On Monday I decided to take a day off work and take a nice relaxing hike. I wanted to see this awesome state park in Arkansas, and check out their big waterfall. Turns out I had run a half marathon the day before in Germantown, and I probably could have used a day off to just rest without the hike.
Petit Jean State Park is about three hours west of Memphis. It is exactly 200 miles from Midtown Memphis and a little west of Conway, AR, or an hour west of Little Rock. Petit Jean is home to the historic rock cave which houses Indian paintings that go way back. You can also walk along the "turtle rocks", visit several other cave areas, and see one of the biggest waterfalls in the state of Arkansas.Cedar Falls is not an easy waterfall to get to the base of while hiking in the pouring rain. It is a beautiful sight to see once you get there. Stopping at the overlook will get you a pretty good view of Cedar Falls, but why not go big and go down to the base of the falls. Physically speaking, it is a tough hike for some, even on a sunny, dry day. If you follow all of the directions as stated on the signs
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| READ THE SIGNS! |
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| READ THE SIGNS! |
This trail is one mile in and one mile out. There are switchbacks that you SHOULD NOT shortcut during the first half mile. Once you complete this part of the journey life (or the hike at least) gets much, much easier. You do get to cross over a little bridge that has a two person capacity. I was with two dogs, and the three of us went together. We all made it across just fine. When you cross the bridge you will arrive at the waterfall within about 8-10 minutes. It is still a little bit of work, but if you are taking your time, you have no problems.
Once you are able to see the waterfall, you do have a few different options. You can hang out and some rocks, enjoy a meal and take tons of selfies with your friends. You can do a little rock hopping around the creek area near Cedar Falls. You can also get a close up of the waterfall, too. Just watch your footing if you choose this option. You will be in a cave-like area so you are shaded from heat or any precipitation. No matter how you spend your time in the presence of this waterfall, you are certain to make many memories. So brush those Corona Virus fears aside and hit the road for the Arkansas countryside. Don't stop until you arrive at Petit Jean State Park. See Cedar Falls, and all of the other wonderful memory making spots in the park.
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| She did not enjoy the bridge! |
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