Your Guide to the Best Waterfalls in the Ozarks

Mirror Lake Falls

Difficulty: Easy
Can I Swim There? Yes
Wet-Weather: No
Dog-Friendly? Yes, on a leash.
In the Area: See Blanchard Spring in the same recreation area as Mirror Lake Falls.

The wide, tiered cascades of Mirror Lake Falls are breathtaking as they fall over mossy rock ledges to a still and shallow pool below. (Hint: “Still and shallow” means this is a great place to wade.) The site is home to a 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps stone dam, and if you trek to the top you’ll see a quiet green pool that tumbles over the edge to form the falls. Believe us when we say this waterfall and its lush setting give serious Fern Gully vibes. And the 1-mile paved path to get there is super-easy to navigate.

Grand Falls

Difficulty: Super-easy
Can I Swim? Yes
Wet-Weather: No
Dog-Friendly? Yes, on a leash
In the Area: Stop for a float at Pineapple Bliss on the way home.

At only 12 feet tall, Grand Falls might not sound particularly grand, but it is. That’s because it’s the widest continuously flowing waterfall in the state of Missouri—163 feet wide, in fact. The falls are just below a man-made dam on Shoal Creek, but that doesn’t make their lazy-afternoon, scenic river vibe any less wonderful. Stake out a spot under the trees to wade when you need a bit of shade, and venture out onto the rocks closer to the falls and the chert ledge they pour over when you’re ready to scramble around and explore. This is an easy-to-access (just steps from the parking area), picnic-perfect spot that makes a great no-stress day trip.

Twin Falls

Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Can I Swim There? Yes
Wet-Weather: No
Dog-Friendly? Yes, on a leash
In the Area: The trail to Twin Falls also takes you past Hamilton Falls.

The 2.8-mile trek to Twin Falls can be a little bit tough, but the payoff is worth it. Here, you get two waterfalls for the price of one, as Big Devil’s Fork and Long Devil’s Fork both cascade into the same pool of turquoise water that’s perfect for wading. Plus, big boulders in the water below Twin Falls add to the unique look of this scenic spot. It’s a great place to relax and listen to the rippling water of the falls while you enjoy the canopy of the woods around you. Just make sure you save some energy for the walk back to your car!

Hemmed-In Hollow

Difficulty: Strenuous
Can I Swim There? No
Wet-Weather: Yes
Dog-Friendly? No
Along the Trail: On the hike in, you’ll pass gorgeous views of the Buffalo National River as it weaves through Ozark Mountain forest. Hot tip: If the challenging Compton Trail access intimidates you, you can access the falls via the less-strenuous Centerpoint Trailhead.

Let’s not bury the headline: This popular Ozarks waterfall is notably the tallest one between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains. At 210 feet tall, it pours down a sheer sandstone bluff to a pool below. Make sure you visit during the wet season or after a good, heavy rain for the best effect. (Otherwise, you might see a trickle.) Find this fall at the end of a 5.7-mile out-and-back trail starting from Compton Trailhead that can be steep and challenging—but is totally worth it!

Balanced Rock Falls

Difficulty: Moderate
Can I Swim There? No
Wet-Weather: Yes
Dog-Friendly? No
In the Area: Be sure to keep an eye out for elk grazing in nearby Boxley Valley.

The 1-mile out-and-back trail that leads to Balanced Rock Falls starts at the Ponca Low Water Bridge that crosses Buffalo National River. But it’s unmarked and can be tricky to find. Look for the sign that indicates the Buffalo River Trailhead—but instead of setting off on that trail, take the smaller path in between it and the sign. Once you’re on the path, you’ll follow along scenic and rocky Leatherwood Creek with its numerous small falls. Don’t miss the spur on the left side that leads up to Balanced Rock Falls. The namesake boulder is a sight to see, but don’t stop there. Scramble up above it to see even more falls as they tumble down the hillside over stair-stepped rocks.

Eden Falls

Difficulty: Easy
Can I Swim There? No
Wet-Weather: Yes
Dog-Friendly? No
Along the Trail: There’s plenty to see on Lost Valley Trail besides the falls. See a 50-foot-long natural bridge tunnel, climb into the 200-foot Cobb Cave bluff shelter and explore Clark Creek in Lost Valley Trail’s box valley.

Lost Valley is a 2.3-mile out-and-back trail that’s fairly flat most of the way, ending in a bit of a climb for the last leg. Toward the end, you’ll come across the reason you came here: Eden Falls. The 53-foot waterfall ranges from a trickle on dry days to a full (albeit narrow) fall during wet weather. You can take in the falls from below then head back, or you can continue up that steeper path to the mouth of a cave. There you can pull out a flashlight and venture in to see the falls from a new view.

Mina Sauk Falls

Difficulty: Moderate
Can I Swim There? No
Wet-Weather: Yes
Dog-Friendly? Yes, on a leash
In the Area: Johnson Shut-Ins and Elephant Rocks are both just a skip down the road.

Mina Sauk Falls might not have the wide, crashing flow of some waterfalls, but it is a record-setter. It holds the title as the tallest natural waterfall in the state of Missouri, tumbling down a rocky hillside inside Taum Sauk State Park—which happens to be home to the highest point in the state as well. The trail in is not too long, just 2.8 miles, but it’s rocky in spots and can get a little crowded on busy weekends. Be sure to visit after a good, hard rain to see the waterfall at its best.

Arkansas Waterfalls 

Haw Creek Falls

12 miles west of Sand Gap on Arkansas 123, Hagarville

The impressive Haw Creek Falls is the centerpiece of its namesake recreation area on Arkansas 123, west of the Arkansas 7 Scenic Byway at Sand Gap. About six feet high, the waterfall stretches across Haw Creek and makes a beautiful backdrop for a quick stop or a lingering picnic. While in the area, explore more of the creek or visit a few easy seasonal waterfalls down the road, including the Highway 123 Falls (10 minutes south and a short walk from the road). Or if you also want to hike at Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area, nearby trails go to Pack Rat Falls and Pam’s Grotto Falls.

Falling Water Falls

Upper Falling Water Road (aka Forest Service Road 1205), Sand Gap

Likely the easiest waterfall you’ll ever visit, Falling Water Falls can be viewed from your car. But take our word for it: You’ll want to get out. Less than an hour from Haw Creek Falls, this waterfall is one of many in the Richland Creek area. It flows over a rocky ledge on Falling Water Creek to a turquoise pool, roughly 10 feet below. When the creek is up, the beautiful falls fan out over the span of rock. When the creek is low, you can walk onto the ledge. Visiting when it’s warm? That pool makes a mighty cool place for a dip.

Devil’s Den Dam Waterfall

11333 West Arkansas 74, West Fork; Arkansasstateparks.com

While it’s manmade, the massive dam waterfall at Devil’s Den State Park southwest of Springfield is pretty darn impressive. And it’s so easy to visit: Just park nearby and walk a few feet. In fact, you can sit on top of it, pick your way to the bottom or take an easy path to see it from the other side. The dam was built on Lee Creek by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s to form Lake Devil, a fun spot to paddle and fish. Devils’ Den State Park is a great place to spend the day or a weekend for mountain biking, hiking and exploring.

Kings River Falls Natural Area, Arkansas

1543 Madison 3500, Witter, Arkansas
Kings River Falls is a wide shelf waterfall that spills 10 feet into a beautiful turquoise pool. It’s a popular swimming hole each summer. That’s why early spring is a great time to hike and photograph this trail. The main waterfall is certainly worth the trek. But this trail’s best feature is its rewarding journey. Along the way, the boulder-strewn river is accented by numerous tumbling cascades and smaller falls. Plus, shortly before reaching the primary waterfall, there are bonus cascades flowing downhill on your left for even more nature photo-ops. If you’re a hiking photographer, you could explore this trail for hours.

Smith Creek Nature Preserve, Arkansas

Jasper, Arkansas, 72641
Spend a day exploring Smith Creek Nature Preserve just south of Boxley. A quarter mile down, a trail to Elise Falls heads left. To explore gorgeous cascades and small falls along Smith Creek, continue along the main trail for a mile until you reach a bridge and picnic area. Either loop back or continue another mile farther to a creek section that features elephant-size boulders, shelf-drop cascades and lots of little surprise waterfalls.