Waterfall safari warms a winter day

Why go looking for waterfalls in the winter when it’s cold, the trees are bare and the sky might be gray? Mainly because it’d be hard to find a waterfall during summer, even late spring, unless it’s after a toad strangler rain.

Nearly all our waterfalls are fueled by rain. No rain, no waterfalls. During winter, trees and vegetation are dormant so they don’t soak up all that moisture when it rains. More of it runs off into little drainages, creeks and streams. When the flow tumbles over a ledge or cliff, a waterfall is born. It’s best to go on any waterfall safari after a big rain.

For most folks, gazing at a waterfall is almost hypnotic. There’s something mesmerizing about that tumbling water, the sound of crashing water and the spray in your face.

In our little corner of the Ozarks are lots of waterfalls people can drive right up to or reach with a short walk from the car. Here are two to get you started on a waterfall safari.

First is the Pinion Creek waterfall in Bella Vista. This lovely 10-foot tumbler is right next to a paved road. It’s also along the Back 40 trail system in Bella Vista. There’s a foot and bike bridge across Pinion Creek that offers a fine view of this waterfall. We won’t spoil it for you by including a picture here so visitors can enjoy seeing it for the first time.

To reach the waterfall, travel U.S. 71, also called Bella Vista Way, to Pinion Drive. This road is just south of Lancashire Boulevard. Turn east on Pinion Drive. Veer left and steer around the lumber yard. Keep going and the road will start uphill at the Lake Ann. Park where the trail crosses the road and the waterfall is right there.

The spillway at Lake Ann dam creates this waterfall, so it’s man made. For waterfall wanderers who prefer a natural spill of water, Eden Falls at Lost Valley near the Buffalo National River is a good starter waterfall.

Eden Falls tumbles in three tiers at a box canyon in the back of Lost Valley, located west of Ponca. A sign along Arkansas 43 points the way to Lost Valley. It’s a mostly level 1.1-mile hike to Eden Falls (2.2 miles round

trip), but there’s a bit of a climb just before reaching the falls. The trail follows Clark Creek and visitors will need to cross the creek near the parking area to get on the trail. If the creek is really flowing, it could be a wet crossing. A must-have tool for serious waterfall hunters is Tim Ernst’s great book, “Arkansas Waterfalls” guidebook.

Inside are pictures and directions to more than 200 waterfalls. Most of them are in the Ozarks and Arkansas River Valley.

To learn more about our wondrous waterfalls, I’ll be giving a free program at noon Feb. 13 at the Rogers Public Library with tips for aspiring waterfall hunters. I’ll have lots of waterfall photos to show. It’s part of the library’s monthly “Lunch and Learn” series that takes place the second Tuesday of each month.

Come to the library, and we’ll take an arm-chair look at some amazing waterfalls.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/Flip Putthoff) Natural Dam waterfall is easily reached by car north of Van Buren.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/Flip Putthoff) Twin Falls, also called Triple Falls, is a waterfall people can actually drive right up to — almost. It’s about a 75-yard walk from the car. It’s situated between Ponca and Jasper near the Buffalo National River and Camp Orr Boy Scout camp.