoes that you can stand to hike in a half-mile each way. And whatever you do, don’t forget your phone or camera. You’re going to want some pictures! Speaking of phones, you will not have cell service anywhere near this section of the Buffalo. So download the map and any of this info you think you need.
Please be prepared to pack out any trash you have. The river and this waterfall get a ton of visitors from Spring till Fall. We must all do our part to leave no trace and take care of this treasure. So take only pictures and leave only footprints. Good luck. Hope you enjoy the river and this hike.
