I love to hike with my kids. They are the funniest little kids who comes up with the most creative things to talk about while we hike.
I love to watch them as they explore their surroundings. They point out crooked trees, interesting moss, and colorful mushrooms. They make hiking fun!
To help you on your adventures, here are the BEST Arkansas Hikes with Kids!
Easy Arkansas Hikes with Kids
Your kids are going to LOVE these hikes because they are some of the BEST hiking trails in Arkansas!
1. Bear Cave Trail – Petit Jean
A very short and easy trail with lots of locations for young kids to explore around massive rocks.
Visitors to Bear Cave can walk under, around, through and over (with care) gigantic sandstone boulders. Although there is no true cave, the huge rocks form a number of rock shelters and narrow passageways.
Arkansas State Parks
Location:
1285 Petit Jean Mountain Road
Morrilton, AR 72110
GPS: 35.115367, -92.944567
Official Website
2. Rockhouse Cave Trail -Petit Jean
This short trail includes the Rockhouse cave as well as many “Turtle” rocks. A great place for young kids to learn to hike.
Rock House Cave is not a true cave, but a large rock shelter. It is also the premier spot in the state for viewing Native American rock-art created over 500 years ago. This trail also includes some of the most interesting geological formations in the park; Turtle Rocks.
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Location:
1285 Petit Jean Mountain Road
Morrilton, AR 72110
GPS: 35.122817, -92.936633
Official Website
Don’t miss our EPIC Arkansas Bucket List for more FANTASTIC things to do.
3. Blanchard Spring Trail – Fifty Six
A short and simple hike that ends with a waterfall. Check out Blanchard Springs caverns while you’re there as well as Mirror lake at the remnants of a mill.
Blanchard Spring Trail is a 0.2 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Fifty Six, Arkansas that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for walking, nature trips, bird watching, and fishing and is accessible year-round.
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Location:
Forest Service Road 1110
Mountain View, AR 72560
4. Signal Hill – Mt. Magazine
This is a short hike to the highest point on Mt Magazine.
At an elevation of 2,753 feet above Mean Sea Level, Signal Hill is the highest point in Arkansas. At the top is a 400 square feet stone map of Arkansas. A wide variety of plants make this a nice nature walk. This well-groomed trail is a gentle forest walk connecting Cameron Bluff Campground with the Mossback Ridge Trail and the Lodge at Mount Magazine.
Arkansas State Parks
Location:
16878 AR-309
Paris, AR 72855
GPS: 35.170317, -93.644783
Best Medium Arkansas Hikes with Kids
5. Bench Trail – Mt. Nebo
This is a good trail to help kids along their way to being excellent hikers. A stroller can be used on this trail if it has large wheels (bicycle style). This makes it a good trail for a variety of age ranges.
There is a narrow shelf called a bench that encircles the entire mountain. In the early 1900s, this bench featured a road. Today the bench is a trail route through a woodland that teems with large trees and wildlife. Fern Lake, remnants of historic springs, and steps that were a part of an early resort development are still visible.
Arkansas State Parks
Location:
16728 West State Hwy. 155
Dardanelle, AR 72834
GPS: 35.224367, -93.2491
6. Cedar Creek Trail – Petit Jean Mountain
A beautiful hike that follows along Cedar Creek trail atop Petit Jean Mountain. This hike is especially good in the spring after heavy rains.
Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1930’s, this trail’s rock steps and bluffs create a few difficult places. The mountain stream, high bluffs and thick vegetation make Cedar Creek Trail perfect for experiencing local bird and plant life.
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Location:
1285 Petit Jean Mountain Road
Morrilton, AR 72110
GPS: 35.1206, -92.92965
Petit Jean State Park is also one of the BEST state parks in Arkansas with waterfalls.
7. Lost Valley – Ponca
A mild yet beautiful hike that follows a creek and ends with a waterfall and a cave. This is very much a four seasons hike, you can cool off in the cave in the summer, enjoy the fall leaves in the spring, see incredible ice formations in the dead of winter, or enjoy the roaring falls and creek after heavy spring rains
For directions, visit this site.
Lost Valley was named one of our favorite “MUST DO” Hikes in Arkansas!
8. Devil’s Den Trail -Devil’s Den
Located in Devil’s Den State Park this trail offers waterfalls, the “Devil’s Den” and numerous other crevasses and scenic rock formations. Also do the Yellow Rock trail while you are there for an epic overlook!
Note: This trail has deep crevasses near the trail USE CAUTION with children
Location:
11333 West Arkansas Hwy. 74
West Fork, AR 72774
GPS: 35.781333, -94.249583
9. Pam’s Grotto – near Hagarville
This is a good hike for children, it is fairly short though somewhat steep in places. Overall a great hike with a nice waterfall and no real dangers to children.
Pam’s Grotto Waterfall Trail is a 0.8 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Hagarville, Arkansas. It features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking and rock climbing and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail.
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10. Fuzzy Butt Falls – Richland Creek Wilderness Area
While a somewhat lesser-known hike this is a good hike for kids. It is located near “Falling Waters Waterfall.” Note: Multiple other hikes in near vicinity
Location:
GPS: N35 45.821, W92 56.303
11. Long Pool Falls – Dover
This hike leaves out of Long Pool campground and makes its way to a nice waterfall. It is a good location to go hike with the kids though there are a few steep portions. In the summer you can also cool off in the Long Pool swimming area.
Long Pool Recreation Area lies along beautiful Big Piney Creek and offers visitors a variety of recreational opportunities: camping, picnicking, swimming, canoeing, fishing and hiking.
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A large natural pool, steep rock bluffs, and captivating forests are just a few examples of the natural beauty surrounding this recreation area.
Location:
12000 SR27
Dover, AR 72837
12. Alum Cove Trail – near Deer, Arkansas
This short trail leads to a natural bridge and is relatively easy though it does have some mildly steep parts.
This trail leads down to one of the largest natural bridges in this part of the country. It is in a beautiful little valley enclosed by a rugged bluff line. The natural bridge is carved from solid rock by a small creek and spans over 130 feet. The trail goes across the natural bridge and then loops.
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Location:
Co Rd 184
Deer, AR 72628
13. Glory Hole Waterfall – Huntsville
The hike is somewhat steep but overall, relatively easy. This waterfall has cut its way through the rock making for a very unique waterfall.
This has to be the one of the most unique waterfalls in all the Ozarks. Dismal Creek has literally drilled a hole right through an overhanging bluff. Most times of the year, it is nothing more than a trickle, but after some good rain, this is something spectacular. It is also quite a sight in the winter when the waterfall becomes frozen!
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Location:
GPS: N35 49.326, W93 23.611
14. Indian Rock House Cave Trail – Fairfield Bay
This trail is perfect for kids because it’s short and there is a huge cave to explore! However, it is not stroller friendly. There are a few flights of stairs from the trailhead down to the foot path.
My 3 year old handled it just fine though.
Read all about it here: This Is Unbelievable! Indian Rock House Cave in Fairfield Bay Arkansas
BEST Arkansas Hikes with Kids
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