Cedar Falls

Worth the drive

Is it plungeworthy?

95feet tall

A plunge on Cedar Creek.

Scale48/60

Documentation15/20

Character14/20

The details

Type: Plunge
Watercourse: Cedar Creek
Coordinates: 35.12171, -92.93421

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About Cedar Falls

Cedar Falls is a 95-foot plunge in Arkansas, on Cedar Creek.

It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.

Plungeworthy rates Cedar Falls 7.7/10 — worth the drive. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.

What you'll find

A 95-foot curtain (the park's own trail page says 90 — sources split within measurement variance) pouring into Cedar Creek Canyon, and one of the few tall Arkansas falls that runs year-round instead of only after rain.

The trail drops from behind the CCC-built Mather Lodge through a canyon of house-sized sandstone boulders and old-growth timber before opening onto the pool at the base.

Wading at the pool's edge is common; swimming at the base is discouraged — slick rock and unpredictable currents. The park's designated swimming pool is elsewhere.

Getting there

Trailhead: Cedar Falls Trailhead, behind Mather Lodge, Petit Jean State Park
Parking: Mather Lodge lot
Road: Paved park road
Hike: 2 mi round trip, 367 ft of climb (moderate)
Heads up: Orange-blazed National Recreation Trail. The steep ~200-foot descent in the first 0.3 mile is the work; the canyon floor is rocky — real shoes, not sandals.

When to go

Flows year-round with a spring-fed assist, but volume jumps after rain.

Spring wildflowers and fall color are the peak visual windows.

This is one of the most visited features in the Arkansas state park system — weekends and holidays are busy.

Rules & fees

Fee / pass: None — Arkansas state parks are free to enter
Dogs: Leashed (6 ft max) throughout the park and on this trail
Hours: Park open 365 days; visitor center 8am-5pm, extended to 8pm in early summer
Camping: Developed campground and cabins in the park; none at the falls
Warnings: Steep rocky descent; slick rock near the pool; swimming at the base discouraged due to currents.

Researched from Arkansas.com — Cedar Falls Trail · Arkansas.com — Petit Jean State Park. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Cedar Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.

Where it is

Before you go

The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.