Waterfalls are year-round wonders in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, but their beauty peaks in spring, when currents surge and the region sparkles with magnificent cascades. For a sample of the splendor, visit these must-see falls, all of which lie on and around the Buffalo National River, about an hour and a half east of Fayetteville.


Hemmed-in-Hollow Falls
This granddaddy of the Ozarks falls plummets 209 feet into a valley closed off on three sides by majestic stone bluffs. The waterfall is accessible by a hiking trail, but the path is steep. A canoe trip from the town of Ponca is the easier way.

Falling Water Falls
Visible from the road in the Ozark National Forest — you don’t even need to leave your car to see it — this beautiful little waterfall spills into a tranquil pool that’s a popular swimming hole in the summer.

Eden Falls
A 2.3-mile round-trip hike from Lost Valley Campground leads to this idyllic fall, which drops from moss-fringed rocks into a narrow canyon.

For more information, visit www.harrisonarkansas.org or call (888) 283-2163.

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ALSO WORTH A LOOK

In the Ozarks, the underground scenery isn’t too shabby either. A guided tour of the spectacular subterranean grottoes of Mystic Caverns leads visitors into a hidden world of arresting geological formations, highlighted by stalactites, regal columns and a 30-foot natural pipe organ. Tours depart every 35 to 40 minutes and last 80 minutes. $8 for children, $15 for adults; www.mysticcaverns.com