Dismal is usually not a word you associate with being spectacular, but that is exactly what Dismal Creek has accomplished. This creek, or stream, has literally drilled a hole right through an overhanging cave bluff and created the Glory Hole Waterfall! Normally, this waterfall isn’t much more than a trickle, but after a heavy rain, you get to see it in all its…well…glory.
How do we find it?
This waterfall is located in the Ozark National Forest, between Fallsville and Edwards Junction, south of Boxley Valley. If you are traveling from Edwards Junction, go WEST on AR Hwy 16/21 for 2.3 miles (0.7 miles past the Cassville Baptist Church.) Then, you will turn LEFT across from the house up on the hill. If you are coming from Fallsville, travel EAST on AR Hwy 16/21 for 5.7 miles. You will pass a large red barn that has a big, white “E” painted on the side of it. Go ½ mile past this barn, and you will see a pull off on the RIGHT side of the road, opposite from a house up on a hill. This pull-off is used as the parking area for the waterfall. Word of caution: if riding a motorcycle to see the waterfall, be mindful of the loose rocks that make up the parking area!!
The hike to the waterfall isn’t bad at all. The trail is pretty well-maintained, although there were a few places that you had to step around some mud and water. Make sure to keep an eye out for rocks jutting up from the ground so as to not trip over them. The trail is wide enough for you to meet people coming the opposite direction and neither one of you has to stop to let the other pass. After about a mile down, you get to the top of Glory Hole Falls. Be very careful here. You can get pretty close to the hole itself, but the rocks around the area are very slick and some covered in moss. Falling through the hole would not make for a great hike. I would recommend some sort of hiking boots, but tennis shoes with a good tread would be fine. A water bottle is also a wise choice. You won’t really need it going down, but it’s nice to have something to drink on the way back up.
After taking a few pictures and videos from the top of the falls, you can loop around and venture down to the bottom. This is where it really takes your breath away. Although seeing the water plummet through a hole from the top is “neat,” once you get under the carved out ledge and get a glimpse of the water coming down, it is truly remarkable. Plan to spend a little time here and again, watch out for slick rocks. There are wonderful areas around the waterfall for picnics, but please take your trash back out with you.
The hike back up is tougher than the hike down, but it’s not too bad. I say this now…I think I had a different outlook while it was taking place! Seriously, seeing this amazing waterfall is well worth the 2-mile round trip hike and I’m glad we did it.
