For a refreshing trek in the woods, head to the forest next to the Upper District of the Buffalo National River. There, you’ll find Balanced Rock Falls Trail and it’s truly one-of-a-kind! This short, but sweet hike through the Boxley Valley, will entice nature lovers in the best of ways. Let’s head to this off-the-beaten-path trail in Arkansas to get (safely) lost in the woods and away from it all.

The Buffalo National River has no shortage of sights to see and trails to hike. Today's trail is one of our favorites in the area.
AllTrails/Carol Carson
Balanced Rock Falls is in the middle of Boxley Valley, in the Upper District of the Buffalo. The trailhead begins just on the other side of the Ponca Low-Water Bridge. Take the trail by itself or add it to a float trip on the river! Use this map for directions to the trail.

Address: Jasper, AR 72641
There are quite a few trails in the area so be sure to take the correct one.
AllTrails/Carol Carson
To the right of this sign, you'll see the path for the Buffalo River Trail - this is not the trail to take. The trail for Balanced Rock is difficult to see but it's between the sign and the Buffalo River Trail. The brush will quickly open up to Ponca Creek.

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Ponca Creek is a completely enchanting path through the woods.
AllTrails/Carol Carson
The shaded trail makes for quite a refreshing hike. The out-and-back trek to Balanced Rock Falls is about a mile. This trail is not marked but is easy to navigate since you're just following the creek. Keep an eye out for small hikers, the rocks around the creek can be slippery.
This beautiful and unique rock formation is such a hidden treasure in the woods.
balanced rock falls arkansas
Jennifer Bowen/AllTrails
Keep an eye out for a spur of the creek on the left side of the trail. This leads uphill to Balanced Rock Falls. Following the GPS map on AllTrails makes this gem less hidden but still just as breathtaking.
Balanced Rock Falls is definitely the highlight of the trail but it's not the only thing to see.
AllTrails/Carol Carson
Depending on the rain, multiple waterfalls will be scattered throughout the creek. This particular one is on the other side of one of the larger pools of the creek. Even with the creek being fairly dry, this pool is about chest-high so do be careful wading through!

After chasing after waterfalls and seeing the Balanced Rock, simply follow the creek back to return to the Buffalo National River.

Wanna glimpse into this unique Arkansas waterfall? Check out this YouTube video by Zach Hollenbaugh highlighting some cool scenes in the area. 

Have you made it to Balanced Rock Falls? We would love to see your trail photos 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.

Also, before you hit the trails, check out our ultimate hiking packing list for all your hiking essentials. It features some really cool stuff that will make your hiking adventure easy breezy.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

WATERFALLS IN ARKANSAS & RELATED INFO

Melanie J. | July 12, 2023

What are the best waterfalls in Arkansas?

Aside from Balanced Rock Falls, there are lots of Arkansas waterfalls that are worth exploring. Here are some of the best waterfalls in Arkansas that are worthy of your bucket list:

  • Falling Water Falls, Sand Gap
  • Hemmed-In Hollow Falls, Compton
  • Pam's Grotto, Hagarville
  • Glory Hole Falls, near Deer
  • Cedar Falls, Morrilton
  • Short Grotto Falls, Oark
  • Car Wash Falls, Hagarville
  • Mirror Lake Falls, Fifty-Six
  • Six Finger Falls, Pelsor
  • Kings River Falls, Witter


Be sure to read this previous article to discover more about the best waterfalls in Arkansas.

What are the best hiking trails in Arkansas?

When it comes to hiking trails in Arkansas, the possibilities are endless! But here are some of my favorites that you should visit for yourself:

  • Lost Valley Trail, near Ponca
  • Indian Rockhouse Nature Trail, near Yellville
  • Whitaker's Point (Hawksbill Crag), Kingston
  • North Rim Trail (Mount Magazine State Park), Paris
  • Goat Trail (Buffalo Wilderness Area), Ponca
  • Yellow Rock Trail (Devil’s Den State Park), Winslow
  • Seven Hollows Trail (Petit Jean State Park), Morrilton


Of course, there are so many more incredible trails that you must explore, so be sure to read our previous article with more of the best hiking trails in Arkansas.

What are the best state parks in Arkansas?

If you’re searching for outdoor adventure, then you must visit the state parks in Arkansas. Luckily, there are 52 state parks in the Natural State so there is plenty to choose from. But here are the best state parks in Arkansas that I personally recommend:

  • Lake Ouachita State Park, Mountain Pine
  • Mount Magazine State Park, Paris
  • DeGray Lake Resort State Park, Bismarck
  • Petit Jean State Park, Morrilton
  • Mount Nebo State Park, Dardanelle
  • Devil's Den State Park, Winslow
  • Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area, Rogers
  • Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs
  • Village Creek State Park, Wynne
  • Queen Wilhelmina State Park, Mena


If you would like to read more about these parks, check out our article highlighting the best state parks in Arkansas.

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Featured Addresses
Balanced Rock Falls Trailhead, Buffalo River Trail, Jasper, AR 72641, USA