154 Wilderness Cruise

     A few days ago, we traded-in our little SUV ‘Not a 4-wheeler’ on a new little SUV (yet to be named).  Today we’re trying it out on some dirt roads for the first time, heading south to Bass then up the mountain to Richland Creek Wilderness.  Besides an enjoyable wilderness cruise, we’ll also be scouting parking locations for future hikes.

Twin Falls (4/2020)

    In the northwest corner of Richland Wilderness (surrounded by lots of private property) NC 5070 meets NC 5080 at a 3-way intersection, in this ‘triangular island’ is a big parking area, (35.8415, -92.99423) although reaching public lands from here will involve a little walk down the roads.  From here we head around the top of the wilderness on NC 5080.

    Every map I look at seems to use different names for these back roads around Richland (and everywhere else actually), for example Newton County 5080 on older maps is NC 37, also FR 1205 when looking at a U.S. Forest Service map, and many maps also list it as Falling Water Road or Richland Road.  I’ll try to stick with the most commonly used names although technically this may not always be the correct or current name.

'Sand Castle' Trailhead (9/2022)

    Around the northwest corner of the wilderness are some pretty big pieces of private property and between a couple of these on the left next to a telephone pole is a small parking area (35.84186, -92.98461) for Sandstone Castles (see: 34 Sandstone Castle) with a trailhead sign across the road.  Under a quarter mile further north also on the left another small parking area (35.84454, -92.98359) for the short off-trail hike down to Dogwood Falls.

    Continuing on NC 5080 now mostly to the east, we pass a few more driveways before reaching a 4-way intersection.  This is Iceledo Gap (35.84729, -92.97609), to the north on NC 5083 is Iceledo (now a ghost town), to the south on NC 5082 is Hill Cemetery (see: 130 Big Point Lookout) and the trail along Big Devils Fork to many waterfalls including Twin Falls.

    Staying on NC 5080 we head up a hill and past another driveway before coming to a parking area (35.84775, -92.96986) at a faint old road trace that appears to be a good hiking route to the top of Dry Creek.  A quarter mile or so further another good parking place (35.84626, -92.96573), north looks to be another old road trace to Dry Creek and going west from here is a short bushwhack to Heaven Boulders with rock climbing at ‘The Wasp’.

    Now heading mostly south we soon come to another small parking spot this one on the west side of the road (35.84373, -92.96282) and a trail on an old road.  I walk back maybe a hundred yards to the stacked stone remains of an old homesite, from here the trail continues but I head back to the car.  A mile farther is Dickey Junction (35.83798, -92.95386) where NC 5085 goes east/north and in just a half mile at the Searcy/Newton County line changes names to SC 12 (better known as Richland Road) which eventually crosses the Buffalo River at Woolum.

    About two hundred yards past Dickey Junction on the east side is a nice parking area (35.83693, -92.95293) with room for four or five cars, and under half a mile further south on the right is an old road FR92744C with parking (35.83164, -92.95221) for maybe five cars if they park ‘in line’.  I walk back this old road maybe 200 yards to a collapsed home with a bunch of yucca growing around the house.

    Continuing south under 300 yards is parking (35.82978, -92.95088) for about three vehicles at an old road FR92744A, with a forest service gate.  This road provides access down into Long Branch possibly all the way to the Ozark Highlands Trail.

    Just around the next sweeping curve to the east is another long narrow (old road) parking area (35.82546, -92.94733) with room for lots of cars as long as they park end to end.  This the Upper 1205 Trailhead follows a ridge on the old road trace to some rock cairns where the trail splits and continues on down to Hamilton, Twin and many other waterfalls.

    Before the next curve back to the south we cross into Searcy County then on the east side of the road is another old road with a forest service gate and plenty of parking (35.82547, -92.94303) for five vehicles.  And about three quarters of a mile on the left is Big Point Trailhead (see:130 Big Point Lookout) at a gate and road up the hill, here (35.81693, -92.9374) there’s enough room for probably five cars.

parking at Big Point Trailhead (9/2022)

    It’s over a mile to the next parking spot (35.80737, -92.93946) on the west side of the road and the Lower 1205 Trailhead.  Only enough room for maybe three cars, this parking area seems to have ‘shrunk’ since we parked here back in April of 2020 (see: 44 Twin Falls), this route may be the easiest way to Twin Falls.

Lower 1205 Trailhead to Twin Falls

    After the Lower 1205 Trailhead our road now officially SC 1 better known as Falling Water Road begins the descent to Richland Creek, a drop in elevation of approximately 520 feet.  But before reaching Richland Creek our next parking spot (35.80329, -92.93785) for maybe two cars is on the east side of the road.

    Passing some impressive broken bluffs on the left then down and around the S-curves to the old Twin Falls North Trailhead (35.79887, -92.93352) with parking and the nice campsite that includes the soothing sounds of rushing water in Richland Creek below.  The trail from here looks good but reportedly crosses Richland Creek twice before reaching Twin Falls.

    Just over a quarter mile further with some views down to the creek is Richland Creek OHT Trailhead and parking (35.79731, -92.92773).  This is where I ‘break in’ the new SUV, north of the bridge I pull in what looks like an old road but really just goes into a campsite beyond a solid rock ledge.  Going in dropping off the ledge is fine but coming back out going up I drag hard across the edge and just about swallow my heart.

    Stopping and lying on the ground to assess the damage, I notice the vehicle has skid plates in some of the low-lying areas, nice.  The obvious damage is a corner of the felt liner under the engine area is torn and hanging down.  Probably not serious, but suddenly that new car feeling is gone.

on Richland Creek Bridge (1/2019)

    We cross Richland Creek on the concrete bridge then immediately turn left into a small campsite (35.79661, -92.92874) with excellent access to the creek.  Just past here is an easy to miss forest road FR92089A with parking for one (35.7964, -92.9291).  This is the trailhead for Wild River Hollow (see: 46 Wild River at Richland), with more parking at campsites further up the road.

in Wild River Hollow (5/2020)

    Just past the forest road also on the left and up the road bank is Richland Campground OHT Trailhead (see: 150 OHT to Hidden Creek), and just past that on the right Richland Campground Road with parking after going through the gate (35.79675, -92.93111).  We park in the deserted campground (see: 53 Richland Campground) to stretch our legs.

Richland Creek at lower campground (5/2020)

    Continuing south on Falling Water Road uphill and around a couple curves is a good-sized parking area (35.7933, -92.9307) past some mud is a campsite.  This parking area is also the trailhead for the short off-trail hike to Rick Henry and Boomer Falls (see: 140 Falling Water Road and Rick Henry Falls), and access to the Ozark Highlands Trail which is less than a hundred feet east of the campsite.

Boomer Falls (2/2023)

    Next up about a mile south on the left is the very limited parking (35.7811, -92.3949) for the short but steep hike up to Landslide Falls.  Beyond here is evidence of continued small landslides with some damage to the road before a parking spot (35.77477, -92.93347) and campsite on the right with possible access down to Falling Water Creek on an old road trace.  You could also park here, cross the road and hike up into ‘Hidden Hollow’.

    Or drive just a couple hundred yards further to a small roadside parking spot (35.77353, -92.93273) near the mouth of the no-name creek containing Hidden and Lily Falls among others.  In less than a quarter mile is minimal parking (35.7711, -92.93361) on the right with roadside camping and a trail heading north along Falling Water Creek.

    Less than half a mile further south is another roadside campsite with parking (35.76661, -92.93331) and easy access into Falling Water Creek, this is also a good place to access the trail up to Keefe Falls and Splashdown Falls beyond (see: 2 Keefe Falls).  Down the road a little further is a roadside parking spot (35.7654, -92.9335) for Keefe Falls Trail.

Terry Keefe Falls (1/2019)

    In a little over a quarter mile is parking (35.76142, -92.9371) on the right for 3-4 vehicles both on and off the road at the very short trail down the rocky bank of Falling Water Creek to the base of Six Finger Falls (see: 86 Fuzzybutt and Six Fingers).  This is one of those magical places that shouldn’t be missed.  About a quarter mile further another roadside parking (35.75865, -92.9363) area, this one for the short trail down to Intersection Falls (see 140 Falling Water Road).

Six Finger Falls from near parking

    Next comes the road intersection for which Intersection Falls is named, the road left up the hill is SC 265, aka FR 1219, aka Richland Creek Road, we keep right and stay on Falling Water Road to the next parking spot just past where the OHT crosses the road.  This parking spot (35.75357, -92.9376) also has a lovely campsite right on the bank of Falling Water Creek, the only problem is the Ozark Highlands Trail goes right through the campsite.

    Not far from here is an old road FR93066R to the left and parking (35.75316, -92.93728) this old road may provide access upstream along Falling Water Creek on the east side.  Then it’s around a curve right to the concrete bridge over Falling Water Creek but before the bridge, parking (35.75251, -92.93817) for 4-5 cars on both sides of the road at the Falling Water OHT Trailhead.  I have parked here a few times (see: 151 OHT to Hidden Hollow and 86 Fuzzybutt and Horsetail Falls).

under the bridge on Falling Water Creek

    Now cross the bridge over Falling Water Creek and turn left down to the small campsite and parking (35.75266, -92.93852) area on the banks of Falling Water Creek.  This is another nice spot with small campsite and a lovely little feeder stream tumbling down from the west.  There is more roadside parking for Fuzzybutt Trailhead (35.75286, -92.9389) and OHT access here on the west side of Falling Water (see: 15 ...Lower Horsetail Falls) before the next curve.

    Still heading south, we are no longer following along the edge of Richland Wilderness, the wilderness boundary turns west and follows the power line easement up the mountain, this happens before crossing Falling Water Creek.  We’re still in the Ozark National Forest but now there’s also a few parcels of private property along the road occasionally.

    About a mile south of the concrete bridge and after passing a few driveways and homes is a nice campsite and parking area (35.74162, -92.93328) up a short rocky hill then down and around a tight curve.  This pretty spot (see: 15 Falling Water...) is right on Falling Water Creek and easy access to Bailey Cole Creek is nearby on a short trail east.

Falling Water Creek above Bailey Cole Creek

    Another half mile and down between Falling Water Road and Creek is a small open campsite and parking (35.73467, -92.9335) with access (after crossing Falling Water Creek) off-trail to Bailey Falls about ¾ of a mile upstream.  Between here and Falling Water Falls are a couple more campsites that I failed to stop and record coordinates, I’ll do my best to correct this omission next trip into the area.

    Our last stop of the day is at Falling Water Falls, this is the first time we’ve actually stopped at the falls since the completion of the access improvements completed about two years ago.  These improvements include a great big new parking area (35.72115, -92.94967), safety barrier stones and some fabulous stone steps down to creek level.

Falling Water Falls

    Well for the most part this trip documents all the parking areas along the north and east sides of Richland Creek Wilderness, and a few more beyond the south boundary.  There are many other wide spots along this road where parking is possible that are not listed, and we’ll have to return soon to record the coordinates for parking areas on the west and south sides of the wilderness.

Ardy and the green filly

    As for the new SUV, while it has slightly higher ground clearance more interior room better power and just feels better off-road than good ole ‘not a 4-wheeler’.  It could definitely use more ground clearance; I’ll be more careful in the future driving off ledges.  For now, we’ll be calling her ‘the green filly’.