Hike to Punchbowl Falls

Witts Springs, Arkansas

Save

View all 3 photos

All 3 photos

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Distance

4 miles

Elevation Gain

-600 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by David Cox

One of the most beautiful places in Arkansas people rarely know about. If you consider yourself a gear head, I highly suggest this hike. Every time I go I have yet to see anybody, which is relaxing. One of the drawbacks to this hike is that it drains your body, but it is worth it in the end! Go relax outdoors! Peace & Blessings!

Go in the early Fall or late Spring! You start off on the Ozark Highland Trail. As you start walking along the trail you can see where people have slept the night before. Camping is acceptable out here, you do not have to pay, but the downside is that the closest town is about an hour away so if you have an emergency you are on your own.

The trail has white strips on the trees so if you get off track you can easily get back on the trail. You walk on a ridge for about 1.3 miles staying on the Ozark Highland Trail. This is when it gets difficult - once you start turning around the ridge you will keep going for a half mile then veer off the trail and down the first ridge through brush, thickets, and thorns. After you get down the first hill you end up on a logging road,at which point you have only half mile left. Keep on walking down the hill through all the brush.

Once you see the creek you should see the waterfall. The waterfall is covered with bluffs for about 100 yards so getting inside the Punchbowl is a difficult task.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Chillin

Camping

Hiking

Waterfall

Wildlife

Cliff Jumping

Swimming Hole

Hike to Punchbowl Falls Reviews

Have you done this adventure? Be the first to leave a review!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Camp at Richland Creek Campground

This is one of my favorite places to camp in Arkansas. Once you get there you can hike to Twin Falls or Sandstone Castle, or explore the numerous cascades along Richland Creek. It's a relatively small campground with 11 campsites, but has a lot of places to hang hammocks and also offers a picnic area and bathrooms.Getting there: Take Hwy. 16 east from Pelsor (located on Hwy. 7 between Jasper an...

Hike to Twin Falls in the Richland Creek Wilderness Area

This hike begins at Richland Creek Campground. There's a trace trail that begins from the lowest walk-in campsites and continues along Richland Creek as you head back towards the waterfall. Parking and trailhead coordinates are 35.79839, -92.95774. It's not quite a bushwhack, but it's still a pretty tough hike. It's slippery when wet and slipper when dry. One slip on the steep canyon walls coul...

Backpack to the Sandstone Castles

From the Richland Creek campground, Twin Falls is an approximate 3 mile hike followed by another mile (give or take) to the "Castles". Directly above a small camping area on top of Twin Falls there begins a more primitive trail up the center on the ridge that will take you straight to the enormous bluffs and 2 large caves that make a solid campsite for anywhere from 1-10 people. The hike is fai...

Richland Falls and Twin Falls of Richland Creek

The hike to Richland Falls and Twin Falls of Richland creek begins at the Richland Creek Campground. From the entrance of the campground take the road to the right heading to the day use area. The trailhead is found at the end of the day use area. The trail immediately begins with a crossing of Falling Water Creek. You’ll notice a sign for Richland Falls and Twin Falls just beyond the crossi...