One reason I love landscape photography is that it forces me to get outdoors more often. There is something special about getting away from a computer, phone, and the hectic pace of normal life. You can breathe... Oh, and even when it's COLD! On my drive to Hickory Nut Mountain, my thermometer hit a low of 5 degrees! Brrrrrrr! When I arrived at the Lake Ouachita vista overlook, it was a balmy 7. So, why would I venture out in such cold weather? I heard there was a spring-fed creek with some cascades and a small waterfall. I wanted to catch some ice and icicles if possible. 

It isn't widely known, but there are a couple of nice waterfalls just north of Jessieville. Since I'm in Hot Springs, that's less than an hour away. My buddy Cody Simpson joined me as we hiked seeking some nice scenery. This turned into a very enjoyable short trip with an interesting surprise toward the end!

Frigid temperatures aren't always fun to hike in, but they can reward you with some rare and beautiful scenery! I decided to trek out to Lake Catherine State Park this morning to see if there were any icicles at the waterfall. I was greeted by a beautiful but brief splash of color as I began my hike. The color literally only lasted for about 10 minutes and then a thick overcast sky set in for the rest of the day.

We had some rain recently so I was hoping to find some waterfalls. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to make the trip to the Ozarks so I decided to something closer. Most people know about Cedar Falls, the big one at Petit Jean. A lesser-known waterfall can be found on Seven Hollows Trail, which I had never hiked before. What a beautiful trail! For the GPS track, click here: http://cloud.gaiagps.com/public/UhLbihpNgzKpmX6FicaboaWZ/Aerial/

A friend and client of mine knew I was looking for some fall colors to photograph and he had a great recommendation: Winding Stairs Trail. I had never heard of this trail even though I had been through Albert Pike Recreational Area a few times before. The trail head is easy to find as it's only 2 miles from the entrance into the park. Here is my GPS track of my hike. Check the GPS info here: http://cloud.gaiagps.com/datasummary/track/50bc351e965b188e94afed40b1a32789/ The trail I'd say is "moderate" and the level of difficulty depends on how far you plan on trekking in. There are a couple...