The Iconic Trail in Arkansas Everyone Should Hike Once in Their Lifetime

If you have an hour to spare, then you have enough time to hike this iconic waterfall trail in Arkansas. Glory Hole Waterfall is beautiful and unique. This waterfall is like none you've ever visited before and it's worth the moderately challenging hike it takes to reach it.

The trail to Glory Hole Waterfall is an out-and-back trail that's a little under a mile long in each direction. Unlike many trails you'll encounter in Arkansas and elsewhere, this trail is downhill on the way out and is uphill on the way back, but it's not super tough - it only requires 400 feet of elevation gain altogether.

The trailhead for the Glory Hole Waterfall Trail is just a few miles south of Edwards Junction. The parking area is on Highway 16 and it will be on your left as you travel south. Be sure to keep an eye out for it, as it's not well-marked. Although this trail and waterfall are quite popular, you'll find plenty of parking.

The trail itself is fairly flat and wide to start out, but as it starts to descend, it will become narrower. Along your journey, you'll pass interesting rock formations. The trail can be a bit rocky, and it can also be slippery, so it's wise to wear hiking boots, and you may want a walking stick to help you with the steep scramble toward the end.

Glory Hole Waterfall is interesting and different. Instead of water cascading over a ledge, it instead descends from a hole in the rock. When it's really running hard, it looks like someone has turned on a faucet above it. If you want to be sure to see Glory Hole Waterfall in action, it's best to hike to it in the spring or fall, especially after there's been a good rain. The hike is lovely even when the waterfall is dry, but if it's the waterfall you want to see, you'll have to visit it under the proper conditions.

This waterfall is very unusual. If you decide to explore the area above the waterfall, use extreme caution, as it's easy and dangerous to slip into the water flow here. When the waterfall is dry, you can look through the circular hole from above or below and get some cool photos.

The Ozark - St. Francis National Forest is absolutely spectacular and the Glory Hole Waterfall is just one of many adventures that you can enjoy within its boundaries. This is the true heart of Arkansas and there are countless trails to explore and waterfalls to see. Start your visit to this region with a hike to Glory Hole Waterfall and you'll be inspired to dive in and see the rest of this incredible area. Have a great time!