I moved my family to Arkansas in 1999 as part
of a transfer with my company. I lived in Texas, and loved the state. But I
grew up in Pennsylvania and saw this as an opportunity to get my four seasons
back, without the six months of winter.
My family loves the outdoors and Arkansas
had everything we enjoyed. Camping, fishing, hunting and climbing mountains. We
loved looking for the smallest path and seeing where it would take us.
What I truly fell in love with were all the
waterfalls. The mountains in this state have miles of hiking trails and hidden
within the beautiful mountains were some amazing waterfalls. Its one of
Arkansas famous treasures, and one worth sharing. So here are some of a few of
our favorite ones we have visited, and ones we feel you should put on your list
of places to go.
Cedar Falls is the best known natural waterfall in the
state, the focal point of Petit Jean State Park atop Petit Jean Mountain near
Morrilton. This 95-foot gusher spills into Cedar Creek and can be accessed via
the Cedar Falls Trail, which winds through Cedar Creek Canyon to the
"splash down." The hike is 2-1/4 miles round trip and is classified
as moderate-to-strenuous. The park is located on Ark. 154 southwest of
Morrilton
High Bank Twin Falls: To reach the waterfall, park at High
Bank Canoe Access for the Mulberry River and walk east along the shoulder of
Ark. 215 across a small bridge. Once crossed, look for a beaten path (there is
no sign) leading off to your left. Follow it across a small stream with
waterfalls of its own and keep walking until you arrive at High Bank Twin
Falls. The distance from the parking lot is only one-fourth mile.
Marble Falls can almost be labeled a “drive by”
waterfall. It is located just south of
the town of Marble Falls on Scenic Ark. 7 Byway. A pull-off provides a great view of the
year-round flow. The waterfall, which
is spring-fed, once powered a flour mill, a cotton gin and saw mill. The
original grist mill was built around 1840. Mable Falls is visible from Scenic 7
about two miles south of Mystic Caverns and approximately three miles north of
the Buffalo National River Pruitt access.
Located in the Kings River Falls Natural Area south of
Huntsville, Kings River Falls is found on a two mile hiking trail. It is rated easy to moderate though not
accessible for those with physical limitations. About one-half mile down the
trail is where you’ll find the falls. The Kings River is unique for the Ozarks
because it flows from south to north.
The Civilian Conservation Corps-built dam provides the
stunning waterfalls at Mirror Lake. The
Blanchard Springs flow into the lake, then exits over the two remaining
depression-era stone walls. The water
was used to power a mill so it became Mill Creek. Today the lake is known for its rainbow trout
fishing and the spectacular water display. It’s located just off Ark. 14
outside Mountain View.
If you were wondering what to do next year, plan a trip to Arkansas, and
make sure you pack your hiking boots. You won’t be disappointed.
Between Lynda’s outdoorsman-ship, she writes romance with
suspense, secrets and sinful sunsets, as her website says. Visit here for more
information: www.lyndakayefrazier.com
Here’s a short from her latest, Rescued from the Dark:
She has no memory of
their love...
Kidnapped by
terrorists and sent into a drug-induced coma, FBI intern Mercedes Kingsley
awakes with no memory of her ordeal.
He knows the truth,
but no one will listen...FBI undercover agent Jason Michaels remembers what
Mercy can’t and those memories are breaking his heart.
Can Jason convince
Mercy to trust him until she remembers their past, or will he lose her to a man
who will trap her in a nightmare world of darkness from which there is no
escape?
Purchase here plus
many other online sites:
(All information provided by author)
Hi, Lynda,
ReplyDeleteI had no idea Arkansas was so beautiful! Congrats on your new novel.
Thanks Jacqueline. I love the outdoors and my daughter and I are always looking for new places to explore. We do love to mountain climb and the waterfalls we find are just an added bonus.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by.
Lynda
You make a great case for a visit, Lynda. Didn't realize there were so many waterfalls in Arkansas.
ReplyDeleteWaterfalls are TOTALLY healing! They produce negative ions, which actually cheer us up. Similar in a shower. Congrats, and well done!
ReplyDeleteValerie
Gorgeous waterfalls. I have Rescued From the Dark on my TBR list (it's already on my Kindle)
ReplyDeleteWow! You should write an Arkansas travel guide. I never knew there were so many waterfalls in Arkansas. Your state is beautiful...thanks for sharing it with us! Your books sound great, too. I'll have to check them out.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, your books sound thrilling! Then I need to say that while researching my mother's past, I traced some friends in Little Rock and Fayetteville. Mom used to sing on live radio there back in the day. The friends I found raved about nature in Arkansas and your descriptions and photo images bring it all back. I had wanted to visit there, to trace my mom's steps and you've brought back that yearning. Arkansas looks magnificent.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Lynda! Though I haven't seen all these waterfalls, I am familiar with all but one, mostly because of Chuck Dovish's program, EXPLORING ARKANSAS, on AETN every Monday at 6:30. I assume you enjoy his visits to Arkansas's wonderful natural world and special events as much as I do! (Chuck plays himself--filming for a TV program in my novel, JOURNEY TO DIE FOR.) Chuck loves our beautiful waterfalls as much as you do, and his second special love is exploring one of our many caves. Some of those include waterfalls. Thanks again for this glorious post and to Annette for sponsoring it. (We live in Fayetteville, by the way.)
ReplyDeleteI loved this post and the photos. I haven't seen all the waterfalls in person, but have enjoyed all but one on Chuck Dovish's program, EXPLORING ARKANSAS, on AETN on Monday evenings at 6:30. Chuck appears as himself in one of my novels, A JOURNEY TO DIE FOR. He's filming for one of his programs in the story.
ReplyDeleteThanks fo Lynda and Annette for this terrific post. (I live in Fayetteville.)
I didn't know Arkansas had so many waterfalls or was so beautiful. I've never been there. Thanks for the beautiful pictures that make me want to visit now. I have your book in my Kindle and I look forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures! That certainly looks like a few places I would like to visit.
ReplyDeleteYour book sounds like something I would like to read as well :)
I love waterfalls too, and your photos are so lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing.
Janice~
Great pics. I live in Arkansas, but it never hurts to be reminded of the beauty around us.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the book release!
Waterfalls are fantastic, and, like everyone else, I had no idea that Arkansas held so many. We may have to plan a special trip!
ReplyDeleteSending this link to my husband and kids. Maybe we should consider a camping trip there once the sub-zero temps begin to recede. We love waterfalls! We usually head north but this might force us to consider heading south soon.
ReplyDeleteJust when you can't think of a new travel destination..... those waterfalls were mouth-watering. Good luck with the book!
ReplyDeleteThese waterfalls are beautiful indeed! I have not been to Arkansas. I must remedy that down the line...
ReplyDelete