Trail: Glory Hole Trail
Hike Location: Ozark National ForestGeographic Location: west of Deer, AR (35.82841, -93.39072)
Length: 1.9 miles
Difficulty: 7/10 (Moderate/Difficult)
Date Hiked: May 2021
Overview: An out-and-back, easy at first but steep and rocky at the end, to unique Glory Hole Falls.
Area Information: https://arkokhiker.org/northwest-arkansas/glory-hole-falls-trail-ozark-forest/
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=872195
Photo Highlight:
Hike Video:
Directions to the trailhead: The trailhead for the Glory Hole Trail is located on the south side of SR 16/21 6.2 miles east of Fallsville. The trailhead is marked by only 1 small sign that is hard to see from the road, but a large gravel turnout on the south side of the road provides parking for a few dozen cars.
The hike: When most people think of the Ozarks, they think of a rural region of ancient and eroded mountains that form Arkansas' version of the Appalachian Mountains. Yet the Ozarks actually consist of two separate mountain ranges, the Boston Mountains of north-central Arkansas and the St. Francois Mountains of southeast Missouri, connected by a couple of plateaus. The two mountain ranges have different geologic origins: the St. Francois Mountains have an igneous (volcanic) core, while the Boston Mountains consist primarily of sedimentary rocks. Neither mountain range is geologically related to the Appalachian Mountains or the nearby Ouachita Mountains of western Arkansas.
The name Ozarks comes from the French phrase aux arcs, which is short for aux Arcansas, an early French name for this region. The region is famous for numerous scenic sites, including huge springs, expansive views, unique waterfalls, and towering natural bridges. I spent a week in mid-to-late May 2021 sampling the hiking opportunities the Ozarks have to offer, and at the end I wished I had a second week to spend here.
Sprawling for 1.2 million acres across much of northern Arkansas, Ozark National Forest protects a large area along and north of the Boston Mountains. The forest was created in 1908 by declaration of President Theodore Roosevelt to preserve some of the Ozarks' most scenic areas. Numerous other state parks and national parks have been established in the region over the past 100 years, but some of the most famous and scenic sites in the region remain part of the national forest.
My first two hikes in the Ozarks came in Ozark National Forest, and this hike leads to perhaps the region's most unique natural feature: the Glory Hole. While most 20-foot waterfalls form only minor points of interest, this 20-foot waterfall sends water pouring through a 2-foot diameter hole in a thick layer of bedrock. Even better, the Glory Hole can be accessed by a short 1 mile one-way hike that uses mostly old logging roads. Such is the hike described here.
Roadside trailhead: Glory Hole Trail |
Hiking the old logging road |
Wildflower display |
Steep, rocky final descent |
Rock shelter that contains the Glory Hole |
Glory Hole |
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