In my last article I described how AR Hwy 7 is the road to so many treasures in the Ozarks. In case you missed it, you can catch up on that one here. Yes, Scenic Hwy 7 between Dover and Harrison, and the many roads that intersect it, lead to a myriad of great hikes. There are long hikes, short hikes, difficult hikes, easy ones, and everything in between. As you travel along this highway, you’ll likely pass right by many of these adventures and not even realize it. That was certainly true for me. So in the Fall of 2022, I caught up with a few of these by hiking to Fern Falls and Hudson Shelter Falls. And finally, I made the easy bushwhack hike to Lonesome Hollow Falls
Along the same road as Lonesome Hollow Falls lies a bushwhack hike along Cub Creek with multiple waterfalls. And to the east of that, closer to Hwy 7, is Cub Hollow with several more falls. I didn’t do those on this trip because they are longer hikes, and tougher bushwhacks. And it was too late in the day, so I saved those for another trip.
Quick Glance
Distance: Approximately 0.8 miles out and back
Difficulty: Moderate
Parking Coordinates: 35.80649, -93.15762
Bluffline Break: 35.80367, -93.15881
Lonesome Hollow Falls: 35.80478, -93.16004
GPS Track: Click Here
(Copy/Paste Coordinates into GPS or Google Maps search bar)
Directions
On Hwy 7 between Jasper and Sand Gap/Pelsor, look for Old Hwy 7 (aka CR 7120) on the west side of the highway. It is 10.5 miles north of Sand Gap and about 17.5 miles south of Jasper. Once you turn on Old Hwy 7 (aka CR 7120), take the first left on City Rd 302/Davis Ridge Rd. At the next fork, stay left on Co Rd 427/Taylor Ridge Rd. Continue for 0.4 miles. Look for a short pull-off that is blocked off with a dirt berm. Park there. The parking area is marked in the Google map below. From there, walk over the berm onto the ATV trail and the hike starts there. See video below.
What to Expect
The Hike
The hike to Lonesome Hollow Falls is 0.8 miles total, out and back. The first half of the hike is on an old ATV trail. It obviously hasn’t been used for that in a long time, but it’s still clear enough to follow. The ATV trail leads down the hill into the hollow where you’ll eventually find a bluffline break on the right. I have the coordinates for this spot listed above in the Quick Glance, and marked in my GPX track. I also highlight this in my video below. It is not all that obvious, so I recommend downloading that track or saving the coordinates in your map. From that point, you drop down to the base of the bluffs and it’s a bushwhack hike from there. Follow the bluffline all the way to the falls.
Don’t let the word “bushwhack” scare you away from this one. I know that term can elicit visions of hacking away at jungle vegetation with a machete. But in hiking terms, that’s not what it means. It simply means there is not a trail. In some cases, a bushwhack hike can include lots of vegetation overgrowth and difficult conditions. But this hike is EASY as far as bushwacks go. There is no trail, but the vegetation growth is low and it’s not difficult to traverse. You can see this for yourself in the video below.
Overall, I would rate the hike to Lonesome Hollow as moderate. It is short, and the first half is easy. The second half is an easy bushwhack, and then it’s all uphill coming back out of the hollow. It is a little tiresome on the hike back, but not that difficult. In fact, I almost want to give it an overall rating of Easy. But for some people, the bushwhack and uphill return might be more moderate. Anyone with full mobility should be able to do the hike to Lonesome Hollow Falls in under an hour.
Lonesome Hollow Falls
Right before dropping into the hollow at the bluffline break, you get a nice view of the Lonesome Hollow valley to the left. The bluffs leading up to the falls are quite impressive too. I took the low route first as I approached the falls so I could come in from the creek drainage below. From there, you get great views of the massive bluff walls that flank the waterfall on both sides. With good balance and rock-hopping skill, you can maneuver all the way up to bottom of the falls. Backing out of there, you can also scramble up the hill on the right side of the fall. There is a second level there, right against the base of the bluffs. You’ll find another great view of the falls from there.
Plan Your Trip
The hike to Lonesome Hollow Falls can be done in less than an hour, not counting time spent hanging out at the falls. It is a dog-friendly trail and safe for kids. Cell service is spotty here but it does exist. There are no restrooms close by and no trash cans, so be prepared to pack out any trash you might have and leave no trace. If you are looking for nice quiet place to hang out with no other people around, this is it. Bring a hammock and enjoy the solitude.
Since the hike to Lonesome Hollow Falls is a short one, you might want to pair it with one or two other hikes to fill out your day. There are several other hikes close by to choose from. My recommendation would be to start with Fern Falls, which is on the west side of Hwy 7, just 13.5 miles north of the road to Lonesome Hollow. Then I would work my way down to Hudson Shelter Falls just a half-mile north of the road to Lonesome Hollow, off Hwy 7. Another option would be the Big Creek Cave Falls hike. The road to Big Creek Cave Falls is just 9 miles north of the road to Lonesome Hollow, off Hwy 7. It’s a little bit longer hike (4 miles), but both could be done in a day if you start early. There are many other hikes in the area, but these are the closest and easiest. If you’re felling adventurous, you might take on the Cub Creek and Cub Hollow hikes that are on the same road. Whatever you choose, I hope you enjoy the hike!
