Hiking

Schoolhouse Falls and Lizard Log Falls

  • April 8, 2016
Schoolhouse Falls and Lizard Log Falls

I made it to Schoolhouse Falls and Lizard Log Falls for the first time last week. There are about 7 waterfalls in the area, but you'd have to do some serious hiking to hit them all in a day. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't hold up that long and, on this day, I was limited in time anyways. First off, here is a video I put together that shows how to get to the spot. For me, I had to take Hwy 95 north of Morrilton (north of I40). Schoolhouse Falls Here is my GPS track of the hike. This one is pretty easy if you have the coordinates (35.53019, -92.79877). FYI, you can just bushwhack directly to the spot...

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Camping and Waterfall Hunting in North Arkansas 5/13/2015

  • May 17, 2015
Camping and Waterfall Hunting in North Arkansas 5/13/2015

We've had a ton of rain this Spring but I haven't been able to get out there for much waterfall photography. My nephew, Ethan, was out of school Thursday so we decided to head north for some waterfalls! There were three in particular we had been wanting to see... Sidewinder, Swamp, and V-Slot falls! GPS for all three falls: 35.68930 -93.18470 To make the most of our time, we decided to camp at Haw Creek Campground which is close to the waterfalls we wanted to visit. Plus, we would be able to camp right next to this beauty, Haw Creek Falls! The crazy thing is, we didn't actually...

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9 Degrees at Falls Creek Falls

  • January 10, 2015
9 Degrees at Falls Creek Falls

What do you do after an arctic blast moves through and it's only 9 degrees outside? That's right, you hike to a waterfall! Ok, maybe I'm a little crazy, but when the elements get extreme it provides for some interesting sights and photographic opportunities. I'll admit though that when I stepped outside I had second, and possibly third and fourth thoughts about it! I'm fortunate to live just 30 minutes away from Lake Catherine State Park where you can hike to Falls Creek Falls. I visited this spot after a nice freeze last year and the icicles were awesome! Some of them were 6' long! It was even...

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Trip to Ponca, Triple Falls, Lost Valley…

  • October 22, 2014

There is something special about north Arkansas. The beautiful hills, streams, waterfalls, bluffs, rustic barns, and the Buffalo River. Oh, and how about the elk!? My friend Cody Simpson joined me on this adventure. To make the most of our trip, we decided to camp near Jasper at Kyles Landing. Fortunately for me, that meant we were close to Twin Falls (aka Triple Falls). This one is a beauty! So, you may be wondering right now, why would this be called Twin Falls!? There are clearly 3 waterfalls here! Well, not always. In high water, there are 3 falls. With lower flow, however, there...

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Pedestal Rocks Trail

  • October 6, 2014
Pedestal Rocks Trail

It had been way too long since I was able to get out for walk amongst nature with my camera in hand. Three months maybe? This is my stress reliever, my way of getting away to .... breath. I wanted a place that was new, interesting, and photographic. Pedestal Rocks fit the bill. This was a place that intrigued me and the weather didn't matter much for photography. The skies were far too clear for decent light and even though we just had 1 to 2 inches of rain, it had been too dry for too long for any waterfalls to be decent. I wasn't able to get there early enough for the "golden light," but I think...

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Kings Bluff Trail and Waterfall

  • October 6, 2014
Kings Bluff Trail and Waterfall

The Kings Bluff and Pedestal Rocks trail heads are located in the same spot. Check out my Pedestal Rocks blog post for info on that hike as well. This hike is short and easy, but be careful! You're HIGH up along a bluff line, so I'd suggest leaving the kids at home for this one. The hike is only 1.9 miles with some moderate elevation changes. If you go at the right time, there is one of the tallest waterfalls in Arkansas at the mid-point. Click here to view or download my Gaia GPS data for this hike. After a short hike downhill through the forest, you come out along a bluff line. I was happy...

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Wildman Twin Falls

  • June 3, 2014
Wildman Twin Falls

Last year I went to Mt. Magazine to do some waterfall hunting. I stopped by Hardy Falls first. I'm glad I took photos then because when I went back this year, the best view was totally blocked by downed trees! I also visited a little-known place called Wildman Twin Falls. This was the one I was most excited about because it features two 43 foot waterfalls side-by-side! It was named by waterfall explorer extraordinaire, Tim Ernst. He named the falls after a friend of his who passed away in 2011, Carl "Wildman" Ownbey. According to Tim, "he could out-hike anyone, even on into his late 70s. He backpacked...

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Pack Rat Falls and Haw Creek Falls

  • May 19, 2014
Pack Rat Falls and Haw Creek Falls

I took a quick trip to North Arkansas to visit two waterfalls I had not been to before: Haw Creek Falls and Pack Rat Falls. Haw Creek is extremely easy to find and very picturesque; however, the sun was stark that day which makes good waterfall photography all but impossible. I'll have to revisit when I can get better shots. My favorites came from Pack Rat Falls and the hike along the way. That area is gorgeous!

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Caney Creek Wilderness Trail – East Trailhead

  • April 22, 2014
Caney Creek Wilderness Trail – East Trailhead

With winter finally coming to an end (and a loooong winter at that!), I was looking forward to some springtime photography. Redbuds and dogwoods have been in full bloom around Hot Springs so I was specifically wanting waterfalls or creeks framed with some beautiful blooming trees. I decided to head to a trail I had never been to before, Caney Creek East Trailhead located in the vicinity of Albert Pike Recreational Area. 

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Frozen at Falling Water Falls

  • February 12, 2014
Frozen at Falling Water Falls

I love the scenery where I live in Hot Springs, Arkansas; but I have to admit, I'm mesmerized by North and North West Arkansas. There are some amazing views up there and tons of waterfalls. One of the most popular places to visit if you're a waterfall enthusiast is Falling Water Falls. It's an easy waterfall to find as it is right along a dirt road so no hiking is necessary. The view you receive can vary greatly depending on the time you visit. I decided to head there when temperatures were in the teens and wow it was worth it!

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