NWA Today

Day trips · best after a good rain · checked October 8, 2026

Waterfall hikes near Northwest Arkansas

Where to hike to waterfalls from Fayetteville and Bentonville: Lost Valley and Hemmed-in Hollow on the Buffalo National River, Hawksbill Crag in the Ozark National Forest, Glory Hole, two state natural areas, Devil's Den, and Oklahoma's Natural Falls. Lengths and rules come from the agency that runs each trail. These falls run on rain. Arkansas Tourism calls March–May one of the best times, and the Park Service says Hemmed-in Hollow only flows after considerable rain. On Aug 28 the Forest Service warned of heat and a lack of rain, so expect thin falls this fall until a good soaking.

Orange pins and badges are open this weekend, from each place's posted schedule.

The essentials

Buffalo National River (Lost Valley, Hemmed-in Hollow)

Fees
No entry fee and no day-use fee, and no reservations needed for Lost Valley or Hemmed-in Hollow.
Dogs
Not on Lost Valley, and not anywhere in the Ponca Wilderness (Hemmed-in Hollow, Centerpoint). Dogs are allowed only on the Buffalo River Trail between Ponca and Steel Creek, Villines Homestead, Mill Creek, and the Tyler Bend and Buffalo Point campground trails. Service animals are allowed.
Cell service
Unreliable in the park, and GPS has sent visitors down the wrong dirt roads. Leave your plan with someone at home. The park's 24-hour dispatch is 1-888-692-1162.
Bluffs
Stay on the trail and don't get close to the edge; the Park Service warns that bluff rock can crumble. No glass within 100 feet of any water.
Hunting season
Hunting is allowed in most of the park's backcountry. The Park Service suggests blaze orange for hikers during the season.
Elk on the way
The easiest place to see elk is the six miles of Hwy 43 and Hwy 21 through Boxley Valley, best in October and November (the rut), around sunrise and sunset. Pull completely off the road and keep your distance.

Source: nps.gov

Hawksbill Crag / Whitaker Point (Ozark National Forest)

Trail
1.5 miles with steep cliffs, per the Forest Service's 2026 recreation schedule (it doesn't say whether that's each way). It's the only designated trail in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness: developed but unmarked.
Trailhead
Listed as open, 24 hours a day, free. No restroom and no drinking water, so bring your own.
Getting there
Newton County Road 5 (Cave Mountain Road) leaves Hwy 21 in Boxley Valley; the Park Service notes the trailhead can also be reached on gravel roads from Hwy 16.
Wilderness rules
Wagons, carts and other mechanized vehicles (bikes included) aren't allowed in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness (Forest Order through Dec 31, 2026).
Fire danger
The Forest Service has warned of high wildfire risk since Aug 28. Check the forest's alerts and county burn bans before you go.

Source: fs.usda.gov

Buffalo National River trails

Run by the National Park Service, near Ponca. Floating the same stretch is in our float-trips guide.

  • Family-friendly

    Waterfall hike, easy to moderate, about 2 hours

    Lost Valley Trail (Eden Falls)

    Lost Valley Trailhead, off Hwy 43 south of Ponca by Boxley Valley (follow the signs; the dirt road ends at the trailhead)

    When:
    Year-round, day use only
    Hours:
    Day use only
    Admission:
    Free (no entry or day-use fee)
    What's there:
    Natural Bridge (an 8-ft fall pouring out of a hole in the bluff), Cob Cave's 200-ft bluff shelter, then 53-ft Eden Falls about a mile in. A steep spur climbs to Eden Falls Cave, where a 25-ft fall runs inside; the park's January 2026 cave page lists it as open, but an older NPS safety page says park caves are closed for white-nose syndrome, so check with the park (870-439-2502) before going in. Crawling in takes three light sources. The Park Service calls this one of its most frequent search-and-rescue spots because of slippery rock and cliffs. Restrooms and drinking water at the trailhead. No dogs.
    Ages:
    Kid-friendly per the Park Service; the spur to the top of Eden Falls is rugged and steep

    Official site & tickets →Directions

  • Strenuous wilderness hike, 4–6 hours

    Hemmed-in Hollow Falls

    Compton Trailhead: Hwy 43 to Compton, then 1 mile down the dirt road across from the Compton Post Office

    When:
    Year-round; the falls only flow after considerable rain
    Admission:
    Free
    What's there:
    A waterfall of nearly 210 feet, which the Park Service calls the highest between the Rockies and the Appalachians. About 5 miles round trip; the 2.5-mile climb back out gains roughly 1,200–1,400 feet (the Park Service's pages differ). It's the park's most frequent search-and-rescue location. Bring at least 2 liters of water, salty snacks, a topo map and a light if you start after noon. Follow the white "HIH" blazes, since the Sneeds Creek Trail starts at the same lot. No restroom at the trailhead. No dogs.
    Ages:
    12+ (the Park Service doesn't recommend it for younger kids)

    Official site & tickets →Directions

  • Strenuous blufftop hike, a full day (no waterfall)

    Centerpoint Trail to Big Bluff (Goat Trail)

    Centerpoint Trailhead, Hwy 43

    When:
    Year-round
    Admission:
    Free
    What's there:
    About 5 miles round trip with 800 feet of climbing on the way back, per the Park Service, to the Goat Trail along the face of Big Bluff. The Park Service calls the Goat Trail narrow and dangerous. Centerpoint is also the less strenuous way to Hemmed-in Hollow, though it's still a full day. No dogs in the Ponca Wilderness.

    Official site & tickets →Directions

Hawksbill Crag & the falls off Hwys 16 and 21

Forest Service land and state natural areas south and west of Boxley Valley. Expect dirt county roads.

  • Clifftop hike, 1.5 miles (Forest Service)

    Hawksbill Crag (Whitaker Point)

    Whitaker Point (Hawksbill Crag) Trailhead, Upper Buffalo Wilderness, via Cave Mountain Road from Hwy 21

    When:
    Year-round, open 24 hours
    Hours:
    Open 24 hours
    Admission:
    Free
    What's there:
    The sandstone crag that juts out over the Upper Buffalo Wilderness. It's a view hike, not a waterfall hike. The Forest Service lists steep cliffs, and the trail is unmarked. No restroom or water at the trailhead. The Forest Service page doesn't post a pet rule.

    Official site & tickets →Directions

  • Waterfall through a hole in a bluff roof, 2 miles round trip

    Glory Hole Falls

    A small pull-off on AR 21 south of Boxley, by a trail marker (no official sign)

    When:
    Best after rain; no season posted
    Admission:
    No fee posted
    What's there:
    A 31-ft fall that pours through a hole in the roof of an overhang. Arkansas Tourism rates it moderate and "fairly difficult," with nearly 500 feet of elevation over 2 miles, and says the trail crosses streams. No land-manager page lists it, and Arkansas Tourism's directions and map pin don't line up, so load a map before you lose signal.

    Open this year, but the details above aren't all posted for 2026. Check their site before you drive.

    Official site & tickets →Directions

  • 80-ft waterfall, 1.5 miles round trip (ANHC)

    Sweden Creek Falls Natural Area

    From Boxley, Hwy 21 north 4.0 miles, then left on the dirt road 3.25 miles to the lot on the right (state directions)

    When:
    No season posted; hunting is allowed on the natural area
    What's there:
    The eighth-largest waterfall in Arkansas, per the Natural Heritage Commission. Easy to moderate, blue blazes, not ADA accessible. The trail splits at 0.5 mile: one branch runs the bluff line to the top of the falls, the other to the bottom. Park only in the lot; if it's full, the state asks you to wait or come back another time.

    Official site & tickets →Directions

  • River waterfall, 2 miles round trip (ANHC)

    Kings River Falls Natural Area

    From Boston on Hwy 16: CR 3175 north 2.1 miles, bear right on CR 3415 for 2.3 miles, left on CR 3500 across the creek to the natural area sign

    When:
    No season posted; hunting is allowed on the natural area
    What's there:
    An easy-to-moderate out-and-back on blue blazes. It follows Mitchell Creek, then the Kings River (unusual for the Ozarks, it flows north), with one small bridge about half a mile in. Natural areas are foot traffic only, with no camping or campfires, and you can't take plants, rocks or anything else home.

    Official site & tickets →Directions

Closer to Fayetteville & Bentonville

  • Wet-weather waterfalls, 1.5 miles, 2–3 hours

    Devil's Den Trail, Devil's Den State Park

    11333 W Arkansas Hwy 74, West Fork

    When:
    Closed for repairs as of Oct 9, 2026 (park notice); call 479-761-3325 for the reopening date. The waterfalls only run in wet weather.
    Hours:
    Visitor center daily 8 AM–5 PM
    Admission:
    Free (Arkansas state parks charge no entry fee)
    What's there:
    A rocky, moderate National Recreation Trail with gravity-flow springs, sandstone crevices and wet-weather waterfalls. The 3-mile Yellow Rock Trail (300-ft climb) adds the park's best overlook. State parks require dogs on a leash where pets are allowed. State Parks says most of its falls depend on rain and suggests calling the park first: 479-761-3325.

    Official site & tickets →DirectionsWhat's on here

  • 77-ft waterfall with two viewing decks

    Natural Falls State Park (Oklahoma)

    19225 E 578 Rd, Colcord, OK

    When:
    Year-round, dawn to dusk
    Hours:
    Dawn to dusk, daily
    Admission:
    The park's page sells a parking pass; we couldn't confirm the price
    What's there:
    Just over the state line. A railed overlook at the top and a deck with seating at the foot of the falls, in a narrow V-shaped valley. 4.5 miles of trails, leashed pets allowed, no swimming. Scenes from the 1974 film Where the Red Fern Grows were shot here.

    Official site & tickets →Directions

On the calendar

Verified events for the season, updated every night.

Call ahead

These come up in older roundups, but nothing official confirms a 2026 season yet.

  • Tanyard Creek Nature Trail (Bella Vista). A creekside loop with a waterfall below the Lake Windsor dam, run by the Bella Vista POA. The POA's trail page blocked our check, so we couldn't confirm its length or who can use it. Ask the POA before you drive over.
  • Lake Leatherwood City Park (Eureka Springs). Hiking blogs describe a waterfall at the spillway of the park's hand-cut limestone dam. The city's page blocked our check, and Visit Eureka Springs' trail roundup (4.2-mile lake loop) doesn't mention a waterfall, so we haven't listed it. Ask Eureka Springs Parks before counting on it.

Quick answers

How long is the hike to Hawksbill Crag?
The Forest Service lists the Whitaker Point/Hawksbill Crag trail as 1.5 miles with steep cliffs (its 2026 recreation schedule doesn't say whether that's each way). It's the only designated trail in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness, and it's unmarked, so keep track of where you're going. The trailhead is free, open 24 hours, and has no restroom or water.
Are Hawksbill Crag and Whitaker Point the same place?
Yes. The Forest Service names the trailhead "Whitaker Point (Hawksbill Crag)". Both names mean the same rock outcrop in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness, reached by Cave Mountain Road from Hwy 21 in Boxley Valley.
Is Hawksbill Crag dangerous?
It's a cliff. The Forest Service lists it with steep cliffs, and the Park Service's advice for the Buffalo's bluffs next door holds here too: stay on the trail, don't get close to the edge, and remember the rock can crumble. Cell service is unreliable, so tell someone your plan.
Can I bring my dog on these waterfall hikes?
Not on Buffalo National River's Lost Valley Trail, and not anywhere in the Ponca Wilderness (Hemmed-in Hollow, Centerpoint). Service animals are allowed. Arkansas state parks require a leash where dogs are allowed, and Oklahoma's Natural Falls allows leashed pets. The Forest Service's Hawksbill Crag page doesn't post a pet rule.
When do Arkansas waterfalls flow?
After rain. Arkansas Tourism calls March–May one of the best times. The Park Service says Hemmed-in Hollow only flows after considerable rain, and Arkansas State Parks says most of its falls depend on rain and suggests calling ahead. On Aug 28, 2026 the Forest Service warned of heat and a lack of rain, so the falls will be thin this fall until a real soaking.
Where is Glory Hole Falls?
Off AR 21 south of Boxley. Arkansas Tourism says to look for a small pull-off near a trail marker; there's no official sign. It's a 2-mile round trip with nearly 500 feet of elevation, to a 31-ft fall pouring through a hole in an overhang. Arkansas Tourism's directions and map pin don't line up, so load a map before you lose signal.
Is there a fee to hike Lost Valley or Hawksbill Crag?
No. Buffalo National River charges no entry or day-use fee, and the Hawksbill Crag trailhead is free. Arkansas state parks, including Devil's Den, are free to enter. Oklahoma's Natural Falls State Park sells a parking pass on its page.
How hard is the Hemmed-in Hollow hike?
Very hard. It's about 5 miles round trip from the Compton Trailhead, with a 2.5-mile climb back out of roughly 1,200–1,400 feet. The Park Service calls it extremely steep and strenuous, says the average hiker takes 4–6 hours, and doesn't recommend it for kids under 12. The falls are nearly 210 feet tall but only run after considerable rain.

Dates, hours and prices are as each business posted them on October 8, 2026, and they change. Spot something out of date, or run one we missed? Tell us.

Nobody paid to be on this list. Inclusion is editorial.

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