#moderatehike
Hike to Hobo Falls on the OHT
The Ozark Mountains, renowned for their rolling hills, deep valleys, and hidden waterfalls, offer a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Winding through this scenic landscape is the Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT), a designated National Recreation Trail, and a gem of Ozarks. Starting at Lake Fort Smith, this long distance trail winds through the heart of the Ozark National Forest for over 200 miles. This scenic route is known for its diverse terrain, from gentle valleys and meandering streams to challenging climbs and breathtaking vistas. And while it may be a thru-hiker’s dream, the OHT is divided into sections that offer numerous day hiking options. One of those options is the hike to Hobo Falls on the OHT. I’ve had the hike to Hobo Falls on my to-do list for several years. And long be...
Hike to Ladderbucket Falls and John Mountain Falls
Tucked away in the rolling hills and verdant valleys of the southern Ozarks, lies a tiny mountaintop community aptly named Lost Corner. As it’s name implies, it is an area that many people don’t know much about, if they even know it exists at all. You will not find any stores, shops, restaurants, or many signs of civilization at Lost Corner. But what you will find is a remote wilderness area rich with streams, bluffs, steep ravines, and wildlife. It’s an area I visit several times a year for it’s seemingly endless options for waterfall hikes. My most recent trip would include the hike to Ladderbucket Falls and John Mountain Falls. For this hike, my good buddy David and I would team up once again with Gez Rogers and Super Leeds of Waterfalls in Arkansas. Gez is the c...
The Arkansas Sphinx: A Natural Wonder in the Ozarks
Nestled in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, lies a natural wonder known locally as the Arkansas Sphinx. This sandstone monolith rises 20 feet above its perch near the top of Hess Knob. Its profile bears a resemblance to the iconic sphinx of ancient Egypt. Measuring approximately 20-30 feet tall and just as wide, the Arkansas Sphinx is believed to have been formed over millions of years through erosion. Wind, water, and ice carved away at the softer rock layers, leaving behind the Sphinx-like profile in the sandstone that we see today. Standing tall and proud, the Arkansas Sphinx offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. This popular destination for hikers, photographers, and nature enthusiasts stands as a testament to the power of nature’s artistry. This natura...
Steel Creek Overlook Hike on the Buffalo River Trail
The Steel Creek Overlook hike is a popular hiking spot along the Buffalo River Trail near Ponca, AR. The Western Section of the Buffalo River Trail (BRT) winds its way along the Upper Buffalo River for 37 miles from Boxley to Pruitt. It offers stunning views of the river, as well as access to a variety of other natural attractions, including waterfalls, caves, and bluffs. Along the way are six different trail heads to access different sections of the BRT. Steel Creek to Kyles Landing is one of these sections. It’s an 8.2-mile hike from Steel Creek to Kyle’s Landing. For many people this might be a bit much, especially for a day hike. But the Steel Creek Overlook hike only involves the first 1.5 miles of this section, and is not that difficult. The rewarding views are definitely...
Hiking and Mountain Biking at Blue Mountain Natural Area
To the west of Little Rock lies the Maumelle Pinnacles chain of mountain peaks. These peaks somewhat mark the eastern gateway to the Ouachita Mountains. The Maumelle Pinnacles consist of three peaks: Pinnacle Mountain, Rattlesnake Ridge, and Blue Mountain. Pinnacle Mountain has been one of Arkansas’ most visited state parks for decades. And since opening in 2018, Rattlesnake Ridge has become a popular outdoors spot for folks seeking to avoid the Pinnacle crowds. Both of those locations offer excellent hiking and mountain bike trails. And in June of 2023, the third and final peak in the chain was opened to the public. Thanks to the Nature Conservancy and Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, we now have hiking and mountain biking at Blue Mountain Natural Area. Directions On Hwy 10 wes...
Harris Creek Trail Hike at the Cossatot River
I spent most of my adult life thinking the Cossatot River was so far away from my home in Central Arkansas. I also spent most of that time thinking that Cossatot River State Park was only a destination for whitewater paddlers. It turns out that neither of those things are true, as I found out in 2021. In my first visit to the park, I went to Cossatot Falls to watch the kayakers take on the Class IV whitewater. And while I didn’t see any paddlers hit the “Skull Crusher” that day, I did find a pretty great hiking area. I didn’t give myself enough time that day to explore all the trails there. But I saw enough to know I had to make a return trip to do the Harris Creek Trail hike. The Harris Creek Trail at Cossatot River State Park is one of the four main hiking trails ...
Tea Kettle Falls Hike (with Reynolds Hollow Falls)
Tea Kettle Falls is one of the more well-known and unique waterfalls in Arkansas. The base of the waterfall is a massive grotto style bluff that is quite an impressive sight on it’s own. The creek flowing over the top of the bluff has carved a hole in the rock at the top of it. Much like Glory Hole Falls, the water drops through this hole before ever making it to the edge of the bluff. But where the hole at Glory Hole falls drops straight down through the bluff, Tea Kettle is different. Instead of the hole coming out the bottom, it re-routes horizontally, shooting the water out the side of the bluff. This rock formation resembles the spout of a kettle, which is how Tea Kettle Falls gets its name. I’ve wanted to do the Tea Kettle Falls hike for quite a while, and finally got the...
Hike to Iris Falls Near Lost Corner
The hike to Iris Falls is one that should be on every Arkansas waterfall hunters list. It is one of the many waterfalls you will find in the Lost Corner area, northwest of Morrilton. In fact, it is only about a quarter of a mile down the road from the parking area to Lizard Log Falls. If you have the Tim Ernst waterfall book, he describes this as a 7-mile hike. But that is if you want to see all of the waterfalls along Brock Creek Trail 23. If you want to see each one individually, there certainly are ways to do that. I have previously written articles on Schoolhouse Falls and Lizard Log Falls along Brock Creek Trail 23. I still have Voices Falls and Whiskey Chute Falls left to do in this group. As for the hike to Iris Falls, here is the approach I believe most peo...
Hiking to Lizard Log Falls Near Lost Corner
The Brock Creek Trail Area and other hollows near Lost Corner are a waterfall hunter’s paradise. This area is well-documented by waterfall pioneers like Tim Ernst and the late Rick Henry, among others. A look at the Waterfalls in Arkansas map will show you just how chock full of waterfalls this place is. Some of these waterfalls – like Schoolhouse Falls – can be accessed via easy hiking trails. Others, like Brushy Grotto Falls and Green Grotto Falls involve some trail and some bushwhack hiking. Many of them have multiple ways you can reach the falls. Hiking to Lizard Log Falls is one of those. Lizard Log Falls is a hike that I attempted to do two years before this writing. I got a little confused that day because the GPS track I had saved did not jive ...
Native American Falls Hike Near Sand Gap
I have written several articles recently about some of the hiking gems that can be found along AR Hwy 7. Waterfall hikes like Fern Falls, Hudson Shelter Falls, and Lonesome Hollow are just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more of those yet to go. Some of them are longer hikes, some are more difficult bushwhacks, and some are further off Hwy 7. I’ll try to eventually include as many as I can here. As for the more popular hikes closer to Hwy 7, the next on our list is the Native American Falls hike near Sand Gap. Much like Fern Falls, the parking location for Native American Falls is right on Hwy 7. There are no gravel roads to travel or complicated directions. It’s simply a dirt parking area off the highway, just south of the Hwy 16 intersection at Sand...
Armadillo Falls and Eden Cave at Lost Valley
Boxley Valley is one of the most iconic areas of the Ozarks. This scenic spot near Ponca attracts thousands of visitors per year to view the elk herds and hike the Upper Buffalo area. And that doesn’t even count the thousands of Buffalo River paddlers each Spring. This area has an abundance of fantastic hiking destinations for hikers to choose from. One of the most popular is an area tucked away in a hollow of Boxley known as Lost Valley. Anyone that has hiked much around the Upper Buffalo has likely hiked to Eden Falls at Lost Valley. But not everyone knows about Armadillo Falls and Eden Cave. The main attractions at Lost Valley are undoubtedly Eden Falls, Cobb Cave, and the Natural Bridge. I’ll admit, the first time I visited Lost Valley, I didn’t know there was anythin...
Easy Bushwhack Hike to Lonesome Hollow Falls
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 th...
