OHT to Slot Rock/Bear Skull/Sunset/Discovery Falls
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 6.65 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3,750 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 3,717 ft
- Max elevation
- 1,663 ft
- TrailRank
- 30
- Min elevation
- 940 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Time
- 4 hours 59 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1084
- Uploaded
- March 5, 2011
- Recorded
- February 2011
near Garber, Arkansas (United States)
Viewed 3531 times, downloaded 6 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
You follow the Ozark Highlands Trail from where it crosses County Road 5671 down the side of the mountain to a logging road just before the OHT crosses a feeder for Little Piney Creek. Along the way you'll pass Bear Skull Falls and several un-named falls.
Follow the logging road upstream about 1/4 mile to Slot Rock Falls, a popular swimming hole in the heat of summer. This ends the "moderate" part of the hike.
A short distance past Slot Rock the logging road crosses the creek and you have a choice of crossing, scrambling along the near side, or bushwacking up a steep slope to get over the ridge to the next set of falls. The posted trail works along the bank before bouldering up the next valley to Sunset and Discovery Falls, returning over the ridge. Getting to the Falls involves much scrambling over loose rock on steep slopes with lots of downed trees, but can be rewarding if there have been recent rains. The track actually only includes a visit to Lower Discovery. Upper Discovery will involve finding a way to scale 15' or so of bluff or looping further around the bluff line to the Northeast and finding another way up.
Waypoints
Campsite
0 ft
Alt Parking and Camp
This is a small area used by campers with enough room to park several cars and a large fire-ring from previous campers. You can bushwack down to the OHT or walk down the road a few dozen yards to where it crosses.
Photo
0 ft
Bear Skull Falls
The largest of the waterfalls along the feeder creeks running beside the OHT. A blue blazed spur trail leads to the bottom.
Photo
993 ft
Sunset Falls
You have to scramble half-way up the hill to the base of the bluff to reach the pool at the bottom of the falls, but it's a beautiful place for a picnic.
Photo
0 ft
Lower Discovery Falls
This series of cascades is very scenic and much more accessible that the Upper falls for those who've had enough of the rough bushwacking. Persons traveling onward from here should use extreme caution.
Car park
0 ft
Parking
Primary parking spot, though it is only big enough for 3-4 cars.
Photo
1,533 ft
Slot Rock
A short fall through the rocks, but a deep pool below that cuts back beneath the shelf rock.
Waypoint
997 ft
Upper Discovery
26-FEB-11 11:33:59
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