Here’s The Perfect Weekend Itinerary If You Love Exploring Arkansas’s Waterfalls
Ready to gas up the car and set off on an adventure? The adventure below is an itinerary for a weekend waterfall trip that will take you to some of the most gorgeous waterfalls in the Natural State, and you should go ahead and pencil it in because it’s spectacular. I’m going to give you some important advice about it: plan for a weekend after a good amount of rain has fallen. These places are extra-extraordinary after a good rain, even if that means the hike to view them is a little muddy. Grab some snacks and your best road trip buddy, because you’re going to want someone to go with you on this road trip to some of the best Arkansas waterfalls.
You can find your itinerary in this Google Maps link.
You’re going to be doing a lot of walking around on this adventure, so let’s start off with a little relaxation. You can recharge your batteries at Longbow Resort, and enjoy a waterfall from the Longbow Cabin. That's right, the waterfall is so close you can enjoy it from inside the cabin. You'll need to be a visitor to the resort to enjoy this one.
Longbow Resort, 4349 Prim Rd, Edgemont, AR 72044, USA
We’re having a bit of a drive to get to Petit Jean State Park, as it will take you about an hour and forty-five minutes to get there. After your long Friday night of relaxation, you’ll want to stretch your legs a bit and hike to one of the most photographed waterfalls in Arkansas. Cedar Falls plummets 95 feet and it’s a stunning feature of Petit Jean Mountain that you don’t want to miss. You’ll find the trail at Petit Jean State Park.
1285 Petit Jean Mountain Rd, Morrilton, AR 72110, USA
The next stop on this road trip to see some of the best falls in Arkansas is Haw Creek Falls. Located at Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area, there are several waterfalls found here.
Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area, Hagarville, AR 72839, USA
As you can see, Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area is where you can find three waterfalls all within walking distance of each other. If you’re interested in calling it a day here, that’s cool too, because there's a campground right near Haw Creek Falls. Haw Creek Falls Recreation area is near Hagarville. You’ll find directions in your itinerary. If you don’t want to camp out, just hold on for a few more hours. We’re headed to a lodge.
Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area, Hagarville, AR 72839, USA
From Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area it’s about an hour to one of the best waterfalls in Arkansas. The unique look of Glory Hole Falls makes it a spectacular place to visit, but I’ve got practical advice about it: if it hasn’t rained immediately before your visit to Glory Hole Falls, don’t go. Without rain, you’ll be looking up at a pretty cool, but probably boring, hole in the rock. Glory Hole Falls is located on Highway 16 near Fallsville and Huntington.
Ready for a rest after a full day of adventure? Great, because you’re going to want to relax once you reach cushy Azalea Falls Lodge on AR-21 in Kingston. This gorgeous, inviting lodge will allow you to rest up for the next day’s edition of your waterfall extravaganza. Perhaps the best part is that you can see nearby Azalea Falls during your stay.
Azalea Falls Lodge, H.C. 65, Box 140, Kingston, AR 72742, USA
Next up we’re headed to Triple Falls, which is sometimes called Twin Falls (because unless it’s been raining a good deal, Triple Falls is a twin fall). On the sign, you’ll find "Twin Falls," so do remember that. This gorgeous waterfall is located in the Buffalo National River area near Camp Orr, which is near Harrison. The hike to these falls in Arkansas is a pretty quick and super enjoyable walk.
I hope you’re well rested and up for a challenge. To get to Hemmed-In-Hollow Falls you’re going to have to hike anywhere between three and a half and five miles one way, so if you’re not up for that much adventure, maybe just pass this one on by. If you do choose to include this Arkansas waterfall on your journey, you won’t be disappointed. It’s the tallest waterfall between the Appalachians and the Rockies. The state of Arkansas recommends you ask an outfitter in Ponca for directions, so be warned it’s a bit of a journey.
Hemmed-In Hollow Falls, Compton, AR 72624, USA
8. Arkansas’s Waterfall Paradise (Richland Creek Wilderness Area)
There's nothing funny about the scenic beauty of Fuzzybutt Falls.
You’ll get to rest your legs a bit for this part of the trip on your nearly two-hour drive, and you’ll need that rest if you’ve chosen to do the Hemmed-In-Hollow Falls portion of the journey. There’s a good bit of walking at Richland Creek Wilderness Area, too. That’s because the Richland Creek Wilderness Area is Arkansas’s very own waterfall paradise. You’re going to find a lot of waterfalls in that one area, and they’re all exquisite. You can read a pretty decent (if I do say so myself) guide to the Richland Creek area falls in Arkansas Please remember to pack plenty of supplies, as this one is a wilderness and therefore very rugged.
Sylamore Ranger District Office, 1001 E Main St, Mountain View, AR 72560, USA
What do you think of our road trip to some of the best Arkansas waterfalls? Let us know in the comments below!
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Arkansas Waterfalls
December 19, 2020
Jackie Ann
Should I go hiking in winter in Arkansas?
Hiking in winter in Arkansas can be quite wonderful. While our trails are beautiful year-round, there’s something magical about wandering through a trail freshly blanketed in snow. In Jasper, there's the Triple Falls Trail, a great trail that features multiple waterfalls that may have icicles coming in the winter. In Ponca. there's the Hawksbill Crag, one of the most beautiful scenic views around.
What are the most picturesque hiking trails in Arkansas?
Some of the most picturesque hiking trails in Arkansas include the following:
Indian Creek Trail in Jasper
Fossil Flats in Devil’s Den State Park
Eagle Rock Loop in Langley, Arkansas.
Which hikes in Arkansas are short and sweet?
Some of the best short and sweet hikes in Arkansas are:
The Cedar Falls Trail in Petit Jean State Park. It's just under two miles and offers a stunning view of Cedar Falls.
For a tree-top view, head over to Mount Magazine State Park and hike the Signal Hill Trail. The trail is just shy of two miles and at the top, you’ll be standing at the highest point in Arkansas, 2,753 miles up.
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J.B. Weisenfels has lived in rural Arkansas for three decades. She is a writer, a mom, and a graduate student. She is also an avid collector of tacky fish whatnots, slightly chipped teapots, and other old things. In her spare time she enjoys driving to the nearest creek to sit a while. If you were to visit her, she'd try to feed you cornbread.
