Last week, John and I did a little exploring in Jasper, Arkansas with the goal to visit Triple Falls. What a scenic, must see spot! No worries if you can’t visit for real. I’m bringing it to you.
Of course my pictures in no way capture the true majesty. Oh well. Until apparition (a la Harry Potter) becomes a thing, this will have to do.
Triple Falls (aka Twin Falls)
This trail is also called Twin Falls. Confusing much? I believe this is because two separate bodies of water feed the waterfall—a creek feeds the right waterfall and a spring feeds the two left ones. Often, during normal rainfall years, only two waterfalls flow. But during wet years, a third waterfall appears. This year has been downright magical in the department of Arkansas waterfalls.
Directions to Triple Falls
You’ll need to invoke your country girl/boy directional skills.
From Jasper: Drive west on Highway 74 to Mt. Sherman; turn right onto the gravel road at Kyles Landing and drive toward Camp Orr. (I don’t believe this road had an obvious sign.) Drive 1 mile. At the fork in the road, turn right. Drive 1.8 miles and park at the designated area at the base of Camp Orr. (Official directions with a map HERE.)
The gravel road was in good shape but steep in places. My smallish SUV did fine in low gear, but a low-to-the-ground car might be tricky to maneuver. Near the end of the drive, we crossed a wet creek area and the road was muddy.
The Hike
We heard the roar of the waterfalls as soon as we stepped from the car. The hike itself is super short and easy for all skill levels. (It’s much shorter than the drive from Highway 74.)
How amazing to know these brilliant areas are tucked away just off the roadside.
I love to take pictures of the big picture, the waterfalls and ridge lines, the trees in the distance. Fall shimmering against the blue sky.
But I also love to study the close up world found in curly moss and gray-green lichen, the tiniest insects and flowers. For me, this is the heartbeat of everything.
Look at the miniscule mushroom growing inside this knothole. I had to stretch to reach it and enlarge the picture to really see it.
I would never carve on a tree, but I noticed the KT carved on this one. Instantly, I imagined the letters are for my kids, Kelsey and Tate. Look how blue the water is in the background…
Nature allows us so much. Yet, I believe she keeps many of her secrets hidden.
Camp Orr
My friend James Moore, aka The Busvlogger, told me that Camp Orr High Adventure Base at Triple Falls is the only Boy Scout camp within a US National Park. My son is an Eagle Scout, so of course, I find this to be very cool. Scouting has been a big part of our lives, and I can easily imagine how much his troop would have loved this place!
Check out The Busvlogger’s video about Camp Orr below. I highly recommend you follow his escapades around Arkansas and beyond.
Now, where to go next? Recommendations anyone?
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
Thanks, this looks amazing. We will put it on our list. My hometown is the home of the first Boy Scout troop in the country. I actually knew one of the original members when I was a child.
Thanks for the history of the falls.
Your pictures are soooo good. I loved the knothole with the little mushroom protected inside. My Caraway Hall/Third Floor Girls used to explore the creeks and waterfalls around Russellville when we were in college. This blog took me back there. ❤️