For Earth Day this year, we decided to focus on waterfalls. Much like a campfire, it’s easy to spend hours just staring at the water as it cascades over rock, slowly etching its way down, cutting and smoothing the land as the water makes its way to the sea. The earth breaths and drinks. Life. In Arkansas, we have so many beautiful waterfalls, the town of Witt Springs in the Ozark Mountains created a welcome center devoted to them last year. Below is what Arkansas Tourism had to say about it. If you’re interested in hunting waterfalls, I recommend the Tim Ernst book, “Arkansas Waterfalls” to help you get started.
The newest Welcome Center in Arkansas is in Witts Springs, the Richland Waterfalls Welcome Center! Arkansas Tourism Director Travis Napper was the first person to sign the guest list as he attended the grand opening. The welcome center is a private collaboration between Witts Springs Community Voices and the Greater Searcy County Chamber of Commerce. Open 8 am till 7 pm seven days a week. Free! Waterfalls are best viewed after ample rainfall. Great information about the waterfall-abundant Richland watershed. Special thanks to Roger Harness, The Nature Conservancy of Arkansas, Ozark Mountain Region, Flintrock Video Productions, the US Forest Service, Dana Treat Photography, Rick Henry, and a host of other photographers and volunteers!
The Richland Waterfalls Welcome Center is a one-of-a-kind welcome center with a primary focus on the waterfalls of the Richland Creek Watershed! More than 30 waterfalls are featured by the welcome center. Richland Creek and tributaries, such as Falling Water Creek, traverse some of the most stunningly beautiful, rugged, and remote landscapes in all of middle America! Most of the watershed is within the boundaries of the Ozark National Forest and drains to a northbound rendezvous with the Buffalo National River. The Richland Creek Wilderness contains 11,801 acres in the Ozark’s Boston Mountains. Wildlife such as Black Bear and Rocky Mountain Elk inhabit portions of the watershed. There are no official trails to any of the waterfalls, however, the US Forest Service advises that you hike on existing unofficial trails. There is poor to nonexistent cell phone coverage in most areas. Please practice “Leave No Trace.”
The Richland Waterfalls Welcome Center is a one-of-a-kind welcome center with a primary focus on the waterfalls of the Richland Creek Watershed! More than 30 waterfalls are featured by the welcome center. Richland Creek and tributaries, such as Falling Water Creek, traverse some of the most stunningly beautiful, rugged, and remote landscapes in all of middle America!
Other things to do in the area
Witts Springs is the gateway to the Richland Creek Wilderness of the Ozark National Forest! At approximately 1,900 feet in elevation, Witts Springs is a launching point for hiking the nearby Ozark Highlands Trail, experiencing the Richland Waterfalls Welcome Center, visiting a Civil War Historic Marker, horseback riding in the Ozark National Forest, following the Arkansas Quilt Trail, rock climbing at Stack Rock, area ATV rides, whitewater kayaking and waterfall photography along the Falling Water Creek and Richland Creek watersheds, hunting, camping at the Richland Creek Recreation Area & Campground, riding the Growl and Lasso and Lost Mine Run motorcycle routes, viewing the amazing naturally dark night skies, and cycling the Ozark Grinder Trail gravel grinder bicycle route! The annual Pedestal Rock road bike ride and Lick Fork gravel grind take place here each October, as well as the 1,000+ mile Arkansas High Country Race, an epic bikepacking adventure race that transits the area each June! For more information visit https://searcycountyarkansas.com/attractions or call the chamber of commerce at 870-448-2557.
All photos and video courtesy of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism.
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