Don't Overlook The Multi-Tiered Waterfall Hiding At Lake Fort Smith State Park In Arkansas
By Carol Ann Carson|Published June 26, 2020
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Carol Ann Carson
Author
Arkansas native, Carol Ann Carson, has written for OnlyInYourState for three years now. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. The graduate of University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Carol Ann earned her B.A. in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. in Library Science. She loves exploring the trails around the Buffalo National River and has yet to find a waterfall that wasn't her favorite.
From kayaking to camping, Lake Fort Smith State Park has so many scenic treasures to discover! One rather overlooked gem is a 5-tiered waterfall tucked away on the Ozark Highlands Trail. We certainly don’t need to tackle the entire trail to chase this waterfall so let’s enjoy this short-but-rewarding trek:
Whether you're planning a full weekend of adventures or just want to enjoy the drive, Lake Fort Smith can deliver!
This 1,400-acre reservoir is nestled in the Boston Mountain Valley off of US-71. The state park has everything an Arkansas lover could want: camping, cabins, fishing, kayaking, hiking and more! You can read the full recreational breakdown in this brochure.
It may be difficult to take a break from all the lake-based activities but there's an important trail hiding behind the Visitor Center.
This point-to-point portion is 5.5-miles long but you only need to take a third of that to reach today's feature. If you plan on hiking more of the trail then we highly suggest using this GPS-friendly map.
Along the way you'll pass remains of two cabins, a cistern, and a still-standing chimney. With the canopy of trees and babbling creeks it's understandable why settlers would be drawn to this area.
One of the main features of the trail is this waterfall.
The waterfall is relatively close to the Visitor Center for easy access. You only need to plan for about a mile and a half of hiking for the waterfall round trip.
The waterfall is a stunning stair-stepping cascade that deserves a picture or two.
The waterfall may not be particularly large but it is a neat find while you're at the park. The five-tiered falls are only seen after recent rains so the hike is best during spring or fall. Don't hesitate to pay a visit after a summer shower though!
This is just one more simple but beautiful reason to visit Lake Fort Smith!
If you'd like to plan a trip to Lake Fort Smith then you should visit the state park's website right here.
What’s your favorite part about visiting Lake Fort Smith? Have you discovered this nifty waterfall during your hikes? We’d love to see your Arkansas adventure photos in our Facebook group, Arkansas Nature Lovers. You should join for your chance to be featured and to discover why there’s nothing better than Arkansas’ stunning nature.
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