Best dog-friendly waterfall hikes in Arkansas
67 verified hikes from our directory of 203 Arkansas waterfalls.
What we mean by dog friendly
Dog-friendly means the land manager allows leashed dogs on this specific trail. State parks and National Forests usually do; National Park trails almost never. We mark dog_friendly only when we've confirmed the policy applies to the trail, not just the parking lot.
One caveat: Leash rules are enforced. Bring a 6-foot leash, waste bags, and water for the dog. Hot rock and pavement burn paws — check temperature with your hand for 5 seconds before letting them walk on it.
Gear hint: Our dog Brook carries her own water in a fitted pack; we carry her booties for shale and hot pavement. Cold-water tail-tuck on small breeds is real — keep them out of glacial plunge pools.
The 67 picks
Each opens to a full page with trail distance, elevation gain, parking, fee, best months, and live conditions when available.
Ariel Falls
height unverified · Ouachita National Forest
Artist Point Falls
15 ft · Ozark-Saint Francis National Forest
Belle Star Cave Falls
27 ft · Poteau Mountain Wilderness
Big Shoal Cascade
8 ft · Ozark-Saint Francis National Forest
Black Bear Falls
31 ft · Ozark-Saint Francis National Forest
Blaylock Creek Falls
31 ft · Ouachita National Forest
Blocker Creek Cascade
17 ft · Ouachita National Forest
Brown Creek Cascade
8 ft · Ouachita National Forest
Bumpers Falls
27 ft · Leatherwood Wilderness
Cathedral Falls
87 ft · Leatherwood Wilderness
Cedar Falls
95 ft · Petit Jean State Park
China Falls
68 ft · Leatherwood Wilderness
Copperhead Falls
13 ft · Ponca Wilderness
Cossatot Falls
33 ft · Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area
Cougar Falls
77 ft · Leatherwood Wilderness
Crosscut Falls
53 ft · Leatherwood Wilderness
Devils Hollow Falls
height unverified · Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area
Dewey Canyon Falls
88 ft · Leatherwood Wilderness
Fern Falls
42 ft · Ozark-Saint Francis National Forest
Forked Mountain Falls
10 ft · Flatside Wilderness
Funnel Falls
41 ft · Leatherwood Wilderness
Fuzzy Butt Falls
16 ft · Richland Creek Wilderness
Hadlock Cascade
27 ft · Upper Buffalo Wilderness
Hamilton Falls
12 ft · Richland Creek Wilderness
Hammerschmidt Falls
43 ft · Ponca Wilderness
Hardy Falls
8 ft · Ozark-Saint Francis National Forest
Hedges Pouroff
113 ft · Upper Buffalo Wilderness (NPS)
Helen's Pouroff
71 ft · Leatherwood Wilderness
Heuston Falls
54 ft · Leatherwood Wilderness
Horsetail Falls
31 ft · Richland Creek Wilderness
Intersection Falls
31 ft · Richland Creek Wilderness
Keefe Falls
78 ft · Richland Creek Wilderness
Lacey Creek Falls
45 ft · Ozark-Saint Francis National Forest
Little Glory Hole
18 ft · Leatherwood Wilderness
Lori Falls
height unverified · Ozark-Saint Francis National Forest
Magnolia Falls
26 ft · Upper Buffalo Wilderness
Mitchell Branch Falls
39 ft · Ouachita National Forest
Monkey Falls
33 ft · Ozark-Saint Francis National Forest
Mountain Fork Creek Falls
13 ft · Ozark-Saint Francis National Forest
Mt Magazine Cascade
98 ft · Ozark-Saint Francis National Forest
Mt Magazine Falls
28 ft · Ozark-Saint Francis National Forest
Mt Nebo Falls
32 ft · Mount Nebo State Park
Murray Falls
37 ft · Ozark-Saint Francis National Forest
Natural Dam Waterfall
8 ft · Ozark-Saint Francis National Forest
Paradise Falls
32 ft · Upper Buffalo Wilderness
Punchbowl Falls
20 ft · Ozark-Saint Francis National Forest
Richland Falls
8 ft · Richland Creek Wilderness
Sausmann Falls
height unverified · Ouachita National Forest
Senyard Falls
29 ft · Ozark-Saint Francis National Forest
Seven Hollows Grotto
18 ft · Petit Jean State Park
Shady Lake Cascade
27 ft · Ouachita National Forest
Six Finger Falls
7 ft · Richland Creek Wilderness
Slate Falls
54 ft · Poteau Mountain Wilderness
Spirit Mountain Falls
15 ft · Ozark-Saint Francis National Forest
Stack Rock Falls
35 ft · Ozark-Saint Francis National Forest
Stahle Falls
63 ft · Upper Buffalo Wilderness
Steele Falls
66 ft · Ozark-Saint Francis National Forest
Tassel Spring Falls
44 ft · Leatherwood Wilderness
Three Springs Falls
14 ft · Leatherwood Wilderness
Trailhead Falls
21 ft · Caney Creek Wilderness
Tunnel Cave Falls
31 ft · Ponca Wilderness
Twist Cascade
12 ft · Flatside Wilderness
Two Devils Falls
17 ft · Richland Creek Wilderness
Wildman Twin Falls
43 ft · Ozark-Saint Francis National Forest
Winding Staircase
height unverified · Ouachita National Forest
Woods Boys Falls
33 ft · Upper Buffalo Wilderness
Woodsman Pouroff
66 ft · Leatherwood Wilderness
Before you go: 5 things we always check
- The official land manager's page for road and trail closures (linked on every individual waterfall page).
- The weather forecast for the area AND upstream — flash floods come from rain miles away.
- Recent ranger or hiker reports for slippery rock conditions.
- Whether the trail crosses a creek without a bridge — water levels change daily in snowmelt season.
- Cell coverage at the trailhead. Download offline maps in advance.
See our full safety disclaimer for the dangers we've flagged on individual waterfalls. Several have fatalities on record.