Northwest Arkansas Waterfall Viewing Guide

Northwest Arkansas is home to some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the United States. Nestled in the heart of the Ozarks Northwest Arkansas is the perfect place to view a waterfall in the spring and early summer. These breathtaking cascades are scattered throughout the region from close to city limits all the way out to the Buffalo River and everywhere in between you can find these rapids. This guide will explore our five favorite waterfalls in Northwest Arkansas and give you insight into how to explore them including trail ratings and distance, level of dog friendliness, peak viewing season, and a preview of what to expect.

Tanyard Creek Waterfall

Trail: 2.2 Miles Long, Easy Difficulty.

Drive Time From Fayetteville: 35 Minutes.

Dog Friendly: Yes! Bring your dogs on this trail but make sure to keep them on a leash.

Tanyard Creek Nature Trail, located in Bella Vista, Arkansas, has been featured on several of our blogs including Swimming Holes in Northwest Arkansas and our Fall Viewing Guide because of its ease of access and beauty so close to town. We knew that why Tanyard Creek Falls had to make it on our waterfall viewing guide as well. The Tanyard Creek Nature Trail is a two-part 2.2-mile-long trail. This first quarter mile from the parking lot is paved but then transitions to a well-maintained dirt trail. The trail has a lot of cool views and features such as a rope suspension bridge, limestone bluffs, and then a ton of mini-tiered cascades along the creek itself. The highlight of the trail in our opinion is Tanyard Creek Falls. The trail is rated as easy to moderate and will take about an hour to complete, it is well-marked so it shouldn't be hard to find your way. The waterfall is fed by Lake Windsor so it does flow year-round but like all waterfalls on this list, the best time to view it is in the spring, especially after heavy rain. 

Kings River Falls

Trail: 1.8 Miles Long, Easy Difficulty.

Drive Time From Fayetteville: 1 Hour, 10 Minutes.

Dog Friendly: Yes! Another great trail to bring your dogs on. Especially during the warmer months of the year. Be sure to keep your dog on a leash though on the trail. Also, keep in mind there is a metal grate bridge you have to cross and some dogs may be uneasy on the surface. 

Another iconic waterfall that was also featured in our Swimming Hole Guide is Kings River Falls in Whitter, Arkansas. This stunning waterfall is fed by several tributary creeks and the Kings River which means it does run year-round but the best time to visit is still mid-spring to early summer. This area does take a hike to get to but don't fret because the 1.8-mile out-and-back trail is flat easy going, and family-friendly. The hike out also has a lot of cool features such as bluffs, a bridge, and a lot of shorelines you can explore. Although this waterfall runs year-round and is a great summer swimming hole, we highly recommend visiting in the spring. During the spring there are a lot of smaller cascades that feed the Kings River. The Kings River Natural Area is a stopover for dozens of butterfly species in the springtime which is an extra treat for nature lovers. 

Falling Water Falls

Trail: Located directly off of FR-1205 in Sand Gap, Arkansas. No hiking is necessary to enjoy this area.  

Drive Time From Fayetteville: 2 Hours, 16 Minutes.

Dog Friendly: Falling Water Falls is also dog friendly but since it is so close to the road keeping your dogs on a leash is a good idea. 

Falling Water Falls in Sand Gap, Arkansas is one of the many beautiful waterfalls that is easily accessible and can even be seen and accessed from the road. This hidden gem is a really cool spot to see in the spring but also swim in or hammock during the summer months. Falling Water Falls is located off Forest Road 1205 about 2.3 miles down the road after Highway 16. Like a lot of the waterfalls in the Ozarks, it will be a bit of a drive to get out to. 

Image Courtesy of Arkansas Tourism 

Glory Hole Falls

Trail: 1.9 Miles Long, Moderate Difficulty.

Drive Time From Fayetteville: 1 Hour, 25 Minutes.

Dog Friendly: Like all the others, Glory Hole Falls is dog friendly if they are on a leash. We recommend bringing a collapsible dog bowl with you so they have water for the hike back out. 

Glory Hole Falls located near Deer, Arkansas, is one of the most unique waterfalls on this list and probably the Ozarks. This cascade flows through a hole in a large limestone bluff that overhangs the floor below. The trail is rated moderately challenging due to some elevation changes on the trail, however it still can be family-friendly. While the Glory Hole Falls is the highlight of the trail, if you hike it after a rainy day then you will also stumble across several other smaller waterfalls along the trail that otherwise wouldn't be flowing. This makes this hike a real treat if you are seeking out a water adventure. it is important to note this trail gets a moderate difficulty rating because of the elevation gain. On the way to the waterfall, it is all downhill and can be muddy after a rainstorm but on your way back you will climb over 400 feet in elevation to get back to the parking lot. 

Eden Falls/Lost Valley

Trail: 2.3 Miles Long, Easy to Moderate Difficulty.

Drive Time From Fayetteville: 1 Hour, 15 Minutes.

Dog Friendly: Dogs are unfortunately not allowed on this trail so the pups will have to stay at home. 

The Lost Valley Trail that leads to Eden Falls is one of the most popular trails in the Buffalo National River area for good reason. The trail winds through a box canyon which leads hikers to the first waterfall called Natural Bridge. Beneath the 8-foot waterfall is a stunning emerald-green pool of water. From there, hikers can continue on which will lead you to Cob Cave. Cobb Cave is a giant 200-foot overhang bluff immersing hikers in the geology and landscape of the Ozarks. The main reason people take this trail however is to view Eden Falls. A 25-foot waterfall inside of a cave. This is a truly unique hike that we highly recommend. An important thing to note is that the trail does not allow dogs so keep them at home when exploring the Lost Valley Trail. In terms of difficulty, this trail only has a slight elevation gain of 200 feet but gets its easy-moderate difficulty because it is longer than most of the other trails on this list. 

Bonus: The area around Lost Valley in the Boxley area is a great place to view elk and they can often be seen grazing from the local roads! 

Map Guide