Tim Ernst’s expanded ‘Arkansas Waterfalls’ guide adds hundreds more sites
Arkansas is not only The Natural State but also the waterfalls state.
Hundreds of these spectacular free-flowing water drops are located across the landscape. They are the result of powerful tectonic collisions between continental plates that occurred some 300 million years ago. These forces uplifted ancient seabed sediments, forming a broad plateau that became the Ozark Mountains. Further south, the collisions triggered intense mountain-building events, folding and faulting rock layers that created the Ouachitas. This was followed by millions of years of streams cutting through sandstone and shale layers, exploiting fractures and faults, forming hundreds of beautiful waterfalls.
Wilderness photographer and Ozarks Electric Cooperative member Tim Ernst has spent over 50 years trekking across these eroded plateaus and exploring the fractured crevices in search of these natural wonders. He has shared his discoveries in “Arkansas Waterfalls” guidebooks since 2002.
“I enjoy telling others about the many special places that we have in Arkansas and also showing them how to get there through my guidebooks,” Ernst says.
The latest third edition has doubled the number of waterfalls and cascades from 200 chronicled in prior editions to over 400. It would take years to visit all of them.
Whether you are a hardcore off-trail bushwhacker with years of experience tramping through the backwoods, or someone who has not stepped foot off a paved walking path, this book will have something for you. Ernst has put in the legwork and research, identifying and documenting Arkansas’ most scenic natural water spectacles.
Each entry in the book includes a map, GPS coordinates, photo, falls height, hike difficulty, driving directions to the start location and hiking directions. For those who have been checking off sites you have visited in the first and second editions of the guidebooks, Ernst tags the new falls in this edition with an asterisk to make them easy to identify.
So, pick up this latest edition at your local outdoor store or timernst.com. And let your adventure begin.
Falling into place
Once you have your guidebook, the first thing to do is browse through the beautiful pictures.
After thumbing through all the pictures, read the introduction to understand how to use the guide, then flip to the Waterfall Location Map in the back to locate the ones nearest to you. Most Arkansans will find plenty of them right outside their door. Those who reside in the flatlands of the southern and southeastern portions of the state may have to drive a ways. Sorry.
Don’t be intimidated by the thought of hiking a path less traveled. “This guidebook will take you by the hand and lead you right to them,” Ernst assures hikers.
On most hikes, you are rewarded with more than one waterfall. Generally, an area with one fall will have others. For example, the Ponca Bridge Downstream Waterfalls trek Ernst mentions on page 74. It is a short 2.4-mile round-trip that includes five falls. This is also a great hike to introduce novice hikers to hiking off trail. He starts you out on the Buffalo River Trail, then routes you through an interesting crack in the bluff to its base, nothing too technical, but a good intro to trekking in the forest without a trail to follow.
“Most waterfalls do not have official names,” Ernst explains. “I try to use names that are historical, geographical, educational or honoring a particular person.”
A good example is Hideout Hollow Falls, located in a bluff shelter that was once inhabited by a group of draft dodgers known as the Slacker Gang during World War I. Clemmer Falls is another, named after the Clemmer family, who once lived and farmed in that area.
Springing into action
Spring is the best time to head outdoors to bag some trophy falls. During winter, all the trees are dormant, so any precipitation that falls during those months has saturated the ground. When spring rains begin, the water has nowhere to go but cascade down the mountainside to plunge over the bluffs.
“The best time to go waterfall hunting is after it has rained for several days during the rainy season,” Ernst advises.
Many of the photographs in Ernst’s guidebooks were taken during high water or even during floods. So, when you visit a waterfall, don’t be disappointed if it isn’t as impressive as the picture. Even if they aren’t picture-perfect, a day of hiking outdoors in The Natural State makes for a perfect adventure.
In addition to Ernst’s books, more information on Arkansas waterfalls can be found at: arkansas.com/articles/finding-arkansas-waterfalls.