Little Grand Canyon in Arkansas

The Little Grand Canyon in Arkansas is a hidden gem

You’ll find the Arkansas Grand Canyon in the Ozark Mountains and the Little Grand Canyon of Arkansas in the Ouachita Mountains. Both a spectacular sights in Arkansas!

Can any other Southern state boast two Grand Canyons? Probably not. Arkansas is blessed with two amazing National Forests that both give us amazing and unique things to see (like all of these amazing Arkansas waterfalls).

The Little Grand Canyon is a bit of a hidden gem in the Ouachita Mountains. We could almost say it’s a bit of a secret! It is stunning to see such beautiful rock formations in an unlikely spot in Arkansas.

The Little Grand Canyon in Arkansas
The Little Grand Canyon in Arkansas. Photo by Jeff Gray.

The hike to the Arkansas Little Grand Canyon is just a 0.5 mile loop trail. Basically, it’s a nice, moderate walk.

To find the trailhead, drive along the the levy at the lake until the road ends. The address for the parking lot is Ouachita Road 332 right after the dam.

Arkansas's Little Grand Canyon
Arkansas’s Little Grand Canyon. Photo by Joey Cooper

The trail isn’t well marked so you’ll have to follow where other hikers have gone before you. Most phones and GPS devices don’t have signal out here so just keep your eyes open. Most of the trail follows alongside the river.

The Little Grand Canyon near Bluff City, Arkansas
These rock formations are beautiful! Photo by Joey Cooper

Spring is the perfect season for enjoying the Little Grand Canyon in Arkansas. After a good rain, you can hear the rushing water from the parking lot.

This amazing little canyon is near White Oak Lake State Park in Bluff City, Arkansas but it’s NOT on the same side of the lake as the State Park. However, many people come to this beautiful state park because of the hiking and mountain bike trails. In fact, White Oak Lake State Park was even named one of the BEST State Parks in Arkansas for Winter Camping.

The Little Grand Canyon in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas
Photo by Joey Cooper

Pro tip: White Oak Lake also has some of the best bank fishing in Arkansas if you like catching bass, crappie, bream and catfish right from the shore!

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