#Ouachitawaterfalls
Hiking Cossatot Falls
Because we have so many fantastic State Parks in Arkansas, I think some of them don’t quite get the attention they deserve. We are truly fortunate here to have such amazing State Parks like Petit Jean , Devil’s Den, Mt Magazine, Mt. Nebo, Hobbs, and others. While those parks tend to draw the most visitors, others, like Cossatot State Park, sometimes get lost in the shuffle. And if you’ve never been hiking Cossatot Falls at Cossatot River State Park, you’re missing out on one of the most impressive natural sights in the state. When most people think of the word “Cossatot”, they think of the Cossatot River and it’s Class IV whitewater sections. Most people – including me – are not equipped or skilled enough to paddle these sections, so th...
Forked Mountain Falls in the Flatside Wilderness
In the northeast corner of the Ouachita Mountain region lies the Flatside Wilderness area. It is an area that’s relatively less explored and often overlooked. I think this may be because exploring this area requires a LOT of dirt road driving, which may turn some folks away. Personally, I like driving those dirt roads. I think another reason is that people mostly hear about the beautiful scenery and waterfalls in the Ozarks, because it’s the most popular area. Hey, I get it – the Ozarks are still my favorite too. But there is also great scenery – including waterfalls – in the Ouachitas. One of those is Forked Mountain Falls in the Flatside Wilderness area. Forked Mountain can be seen from many different places while driving through the Flatside Wilderness area...
Hike to Winding Stairs on Eagle Rock Loop
I continue to be blown away by the natural beauty in our state. Just when I think I’ve seen the prettiest hike in Arkansas, I eventually go on another one that changes my mind. The hike to Winding Stairs on the Eagle Rock Loop Trail in the Ouachitas is the latest one. I’ll admit that I have not given enough attention to the Ouachita Mountain region so far. Sometimes I get in the habit of heading straight to the Ozarks for hiking waterfalls and paddling rivers. But there are areas of the Ouachitas that are just as great and in my opinion, very underrated. This area around the Eagle Rock Loop is right up there with some of the best spots in the Ozarks. Many people have gotten confused and lost trying to follow this trail. Unless you download a map, it can be easy to get off the t...
Little Missouri Falls in the Ouachitas
Spring is finally here and lots of people are looking for information on waterfalls. There are a ton of great waterfalls in the state, but Little Missouri Falls in the Ouachitas is one of my favorites. I have only been there once, but I liked it so much it’s on my list for a return visit. It was not my planned destination that day. I just kind of ended up there on a day I was out “adventuring”, as I like to call it. Adventuring is when I hop in the car and go exploring with no set destination. I just take off driving to see what I can find. On this particular adventure day, I wanted to explore the area west of Lake Ouachita, with Little Missouri Falls as the fallback plan. I headed west down Highway 270 toward Mt. Ida so I could pick up lunch from Burl’s Smokehouse ...
Falls Creek Falls at Lake Catherine
I have seen several people on social media ask where to see waterfalls close to Central Arkansas. Some have specifically asked about “the waterfalls close to Malvern/Hot Springs/Lake Catherine”. They would be referring to Falls Creek Falls at Lake Catherine State Park. For anyone that’s asked or has wondered the same thing, this post is for you. I actually hiked to Falls Creek Falls at Lake Catherine years ago. But I recently made a return trip to refresh my memory and get new pics. The things I do for my readers. (Me, pretending to have readers, lol). Wow, I had forgotten what a great hiking spot this is! Why? Keep reading and I’ll tell you all about it. But first… Directions Where is it? It’s very easy to find. The trail system is located in Lake Cathe...
Hiking the Mt Nebo Rim Trail
The weather in Arkansas has been perfect lately for hiking. There’s been just enough rain to keep most of the waterfalls flowing. But also lots of sunny days for those great vista view hikes. I love a hike that has both. A great one for that – one of my old favorites – is the Mt Nebo Rim Trail. Mt Nebo is a popular Arkansas State Park near Dardanelle in the Arkansas River Valley. They have quite a few different trails to hike or mountain bike. You’ll pass several trailheads as you drive to the top. Most of the State Park’s facilities are at the top of the mountain. This includes the visitor center, swimming pool, campground, and cabins. There are also some nice private homes and cabins up there. The whole park can be seen by car, from Sunrise Point to Sunset P...
Petit Jean State Park – Cedar Creek Trail
Welcome to Part Four of the Petit Jean State Park hiking series, the Cedar Creek Trail. Petit Jean is Arkansas’ first state park. It’s also one of my go-to spots when I want a spur-of-the-moment, close to home day hike. It’s great because there are so many options there. Whether you want waterfalls, vista views, caves, or cool rock formations, Petit Jean has it all. If you missed Part One, I covered the most popular hike in the park. That would the Cedar Falls Trail, with it’s massive grotto and 90-ft Waterfall. Cedar Creek is what actually creates Cedar Falls. So the trail explores areas above the falls on both sides of the creek. This is a great hike to do if you want to avoid the crowds at the Falls. Or if you’ve done the other trails and want to see someth...
Petit Jean State Park – Seven Hollows Trail
Welcome to Part Two of the Petit Jean State Park hiking series, the Seven Hollows Trail. Petit Jean is Arkansas’ first state park. It’s also one of my go-to spots when I want a spur-of-the-moment, close to home day hike. It’s great because there are so many options there. Whether you want waterfalls, vista views, caves, or cool rock formations, Petit Jean has it all. If you missed Part One, I covered the most popular hike in the park. That would the Cedar Falls Trail, with it’s massive grotto and 90-ft Waterfall. In my opinion, the Seven Hollows trail is just as impressive in it’s own way. There is actually MORE to see. It also has a grotto and waterfall. But in addition to that, you’ll see lots of impressive bluffs, a natural bridge, several caves, and ...
Petit Jean State Park – Cedar Falls Trail
You can’t have an outdoors blog in Arkansas without giving some serious attention to Petit Jean State Park. It is Arkansas’ first state park. It’s also one of my go-to spots when I want a spur-of-the-moment, close to home day hike. It’s great because there are so many options there. Whether you want waterfalls, vista views, caves, or cool rock formations, Petit Jean has it all. And that’s just the hiking part. There is also a lake, car museum, full hookup campgrounds, cabins, restaurant, and Mather Lodge. Trying to fit it all into one post will make for a really long read. So this will be another blog series. Part One – You know it has to be the flagship trail. One of the most popular trails in the state. The ever-popular… Cedar Falls Trail Petit J...
