This Less-Than-A-Mile Trail Will Take You To Two Gorgeous Arkansas Waterfalls
If you’d like to feel like a rugged Arkansas adventurer but without the commitment to traversing miles of endless trails, then it’s time to tackle the Murray and Senyard Falls Trail. The challenging, yet pleasantly short hike will quickly reward your efforts with two unbelievably beautiful waterfalls. Let’s take on this trail to see the falls.
Because of the downhill terrain, we do not recommend this trail for children. Here’s a different hike for your young waterfall chasers.
Both waterfalls can be found off of the Cherry Bend Trailhead.
Cherry Bend is part of the Ozark Highlands trail but this double waterfall hike is a short alternative to the 100+ mile trail. You'll come across Cherry Bend Recreation Area while traveling the Pig Trail, use this map for directions.
This is a short hike but unfortunately it's not the easiest.
It only takes .7 miles to reach the falls but it's a steep scramble to get there. From the Cherry Bend Recreation Area, look for the path behind the bulletin board. Turn right once you've reached the bluff to head (steeply) downhill. This will take you to the Mountain Fork Creek drainage. You'll just need to follow it downstream to reach the first waterfall.
Murrary Falls will be the first waterfall along the trail.
The 37-ft. falls is named for Dick Murray and it's pretty spectacular. The trail will take you to the top of the falls so take extra caution while continuing downhill for your photos.
You'll need to cross the creek to continue downhill, so make sure the water isn't too high before doing so. After a few yards you'll arrive at the top of Senyard Falls. Roy Senyard Falls is 29-ft. high and just as gorgeous as Murray Falls. After taking plenty of photos and a well deserved rest, follow the creek uphill to return to the rec area.
Depending on what season you take the trail, both waterfalls can be viewed at the same time!
The heavy rains of spring ensure full force waterfalls but that's not the only time to take the trail. The leaf-off seasons allows you to see both waterfalls through the trees and makes the hike easier to navigate. This is definitely a trail you'll want to come back and revisit.
For more information about navigating this steep path, read through this page.
We would love to hear about your adventure along this trail in the comments below! You can also share your photos with us in our Facebook Group, Arkansas Nature Lovers. You should join for your chance to be featured and to discover why there’s nothing better than Arkansas’ stunning nature.
Arkansas native, Carol Ann Carson, has written for OnlyInYourState for two years now. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. The graduate of University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Carol Ann earned her B.A. in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. in Library Science. She loves exploring the trails around the Buffalo National River and has yet to find a waterfall that wasn't her favorite.
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