Lake Catherine State Park: Falls Branch Trail (Blog Hike #624)

Trail: Falls Branch Trail

Hike Location: Lake Catherine State Park

Geographic Location: east of Hot Springs, AR (34.43130, -92.91335)

Length: 1.7 miles

Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)

Date Hiked: March 2017

Overview: A scenic loop featuring many small waterfalls.

Park Information: https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/lake-catherine-state-park

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=732437
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: Take I-30 to SR 171 (exit 97).  Exit and go west on SR 171.  Drive SR 171 11.7 miles until it deadends in Lake Catherine State Park.  Stop at the Visitor Center to pick up a self-guiding trail brochure for the Falls Branch Trail, then continue driving the main park road to its end at the hiking trailhead.  Park in the only parking area at the trailhead.

The hike: Tucked in the foothills of the Ouachita (pronounced WASH-ee-tah) Mountains between I-30 and Hot Springs, Lake Catherine State Park protects 2240 acres on the south shore of its namesake lake.  The lake was created in 1924 when the Remmel Dam was constructed on the Ouachita River for the purpose of power generation.  The dam and lake are small by present-day hydroelectric standards, but some of Arkansas Power and Light’s electricity generation facilities can be seen across the lake from the park.

            Lake Catherine State Park was established in 1935, thus making it one of Arkansas’ oldest state parks.  The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped build the park, and several buildings from the CCC era including some reservable cabins remain in use today.  The park is a smorgasbord of recreation, as it features 20 cabins, a 70-site campground, a pavilion, and fishing and boating access to Lake Catherine.

            With 4 hiking trails totaling 10.5 miles, the park gives hikers plenty to choose from as well.  The short ADA-accessible Slunger Creek Nature Trail sits by itself near the park entrance, but the park’s other three trails start from a common trailhead at the end of the main park road.  This hike describes the Falls Branch Trail, which is the park’s most popular trail because of its brevity and because it passes small but scenic Falls Creek Falls.

Main hiking trailhead

            The main trailhead features a sheltered information kiosk, some bags for collecting dog poop, and an historical marker.  All three trails that start here share a common entrance trail, so the red blazes of the Falls Branch Trail run conjointly with the white blazes of the Dam Mountain Trail and the yellow blazes of the Horseshoe Mountain Trail at first.  At 0.1 miles, you reach a major intersection where the three trails part ways.  Follow the red blazes that go straight to begin a counterclockwise journey around the Falls Branch Trail.

            The trail curves right as it heads west-northwest while gradually climbing up a very tight and very steep ravine.  Several small waterfalls appear in this ravine, and you may begin to get concerned that Falls Creek Falls, this park’s main natural attraction, is so small.  Fear not: not only is the main waterfall much bigger than any you will see in this ravine, but this stream is not even Falls Creek; the self-guiding trail brochure calls it Little Canyon Creek.  Although many of the numbered posts that correspond to the brochure are in rough shape, the pamphlet still provides good information on what you see along this trail.

Hiking up the ravine

            The trail goes back and forth across the stream usually using wooden footbridges.  After passing through an area that has seen recent storm damage, the trail makes a sweeping 180-degree left turn to leave the creekside area and begin heading back down the ravine at a higher elevation.  Lumpy rock outcrops of novaculite, an extremely hard rock found only in the Ouachita Mountains, appear on either side of the trail.  Some of these outcrops offer nice views into the ravine, but the dropoff is unprotected.  Thus, kids need to be kept in firm tow up here.

Novaculite rock outcrop

            At 0.8 miles, you climb into a saddle that marks this hike’s highest point and contains an intersection with the yellow-blazed Horseshoe Mountain Trail.  Some large loblolly pines live in this saddle, and a nice bench also sits here.  Continue straight to stay on the Falls Branch Trail and begin a moderate descent toward its namesake creek.  The latter part of this descent uses some old stone steps that have seen their better days, so you need to watch your step.

Rough stone steps

            Just past 1 mile into the hike, you reach the west bank of Falls Branch Creek.  Shortly thereafter you reach this trail’s namesake waterfall, which you approach from above.  Water cascades and drops about 10 feet into a plunge pool that is large for a creek this size.  Some stepping stones allow you to get in the middle of the creek for the perfect front-view photograph.  Surrounding rock ledges frame the waterfall nicely.

Falls Creek Falls

            The stepping stones lead across the creek to the Dam Mountain Trail, but instead of crossing Falls Creek this hike continues downstream along the creek’s west bank.  Very quickly you reach the back waters of Lake Catherine, and soon the lake proper comes into full view.  After descending a single step cut into the bedrock, you reach a bench that offers a nice view of the lake…and an Entergy (formerly Arkansas Power and Light) electricity generating station on the far shore.

Lake Catherine

            Just shy of 1.5 miles, you cross a swinging bridge consisting of a wooden deck suspended from a pair of chains.  Built by the Young Adult Conservation Corps in the 1970’s, the bridge sways quite a bit, but persistent forward stepping will get you across.  Soon after crossing the bridge, the spur trail to Camp Area C continues straight at a trail intersection.  Follow directions given by a trail sign by turning left to stay on the Falls Branch Trail.  A few hundred feet later, you close this trail’s loop.  A right turn and 0.1 miles of fairly level walking return you to the trailhead and complete the hike.