On November 28, 2025, we said our long goodbyes to our family in Arkansas and drove about an hour and a half south to the Aux Arc Campground near Ozark, Arkansas. We occupied site F11. Our site was right on the Arkansas River and just upstream from a dam. The dam includes locks on the far side of the river for shipping.
Our plan was to stay three nights—arrive on Friday, visit waterfalls on Saturday, enjoy church on Sunday, and head out Monday. But the weather had other intentions. Cold rain moved in, with threats of ice or even snow, and we decided it was wiser to stay an extra night to ensure a dry—though definitely still cold—travel day.
On Saturday we fought the strong temptation to stay snug in our warm trailer and instead headed out to see a couple of waterfalls. The first stop was about an hour away, but gave us an opportunity to see some of the “mountainous” regions of Arkansas.
Dressing for cold rain took some effort, but we bundled up and set off on an adventure anyway. Stomping through fallen leaves on a cold, wet, foggy day turned out to be surprisingly fun. None of the challenging weather managed to stop us from enjoying ourselves—and staying warm enough.
We went first to see Glory Hole Falls, a short hike—about a mile in and a mile out. It was pretty cold at the start, with light rain coming and going as we walked. By the time we were heading back, I’d warmed up enough to shed a layer but kept my raincoat on. The waterfall itself was remarkable. In the left photo, you can see the water literally pouring through a hole it carved in solid rock; in the right, you’re looking up at the bottom of that hole and the cave it’s formed below. We joked about sliding through the opening, but between the frigid air and the 15-foot drop onto rocks, we wisely passed.
Next, we visited High Bank Twin Falls. After a day of rain, it was flowing beautifully, and the grotto it plunged into was truly impressive. The hike was much shorter and quite easy, and we were back at the car just before dark. We finished the evening with dinner at a Thai restaurant in Ozark, Arkansas. The food wasn’t amazing, so next time we’ll trust the waiter’s favorites instead of our own choices.
On Sunday, we attended the Clarksville Ward and enjoyed visiting with the friendly and welcoming members. Afterwards, we changed into hiking clothes and set out on a long drive to see several more waterfalls. Our first stop was Long Pool Falls. The trailhead sits in a campground with a scenic picnic area along Piney Creek. Even though the creek was running low at the time, it was still impressively large—especially by Utah standards. Just one look at the huge rock across the creek had me imagining families in the summer leaping off the platform and splashing into the cool waters below.
After a quick lunch, we braved the cold and headed down the trail toward Long Pool Falls. The hike was simple and relatively short, though it included a steep climb near the end. Our effort was rewarded with a massive grotto and a waterfall plunging perhaps 40 feet into it—truly spectacular.
The last two waterfalls we visited were just off the road and required little to no hiking. The final several miles of the journey took us off pavement and onto fairly decent gravel. There were a few water-filled potholes, but most of the previous day’s rain had already drained away. Along the way, we crossed Falling Water Creek on a narrow, slightly nerve-wracking bridge with no side rails—definitely added a little thrill to the drive.
The first waterfall was Falling Water Falls. The creek spreads out over massive, flat, layered rocks before plunging 15 to 20 feet into the river below. The cliff is undercut, creating a dramatic sheet of—quite literally—falling water.
The second drive-by waterfall was Six Finger Falls. Once again, massive layered rocks channel the creek, but instead of a single stream, the water finds six separate paths over the edge. On our visit, the creek was low enough that only five of the six “fingers” were flowing. As the light faded and temperatures dipped toward freezing, we reluctantly headed back. On the way home, we stopped for Mexican food—fine, but nothing worth a special trip to Arkansas.
We had planned to leave Monday morning for Hot Springs National Park, a couple of hours south, but the forecast called for near-freezing temperatures and a mix of rain and snow along the way. We decided to change our reservation there and extend our stay at Aux Arc. On Tuesday, the weather finally cooperated—temps near 40 degrees and no precipitation—so we hit the road.
| Nights | Total Nights | Miles | Total Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 313 | 97 | 29331 |